Pertussis and T-dap (or DTaP) vaccine

failuretofly · September 2015

Hey Ladies,

I was lurking on the December 2015 board and found this really eye opening link to a video that explains what it really means for your babe to get pertussis and why you should vaccinate yourself and family before LO arrives. Being and RN who has worked in Pediatric Intensive Care I can tell you that these stories are not exaggerated and are not out of the ordinary for infants who get pertussis. Please watch for yourself.

https://www.soundsofpertussis.com/pertussis-videos.html#story2

katherines2ndminime · September 2015

I wanted DH to get vaccinated, but there is no more outbreak in the area anymore so they don't advise getting it. I'm thinking of getting it done privately for him because it's just terrifying to think of what could happen.

nlwz123 · September 2015

katherines2ndminime said:

I wanted DH to get vaccinated, but there is no more outbreak in the area anymore so they don't advise getting it. I'm thinking of getting it done privately for him because it's just terrifying to think of what could happen.

I'm actually surprised your doctor advised your DH to not get it.

katherines2ndminime · September 2015

It wasn't a MD. I'm going to pursue...

Grace213 · September 2015

It's like pulling teeth to get DH to get a flu shot. Like, he won't go and just get it. I have to drag him to one of my Dr appts and "out of the blue" ask the nurse to give us both one or it won't happen.

I know I had the whooping cough vaccine when I was preggo with DD. I'll have to ask if I need it again at my appt next week.

DD is up to date! That's always my #1 concern!

m6tonner · September 2015

My doc said it didn't matter if I had it done the day before i got pregnant, I would still need to have it done again during this pregnancy to protect the baby. It will be interesting to see what others doctors are recommending. My husband doesn't feel the need to get any vaccines for himself, but when it comes to the health of his kids, he'll be all about it.

ETA: I feel pretty strongly about vaccines, it's such an easy step for us to take to help ensure the health and safety of our children and our communities. Unless you are immunocompromised and unable to get vaccinated, it's a no-brainer for me.

MrsB915 · September 2015

My ob said I should get revaccinated with the DTaP during this pregnancy even though ds will be 23 months by my due date. Getting vaccinated will also protect baby initially until they are old enough to get it on their own. A small amount of the vaccine reaches baby. My dh and extended family do not need to be revaccinated as theirs is still valid.

I will be encouraging them to get their flu shots though!

I'd be suprised if your MD didn't recommend getting the DTaP while pregnant.

GAgirlinSDakota · September 2015

My oldest (almost 13 now) caught pertussis as an infant. We suspect from my (ex)MIL. It was the worst feeling ever spending 8 nights in the hospital watching my very first baby suffer and struggle. The sound of that cough STILL haunts my dreams. Ever since then, if someone doesn't have proof of getting the vaccine within the last 5yrs, they don't hold the baby until he/she has had at least one dose. SO's dad refuses (he hates my guts) so I guess he'll miss out on yet another grandbaby.

Same goes for the flu shot. I know it doesn't always protect, but some is better than none to me.

RunnerMeg · September 2015

The recommendation is to re-vaccinate during each pregnancy. This is recommended because the month we will pass on antibodies to the baby. Both my parents got their vaccines last week (they couldn't Denver if they did when DS was born). DH got his when I was pregnant with DS so He's going to look into if he needs it again.

l4rk · September 2015

I asked my midwife and family doctor about vaccinating while pregnant and they both seemed to think I was nuts. I guess it's not as common where I live?

blondiebrat0916 · September 2015

My doctor recommended that I get both the TDap and Flu shots at 27 to 30 weeks as the baby gets slightly vaccinated then as well. All of my immediate family has also gotten them. It was fun actually, we made an appointment at CVS and all went together as a family. We took a group photo showing our colorful bandaids and posted it on Facebook with the caption "getting ready for baby".

Leah6120 · September 2015

Did any mom's here get it at delivery? That's when my friend got hers. I want to say either later on that evening or the next day. I'm curious on the logic of that vs during pregnancy.

ChrissyD1203 · September 2015

@blondiebrat0916 - love that!! Totally stealing your idea!

kmo8986 · September 2015

@Leah6120 I got mine before leaving the hospital with DS. I intended to get it before he was born, but I had an issue with Walgreens not telling me I needed a prescription for it when I called and made the appointment, and then DS came early so I didn't have the opportunity to go again. I am debating whether or not I will get it while pregnant this time. I am all about vaccines but I have already had it, and don't think it is necessary to get again. I will definitely get the flu shot in the next few weeks.

rah938 · September 2015

When you get a booster during pregnancy, you pass the IgG you produce (an antibody) to the baby through the placenta. It's why you get with every pregnancy and your family members just have to be up to date.

mg137 · September 2015

Leah6120 said:
Did any mom's here get it at delivery? That's when my friend got hers. I want to say either later on that evening or the next day. I'm curious on the logic of that vs during pregnancy.

I got it at the hospital after delivery. It's generally recommended during pregnancy because the baby gets some immunity from you. My doctor didn't recommend it last pregnancy. I'd like to find more information about how extensively they've been tested for safety during pregnancy before I do it this time. If anyone has any studies to point me to I'd appreciate that.

