Anybody undecided about getting the whooping cough vaccine?

[Hope115]

Im in the USA and work in the NICU- me and my husband will be getting it- i see what happens to the poor babies when they get sick because their parents or sibling were not vacinated.

 

[mhk425]

I got it. When one of my OB doctors (who is my mom's first cousin) recommended it, I didn't think twice. I'm glad I did it b/c when I met the pediatrician for the first time yesterday, she specifically mentioned that she had patients with whooping cough in her office last year. Apparently it's fairly common in my area. To be honest, however, I'd do it either way. Better safe than sorry, no doubt!

 

[Mummy Bean]

we went for it as living/working/socialising in London were at higher risk. Also my parents both work with children with special needs which many of them are unable to get vax'd due to health issues and they look after my son and often take him with them to the various groups - so I felt for both my baby and the other children's sake it was worth it.

there is no history of a reaction to the vax in myself, hubby or my son - so I can only assume this baby would be the same.

it was one that I did think on more carefully then some of the others vax which have been more thoroughly tested but due my family having a higher exposure to the disease, I thought the risk was worth it.

 

[Mummy Bean]

A midwife hasn't even mentioned this to me and I wouldn't have even heard of it if it hadn't have been for B n B lol! I'll be asking about it at my 32 week midwife appt. Im all for vacinations, i will probably have it as its better to be safe than sorry.

I cant see how it can be SO important if Im 30 weeks pregnant and had no mention of it lol!

it must be advertised in more high risk areas, as in London you cant escape the adverts. I constantly hear it on the radio, or see posters on transport, in baby stores. perhaps because it only a new recommendation it not been rolled out nation wide.

 

[ClairAye]

I haven't even researched it tbh but it's a no brainer for me!

We could have lost our LO at 4 weeks old, not through something that could have been prevented but I know how they can get so ill before being able to be vaccinated. I think I'd still get it if that hadn't happened though. I'm very much all for vaccinating

 

[BigLegEmma]

After doing a lot of research, I have massive reservations about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, the pharma companies and long term effects of said vaccines.

 

[mizzyb]

had my flu and whooping vaccine today. Id say definately have it, she went into loads of detail and told me its perfectly safe, there hasnt been any adverse reactions to it and she stressed to me how important it is as there has been outbreaks in the last yr I think.

 

[mhk425]

Ask people who were around during the polio epidemic what they think of vaccines. I don't want to start a debate, but if everyone decided just to let others get vaccinated instead of them, we'd have a BIG problem on our hands.

 

[ama]

Not heard about this vac here in aus. I was only offered flu jab and I declined . After my son had a very very bad reaction to his 4 month immunisations( I nearly lost him) I'm now very against vaccines and what's in them personally . I don't pass judgement on ppl who do or don't vaccinate . Every one should do there own research and be comfortable in there decision . x

 

[Pearls18]

Ask people who were around during the polio epidemic what they think of vaccines. I don't want to start a debate, but if everyone decided just to let others get vaccinated instead of them, we'd have a BIG problem on our hands.

Then why try and start one? If you read my opening thread you will see I am pro vax, I get everything offered to me as will my children, this vaccination is different to the polio medication because this isn't about eradicating whooping cough for life, this vaccine is about covering the first 8 weeks of baby's life, when babies are 8 weeks in the UK we are offered, and I will take the scheduled vaccinations which cover whooping cough. I've just decided to give this a little more thought because it worries me that babies are too young to vaccines 0-8 weeks but it is ok when they are in utero (if anyone knows why this is I would really appreciate the info) it worries me the effect of a vaccine while they are still developing, that is not to say I'm not having it, I am just trying to give this a little bit of thought and do my research because whooping cough levels have been extremely low in the UK recently (last autumn it was very high) and I don't want to get a vaccine "just in case" for an 8 week period on something that could be a very minute cause and a vaccine that could potentially have long term effects that are yet unknown, this is nothing to do with "epidemics". I don't care about adverse reactions to me, I'd do anything to protect my baby, I want to make the right choice for HIM, and I'm yet to be convinced that chances of him getting whooping cough are likely enough to outweigh a little researched vaccine, yet, trust me I am usually the most obnoxious person when it comes to arguing with anti vax people as to me I don't usually see it as a choice but that doesn't mean I can't do my research.

Thank you for the replies, I really appreciate your comments, I know you're all right and these are the reasons I vaccinate against everything else, I think I just need to research into the actual vaccine a little more to try and relax myself about it so I know I can make an informed choice

 

[angelandbump]

I was very unsure over getting the vaccine... the information was very basic. My midwife never even mentioned it to me and if it wasn't for baby and bump, I would have never known about the vaccine. I looked online and the information from websites are conflicting.

I ended up approaching the subject with my midwife who said ''well you can get it if you want but there wasn't many cases of whooping cough in the area last year'' So not very helpful at all!

