My dr won't give the Tdap vaccine!!

Wriggley1123 · January 2014

So, I went to my appt last night and asked my dr about the tdap vaccine since im 33 wks preg. He said that they give it in the hospital once she is born, not to me while I'm pregnant. Well, I told him i was concerned cuz i knew I can't vaccinate her until 2 months. He said she can get antibodies through my breast milk . But, I know it takes 2 weeks for my body to even build those antibodies. I also know it is reccomended preg women get it in their 3rd trimester. I called again this am, and explained how if i get it while pregnant, it passes the antibodies to My baby. Well, I was told on the phone that babies don't even have antibodies in the womb! Ughh! I'm so confused because i read awful stories about how perfectly healthy babies end up dying because of whooping cough and it could have been prevented if the mom got the vaccine while pregnant. They said whooping cough isnt really likely around here. I just don't get why my dr is so for the flu vaccine but not tdap??!! Wtf??!! So, did you ladies get yours and if so did your dr recommend it? Thanks for listening and your help!

[Deleted User] · January 2014

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angelsnight · January 2014

LW78 said:

Sorry that you are having to fight to get protection for you and baby. You can also get the tdap from a pharmacy, such as rite aide. My doctor insisted that I get it, it's the new guidelines to protect your little one, since they cannot get the vaccine until they are a few months old. This way, you pass along immunities to him/her.

This, just go to a local pharmacy and get it.

mrsdahamm · January 2014

I'm an immunizing pharmacist and had to have this discussion with my OB as well. I was shocked! I asked him at my 32w appointment if I could go ahead and get it or if he wanted me to wait a little longer. He said I would get it after delivery. So I said that I thought the guidelines changed to get it during 3rd tri. He said "well you could probably go ahead and get it and that would be ok"

Long story short, I went ahead and got mine, and recommend you do as well. Just have the pharmacy fax the immunization record to the office and/or let them know at your next appointment that you got it.

wearebirds · January 2014

You can get it at your local health department also.

saisongbird · January 2014

My OB is saying the same thing - I thought it was weird. I am calling the office in the morning and asking her to give me a call...it didn't seem right.

dancer7889 · January 2014

You can also get it at the Health Department in your city. Just call ahead and ask what their immunization hours are (our is only opened two days a week for shots). It was only $30 and definitely worth it!

erinsullivan427 · January 2014

The pharmacy can bill your insurance directly. I got mine at target. I've heard a lot of pregnant friends told they'd get in the hospital. Scary so many ob's aren't informed.

htn1763 · January 2014

My OB's practice doesn't give it either. They said I would get it at the hospital after birth.

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Wriggley1123 · January 2014

Thx everyone! I actually did get my info from the CDC website before I went to my dr last night, that's how I knew to ask for it and was shocked when he said to wait till I give birth! I also did search the bump for this topic and did read up on it. I just want to protect her as much as I can, and it breaks my heart to read stories of perfectly healthy babies dying in a few weeks from whooping cough. They also said because it is Class C they don't know the effects. Ughhhhh....just glad to know I'm not alone,

SassyFlats · January 2014

I'd print out the CDC webpage with the recommendation and bring it to your OB, or to a pharmacist when you ask them for the shot.

My OB said I could get it, but she didn't have it so I'd need to see my PCP or go to a pharmacy. She said if I didn't get the tDap, I'd receive it after delivery, but she definitely didn't discourage me from getting it now!

I'm sorry your OB isn't up to date. I really would bring a print of the CDC reccomendation!

jh&kh · January 2014

With DD (two years ago) I got it in the hospital after giving birth because that was the recommendation at the time. But the guidelines have definitely changed and if I were you I would go to the local pharmacy to get it and print out the CDC form and take it to your OB next visit! He clearly needs to update himself.

craftiemommie · January 2014

Omg that sucks that your doctor is giving you a hard time about something that most doctors consider a no-brainer!

alisonmarie14 · January 2014

I'm so confused too!! My doctor said the same exact thing and I asked her twice. Don't know what to do she wants me to wait until the hospital.

kaking78 · January 2014

I had to talk my doctor into it too. I won.

I've posted this a bunch of times, but one more can't hurt. Here's the statement from the ACOG:

https://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_Opinions/Committee_on_Obstetric_Practice/Update_on_Immunization_and_Pregnancy_Tetanus_Diphtheria_and_Pertussis_Vaccination

ChristineRich06 · January 2014

My OB office was out of it so they told me to call my PCP so I could make sure to get it soon. Maybe try calling your PCP and get it that way. Good luck & good for you for sticking up for your LO. PS a child in my daughter's kindergarten class had whooping cough about a month ago, so really you never know.

erind0213 · January 2014

With DD I got it in the hospital after she was born.. that was just 3 years ago. This time I got it at 30 weeks based on the new recommendation.

