Anyone not able to have whooping cough vaccine/big issues with it? Advice needed

[A1983]

Hi there-I hope im in the right place to post. I'm 32 weeks pregnant and and in such a dilemma over the wc vaccine (the booster given during pregnancy and the vaccines given to baby).

My situation-50 years ago my half sister (so same dad) was given the wc vaccine at 8 weeks and convulsed immediately, was given half the dose the next time and convulsed again along with relentless screaming and blood blustering all over her body. At the age of 4 they discovered she was brain damaged and did not progress mentally from age 4. My father fought and won the tribunal. As a result I was not given vaccine. My father acknowledges the vaccine was live back then and not now...but obviously does not know if that was the reason for her severe reaction.

Now what happens when im about to have my first baby-wc outbreaks with vaccines being advised if not pushed upon mothers all over the country with real life statistics and scary stories of the dangers of not vaccinating. I actually had the Dtap booster by accident 2 years ago with no issues-whether this was because I was an adult, it's only a small amount (?) or indeed my sister was just a one off reaction I will never know. I will be discussing my situation with my gp next week who will understandably probably not have the knowledge needed to help me-and so I hope to be referred to a specialist who will really know their stuff and im praying there will be some way of testing my baby without exposing him to the same fate as my half sister...ie skin prick test or a tiny amount of the booster jab first instead of vaccine. I don't know.

Also with the vaccine now being given to pregnant women im hopeful that if i have it, only I will be exposed to the ingredients and the antibodies passed on will have no detrimental effect on my baby? Ill also discuss having it (again if ive had it) post birth so I can pass antibodies on through my milk plus protect baby from me passing anything on.

I can't wrap my baby up and hide from the world although very tempting, this baby is my absolute everything, although I did discuss with my oh about having all visitors getting the booster. He thinks this is ott and we can't ask ppl to do that-although I understand it made me angry-this is our baby's life-stuff your friends reactions and if they don't want to visit then that's their choice. This is a horrible predicament to be in and maybe im over thinking this-but as a new mum to be im so very worried.

Any advice or people in a similar situation?

Thank you

 

[_Lexi_]

I think the best advise will be from your dr/specialist that can help you. It might be getting a bit late to be referred to a specialist to discuss you having the jab, as those appointments can take weeks, and its advised to get it before 36 weeks, but they might be able to help in regards to your baby being vaccinated. As far as asking everyone you know to get a booster, I don't even know if drs would offer it to everyone just for that reason. I know my oh wasn't offered it. Plus, you can't hide your baby away indoors forever and you will come across people in public that haven't had it.

 

[o0Squeaks0o]

hi hun. just want to say i have never been in your situation but after reading all about these vaccines and jabs it has scared me quite a lot and most definitely confused me in which way to handle it all, so i can understand your worries. with the wc one after reading on the nhs site about it not being researched on pregnant women i decided against it, i am still yet to read up on wc given directly to our little ones. just want to say i hope you get the answers your looking for. xx

 

[CelticNiamh]

The vaccines these days are much safer thankfully, I am not getting the WC vaccine my self, my doctor did not see much point and I do vaccinate my children so know by 8 week he will be covered any way!! I will be breastfeeding as well.

I caught the WC when I was 4 years old and was sick for weeks, it was horrible and I have scar tissue on my heart from it ,from being starved of oxygen and passing out so much, guess I am lucky to be here really LOL

breastfeeding your baby will help protect them any antibodies you have now will pass to them in the womb and also after from breastfeeding! I know it is a concern with people coming to visit the baby, but do not be afriad to ask them to wash thier hands and stay away if not well!!

I guess then you need to see if you will get the baby its injections or not after that hopefully your doctor will know or can find out any information you might need to help ease your mind!!!

 

[A1983]

Thanks ladies-it is tough! Celtic how comes your dr didn't see much point in you having it? My mw also said that by the time baby is born in July, wc is less prevalent in summer months..however stats showed its peak was between July&Oct last year?!

Part of me is hoping if I decide to have vaccine during pregnancy plus breastfeed, bubs will be protected beyond 8 weeks as id like to wait til he's a bit older before he has the jab-IF he has the jab. Im also thinking as the outbreak typically occurs every 5 years, and 2012 was the outbreak, by the time my baby (and all yours of course) is born, the chances/prevalence will be so much lower.. Lots to ask the specialist! Thank you for your help ladies x

 

[CelticNiamh]

Thanks ladies-it is tough! Celtic how comes your dr didn't see much point in you having it? My mw also said that by the time baby is born in July, wc is less prevalent in summer months..however stats showed its peak was between July&Oct last year?!