I ended up deciding to go ahead with it after speaking to my partner and we both agreed that it could only be beneficial. By the time I booked it in and got an apt, I ended up only getting it on Monday. I mentioned to the nurse I am getting induced the following Monday and she said really you need a minimum of 1-2 weeks for baby to get full benefit but at least baby will get some protection.

The nurse even agreed the information is vague and even she had to look online to make sure I can get the vaccine so late.

x

 

[Becki.S]

MarineWag,

I think the reason is that we are given the vaccine our body is the one to then create the anti-bodies and once the anti-bodies are created they are passed through the placenta (and milk afterwards). I think the understanding is that weeks 0-8 the baby is too young to create the anti-bodies on their own which is why they cannot give them the vaccine directly. However once they are 8 weeks their immune system is strong enough to convert the vaccine themselves.
This is the understanding i have from what I've read and a few people I have spoken to with a medical background.
I'm hoping I've explained it right!

Afterthought: it's a bit like comparing food, medicine etc that we can have whilst pregnant that a baby cannot have, once something goes into our body, our body does what it needs to to it and then it goes into the placenta it doesn't go there directly. Does that make sense?

Becki x

 

[Pearls18]

MarineWag,

I think the reason is that we are given the vaccine our body is the one to then create the anti-bodies and once the anti-bodies are created they are passed through the placenta (and milk afterwards). I think the understanding is that weeks 0-8 the baby is too young to create the anti-bodies on their own which is why they cannot give them the vaccine directly. However once they are 8 weeks their immune system is strong enough to convert the vaccine themselves.
This is the understanding i have from what I've read and a few people I have spoken to with a medical background.
I'm hoping I've explained it right!

Afterthought: it's a bit like comparing food, medicine etc that we can have whilst pregnant that a baby cannot have, once something goes into our body, our body does what it needs to to it and then it goes into the placenta it doesn't go there directly. Does that make sense?

Becki x

Great thanks hun, I knew there would be a good reason I just didn't know what it was, and this makes perfect sense

I know this sounds really irrational, I have no sound reason for thinking of this, certainly no scientific reason, but for some reason I worry vaccines in pregnancy could interfere with brain development...This is my biggest fear, but the brain develops in first trimester right? X

 

[Becki.S]

The brain develops then, but brains continue to develop throughout pregnancy and beyond. So yes it could happen in terms of timing, but there have been no adverse affects reported so far. But obviously some babies do have adverse responses to vaccinations when most babies don't. Whooping cough itself can cause brain damage if contracted that young.
My thoughts are that a baby is less likely to have adverse affects as they are receiving the anti-bodies from us rather than the vaccine ingredients, unlike when they are 8 weeks and receive the vaccination directly? I'm sure some cross over but in lower doses than when they are given the vaccination, so my thinking is that it is possibly safer now than at 8 weeks?

Becki x

 

[Pearls18]

The brain develops then, but brains continue to develop throughout pregnancy and beyond. So yes it could happen in terms of timing, but there have been no adverse affects reported so far. But obviously some babies do have adverse responses to vaccinations when most babies don't. Whooping cough itself can cause brain damage if contracted that young.
My thoughts are that a baby is less likely to have adverse affects as they are receiving the anti-bodies from us rather than the vaccine ingredients, unlike when they are 8 weeks and receive the vaccination directly? I'm sure some cross over but in lower doses than when they are given the vaccination, so my thinking is that it is possibly safer now than at 8 weeks?

Becki x

Thanks hun, I haven't touched science since I was 16 lol (which is why I am glad I am asking these questions because obviously I know I'm not qualified to make the decision on my gut only) I'm guessing even if you are vaccinated in pregnancy baby still has the 8 weeks jab for whooping cough?x

 

[Becki.S]

Lol, thats the difficulties we have with these decisions! Yes they do they still have all their jabs :-D
And I feel awful for them as my arm is sorrrrrrrre so makes me feel like a mean mummy that I'll be letting a nurse do that to my little man, but it's for the best!

Becki x

 

[Pearls18]

Lol, thats the difficulties we have with these decisions! Yes they do they still have all their jabs :-D

Becki x

Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me, I feel much more confident about it today than I did yesterday and the other replies have reasserted my common sense. I am definitely back to being swayed more towards it, I have a cold currently though so will probably have to wait a week so will see who else I can bother on the subject in the meantime too x

 

[Becki.S]

No worries, I understand the difficulties in deciding, it's a difficult decision to make as we just don't know what our specific children will react to so it's weighing up cost/benefit/risk etc which is so hard!!!

Becki x

 

[IsabellaJayne]

Should my OH get this too?

 

[Pearls18]

Should my OH get this too?

He probably wouldn't get it on the NHS hun plus he should technically be covered if he had it as a baby, but it doesn't matter anyway, if your baby has had it via you she is protected. Although whooping cough as an adult would be nasty, it's children and babies who are vulnerable to the worst effects which is why we are all vaccinated so young, so no, he shouldn't need it. You didn't even need it, it was given to you for your baby not you