The biggest risk to babies is older siblings, even those who have been vaccinated, because the immunity can wear off some, allowing the child to catch pertussis. The vaccinated child usually won't get very sick at all but can still pass it to the baby. If you have an older child at home, check into whether or not they need another booster. My girls are too young for theirs to have worn off so, since it didn't apply to me, I didn't retain at what age it starts to be a problem.

dpurejoy · October 2015

My friend said you can pas immunity through breast milk ... Has anyone heard that? That's why she waited until after both her girls were born. Also she said they will get it at 2 months as a part of their vaccination schedule and there were studied that showed babies that had it in the womb showed decreased effectiveness of the 2 month shot.

Not sure what I am going to do.

I am sitting here at my glucose test at my 28 week appointment and she said I can think about it and talk to them about it at my 32 week checkin.

MissMheMhe · October 2015

I got my Tdap at my 28w appt this past monday. DH got his at CVS after m appt. We have requested that everyone who wishes to be at the hospital be recent with it as well.

62406 · October 2015

I will have mine at my 28 week appointment in a few weeks. It's going to be a super fun visit with the glucose test included.

samara267 · October 2015

no vaccines during pregnancy for me. I'll give this vaccine to the baby when she's 2 months old.

maureenmce · October 2015

I'll be getting my Tdap at my 28 week as well, along with glucose too. (As @62406 said - super fun! Haha.) As for the Tdap, both my endocrinologist and OB recommend it while pregnant because of the additional protection it offers to the baby before he/she can get his/her own vaccine. We've had whooping cough and measles issues where I live, so I am thrilled to offer my baby girl any extra protection I can give her until she can have her own series of vaccines!

My husband already got his Tdap, and my mom and any close family who will be staying with us are planning to get Tdap and flu shots.

ChrissyD1203 · October 2015

They won't give me Tdap until 34 weeks, has anyone heard of that? I tried to get it last week at my 28 week appointment when I got my RH shot thing but they said no!

Theliops · October 2015

I was at my OB yesterday and asked about the whooping cough vaccine - she said to check my vaccine records from when I was a child. Sure enough, back in 1984 I got my pertussis vaccine... And again in 2002 for some reason.

Either way, I'm not sure if it was because of when I was born or where but there might be some of you who have had it when you were babies!

maureenmce · October 2015

@Theliops - Nearly everyone has had a Tdap shot as a child, but they found that the Tdap vaccine is no longer good for a lifetime. They recommend boosters every ten years now, I believe, even if you're not expecting a baby. If you are expecting a baby they strongly recommend that the mother and everyone coming in close contact with the baby get a booster. They even recommend it at this point for every pregnancy, even if you have had it only a couple of years before for a previous pregnancy, due to the substantial increase in whooping cough cases in the US over the past several years. (Likely because they previously thought/told people that it was good for a lifetime, but it's no longer the case.)

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm

If you got yours in 2002 you'd be fine for you, but again, they recommend pregnant women get it again at a certain point (generally 28 weeks or later) so that you pass on some of the immunity to your baby in utero, to offer them some protection until they can get their own vaccine. You may want to follow up on this with your OB with the current CDC guidelines.

Theliops · October 2015

Thanks @maureenmce! I'll definitely follow up

rah938 · October 2015

Breast milk only contains IgA. It does not contain IgG. IgG is the type of immunoglobulin you make when immunized. While IgA protects the baby somewhat, it is not as effective as antibodies (IgG) passed through the placenta before birth. Babies get most of their immune system for the first four-six months of life from their mother. They then begin to make their own antibodies. It is recommended you get a booster each pregnancy for this reason.

CBWifey · October 2015

I truly appreciate all your insight ladies. I think each of your opinions from Drs and reading is useful for sure, as is discussing with your dr. I have not received this booster while pg because I'm one of those immune compromised individuals who really reacts badly to this particular vaccine. I am afraid to risk baby with my bodies reaction. Most of my docs have agreed and said this is fine.....but I truly wish I could for baby's sake. Might just hermitize our home for 2 months...

mrhargr · October 2015

ChrissyD1203 said:
They won't give me Tdap until 34 weeks, has anyone heard of that? I tried to get it last week at my 28 week appointment when I got my RH shot thing but they said no!

My doctor told me today that they will be giving me my Tdap vaccine at 36 weeks. I didn't ask why so late though.

MeghaJake · October 2015

The recommendation has just recently changed on tdap. I had a baby in 2013 and received the vaccine in the hospital. My doctor said things have changed since then and the new recommendation is for women to receive the vaccine between 28 and 36 weeks because they have found that some of the vaccine's protections transfer to the baby in utero. You can read about it on the CDC's website.

I had the vaccine when I was a child but came down with pertussis in 2008. The immunity wears off over time. It is really a terrible illness and it is devastating for infants. You can watch videos of infants with pertussis. It is heartbreaking.

PedsIsHardcore · October 2015

I am having my OB look into it. I have allergies to many vaccines so I will find out next week if I can be vaccinated or not. I couldn't get the flu vaccine due to my allergies.

willashbaby · October 2015

MeghaJake said:

The recommendation has just recently changed on tdap. I had a baby in 2013 and received the vaccine in the hospital. My doctor said things have changed since then and the new recommendation is for women to receive the vaccine between 28 and 36 weeks because they have found that some of the vaccine's protections transfer to the baby in utero. You can read about it on the CDC's website. I had the vaccine when I was a child but came down with pertussis in 2008. The immunity wears off over time. It is really a terrible illness and it is devastating for infants. You can watch videos of infants with pertussis. It is heartbreaking.

I had it in 2009, it was seriously one of the worst experiences of my life! I will do anything to protect my LO from it!

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