Perhaps call your primary and see if they will give it to you. My office told me that if they didn't have it in (it was back ordered) I could go to a CVS or my primary and get it. So if you want it there may be other options to get.
On a side note, practices and hospitals pick and choose which guidelines they want to follow, so if this is a newer one, it might not be as widely accepted and implemented as we would hope.

bingbongsmama · January 2014

Unfortunately doctors don't always know best.
I was totally brushed off by one of the OB's at the practice I go to. The next app I brought it up again with a different ob (the one who I actually scheduled the delivery with) and she said its a good idea and I could get it that day.

eileen 2 · January 2014

If you google dr sears recommendations you will come across a video where he talks about that vacine and the flu vacine. It says there is no proof these vaccines give immunity to the baby and they have not been tested on pregnant women or their fetuses.

Zriseon3 · January 2014

With the current level of outbreaks I would go to the pharmacy and get it. My OB said its standard at 33 weeks. I wouldn't take the risk, personally.

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Jennaweigel · January 2014

As a RN, I must say that I am proud to see so many women being their own advocate when they know they are not receiving the correct treatment. Bravo!

legallyginger · January 2014

snow527 said:
I'm surprised to hear so many OBs won't give it until after delivery. How do they feel about the flu vaccine? My practice makes you sign a declination waiver if you refuse, they are very pro vaccination!

Me too. I love that my OB's office has signs up in every room basically saying vaccinate yourself and your babies. They don't indulge the anti-vaccine nonsense.

ufsandra85 · January 2014

i am really saddened so many doctors don't keep up with the new recommendations. Especially since babies are getting sick and dying. I am so glad you are all pushing for what is right for your baby

htn1763 · January 2014

snow527 said:

I'm surprised to hear so many OBs won't give it until after delivery. How do they feel about the flu vaccine? My practice makes you sign a declination waiver if you refuse, they are very pro vaccination!

I got the flu vaccine at my practice. I am guessing because the tDap recommendation is relatively new they don't fully buy in yet? I'm not sure. I am seeing a different doctor in the practice next week so I am going to bring it up again.

peachy0709 · January 2014

ufsandra85 said:

i am really saddened so many doctors don't keep up with the new recommendations. Especially since babies are getting sick and dying. I am so glad you are all pushing for what is right for your baby

I feel like my doctor/doctor's practice pushes it so much because we had a horrible outbreak of whooping cough here just last year. Otherwise, I wonder how on top of it all of them would be...

htn1763 · January 2014

bearsbearsbears said:

I would have some serious problems going to an OB who was not up-to-date on recommendations.

Just because a practice isn't recommending it before birth doesn't mean they don't know the changes. They may not totally agree with the change and choose not to follow it.

eta: I still think people need to do their own research and decide for themselves if they aren't giving it at their practice.

miramirror · January 2014

To echo PP, when DS was born just 17 months ago, I received the vaccine in the hospital after delivering. (I believe my OB mentioned that some practices had already started giving it during pregnancy at that point, but this was by no means standard.) This is a very new recommendation. I think it's not surprising that it's taking some practices a while to catch up--especially given that women on here get wildly differing advice on issues that have been around for decades.

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Wriggley1123 · January 2014

Thanks so much for all of your help. I called my dr today and asked why they pushed the flu shot but not TDap. He said that where we live, whooping cough isn't common. If we lived somewhere like Washington state, he would tell me to get it. He said the flu is more common here. Also, because it is a class C drug, some fetal side effects still aren't known. Ughhhh

roxi9020 · January 2014

Most doctors love to give vaccinations.... so my take is that if they're not gung ho about it maybe there is a reason.

I'm in vax-loving NYC and my OB had no problem with me waiting to get a booster til after baby was born.

Wriggley1123 · February 2014

Thanks, it seems that most ppl where I live do get it in the hospital after baby is born. As long as I'm protected and she's protected safely, that's what I want.

Hb8983 · February 2014

They give Hep B & Vitamin K in the hospital. Not TDaP, that's at 2 months. You can have it during pregnancy, and in fact, even though I'd had it a year ago, my doc still recommended I get it during pregnancy because of transfer of antibodies

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