Part of me is hoping if I decide to have vaccine during pregnancy plus breastfeed, bubs will be protected beyond 8 weeks as id like to wait til he's a bit older before he has the jab-IF he has the jab. Im also thinking as the outbreak typically occurs every 5 years, and 2012 was the outbreak, by the time my baby (and all yours of course) is born, the chances/prevalence will be so much lower.. Lots to ask the specialist! Thank you for your help ladies x

I think becuase such a small amount of out breaks here in Ireland! 2 babied did die sadly but compared to the 11 in the UK not as bad still to many as far as I am concerned, also because baby will be born by end of july!
she did seem to think I would have some immunity to it, but I have read contray to that on line so do not know how true that is.

I may ask my OB when I am with him next see what they say as well!

 

[MrsWhy]

I had a conversation with my midwife and consultant about the WC jab and they've both said that I'll probably not need it as I had whooping cough as a child and I'm immune to it. They've said I've passed that immunity onto baby.

 

[CelticNiamh]

I had a conversation with my midwife and consultant about the WC jab and they've both said that I'll probably not need it as I had whooping cough as a child and I'm immune to it. They've said I've passed that immunity onto baby.

You see I read that immunity only last up to 10 years!! but not 100% sure how accurate that is!! I mean normally with any illiness once you have had it that is it you are immune I would assume any way!!

I had it as well, so hope that is true

 

[Rafferty]

I decided against it. I am not typically against vaccines and my 3 year old has had all of them...but it just seems too new and the consequences are unknown. I am not interested in being a guinea pig. They weren't recommending it just a few years ago when I was pregnant with DD1...plus it would just be excess vaccine in my body. And th doc said they're recommending it every pregnancy ....so if you have 4 kids= 4 vaccines. That seems like a lot of vaccines to me.

 

[A1983]

Yeah I think with the outbreak being so large last year they have just thought of a way of protecting baby until he/she has their first jab and even then they aren't apparently protected until they have had all 3. How are you ladies going to minimise any risk for first 8 weeks? Or are you generally quite relaxed about the chances being minimal? (Ie not a nervous wreck like me ha! I think it's only because I have an issue with the vaccine in that my baby might not be able to have it...or at least until he is much older ie 1).

Celtic I hope you do pass on that immunity-so reassuring for you! Like a reward for having had to go through it yourself!

 

[A1983]

Ok so paediatrician phoned me today to discuss my dilemma with the wc vaccine....im left even more confused and upset.

He said vaccinations are given as a 5 in 1 nowadays, and so even if I decided to leave out the whooping cough vaccine I would have to leave out the other 4 including meningitis, polio etc..which is obviously ridiculous. He also said prolonging vaccinating babies is not recommended as the older a baby gets the more likely they are to already have an illness ie temperature which could interact badly with the vaccine by causing fits/brain damage.

When asked about how much of the booster I had 18 months ago is the original wc vaccine (as I never had the wc vaccine as a child due to my half sister's reaction) he did not know. He then advised me to have the full wc vaccine schedule..and said this would be ok during pregnancy. I advised him that the booster is only being given in pregnancy...and he said he would look into this and get back to me. When asked if any of the vaccine gets through to the baby in utero he said it was believed not, and just the mother's antibodies she creates passes through the placenta.

He ended the conversation saying the vaccine is different nowadays-the wc vaccine still has LIVE BACTERIA but not as much..he then said his recommendation would be for me to be vaccinated during pregnancy with the booster and for my baby to have the usual vaccinations at the recommended times. He added there would be no point in giving smaller doses as if baby is going to react they will...and they wont do it in a controlled environment as a baby could react days later plus they cannot reverse the vaccine or it's effects.

I'm now looking into seperating the vaccines privately but don't know how to go about this and how much it would cost. I don't have lots of money now im on mat leave with a morgage but at the same time my baby's life is everything.

So im really stuck now. My oh says we don't have a choice and we should just vaccinate as recommended as the chances of a reaction are so small...but there is still that chance? It was my half sister it happened to. I would wonder if maybe she had had brain damage from birth and it had nothing to do with the wc vaccine..but my father said she seizured both times she had it. Furthermore she clearly wasn't ill with a temp at both times she was given the vaccine which trumps the paeds hypothesis about a baby having a reaction due to being ill.

Help:'(