I caused an argument in the hospital...... rant!

[going_crazy]

Hi all, hope all ladies and bumps are doing good

Opinions needed..... Has anyone had a tetanus shot while pregnant??

I was trying to de-flea my cats and dog, when all of a sudden my youngest cat freaked and ended up with her claws in the back of my hand, straight into my vein (ouch!). So, I called NHS direct who advised me that as my tetanus was out of date, I should pop along to a+e and ask for a shot, just in case (my cats are outdoor cats)

So, I waddle off to a+e and saw the triage nurse who said I should definately get a shot and she would send me to the doctor on site. Anyways, I asked her if the shot was definately ok to have in pregnancy to which she asked me if I was definately pregnant (I am 36 weeks, not just fat !!!) so she called the midwives to check. The midwife said that it was NOT safe to have at this stage of pregnancy, but to get the wound cleaned by the doc.

When I saw the doc he advised me that the shot WAS safe to have and he recommended it. I told him what the midwife had said and he promptly picked up the phone and called the midwife in question and started to have a "heated discussion" with her about how safe a tetanus shot was in pregnancy!! All the time I'm sitting there twiddling my fingers waiting to go home!!

In the end, the doc told me it was my choice. I ended up having the wound cleaned and leaving without the shot. He kept telling me that the wound was clean but tetanus could still be a problem because the claws had gone straight into the vein, however, I couldn't help but thinking surely the midwife would have some knowledge too about the safety of tetanus?!?!?!

I'm now slightly worried that I've made the wrong decision and that I'll end up with blood poisoning or something

Who should I have listened to - Doctor or Midwife?!?!?!?!?!


Sorry for the rant! xxx

 

[lulu35]

Adult immunization rates have fallen short of national goals partly because of misconceptions about the safety and benefits of current vaccines. The danger of these misconceptions is magnified during pregnancy, when concerned physicians are hesitant to administer vaccines and patients are reluctant to accept them. Routine vaccines that generally are safe to administer during pregnancy include diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, and hepatitis B. Other vaccines, such as meningococcal and rabies, may be considered. Vaccines that are contraindicated, because of the theoretic risk of fetal transmission, include measles, mumps, and rubella; varicella; and bacille Calmette-Guérin. A number of other vaccines have not yet been adequately studied; therefore, theoretic risks of vaccination must be weighed against the risks of the disease to mother and fetus.

going by what i have read it seems that the tetanus is safe to have in pregnancy even in the later stages...but i think it is a presonal choice aswell, i would fone your midwife/gp and have a chat with them about it face to face and if they say its ok you can always have it done x

 

[misscream]

I would have trusted the doctor since they have years more education then mw's. I'm sure you'll be fine though, my cat is the devil and I get scratched up all the time

 

[Anna_due Dec]

i have been told that the tetanus vaccine actually lasts a lot longer then given credit for. So i know they say you should have it every ten years but it actually protects you a lot longer than that, so if you are only a few years over, you will probably find that you are safe anyway. A nurse told me that and a doctor told her that.

 

[MrsNovBaby]

Hard one there, I am not sure what I would have done. Good luck xx

 

[Vix_2009]

I wouldn't of known wether to have it done or not! If you have concerns perhaps speak to your own doctor or speak to your midwife again?

 

[kaylz]

Provided you have had 5 tetanus injections over your lifetime, you are probably protected anyway. You would get 3 as a baby (at 2,3 and 4 months old), one when you first start school (about age 5) and a final one at senior school (age 15 or so).

After that, you only really need an extra shot if you get a really dirty wound/dog bite etc. I used to work at NHS Direct and I suspect that they have erred on the side of caution here because there was a cat and a vein involved and/or because you are maybe unsure about your tetanus history?

Anyway, all the evidence suggests that tetanus probably IS safe in pregnancy, but because they have never done large scale trials on pregnant ladies (and never would) that information is always going to be based on theory rather than firm evidence.....

 

[Phinners]

I would have gone with the doctor advise.

I had a quick look around and found this:

Am Fam Physician. 2003 Jul 15;68(2):299-304.

Vaccinations in pregnancy.
Sur DK, Wallis DH, O'Connell TX.

Abstract
Adult immunization rates have fallen short of national goals partly because of misconceptions about the safety and benefits of current vaccines. The danger of these misconceptions is magnified during pregnancy, when concerned physicians are hesitant to administer vaccines and patients are reluctant to accept them. Routine vaccines that generally are safe to administer during pregnancy include diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, and hepatitis B. Other vaccines, such as meningococcal and rabies, may be considered. Vaccines that are contraindicated, because of the theoretic risk of fetal transmission, include measles, mumps, and rubella; varicella; and bacille Calmette-Guerin.

A number of other vaccines have not yet been adequately studied; therefore, theoretic risks of vaccination must be weighed against the risks of the disease to mother and fetus. Inadvertent administration of any of these vaccinations, however, is not considered an indication for termination of the pregnancy.

 

[Claire300]

I'd have listened to the doctor. I've asked various midwives questions throughout this pregnancy and they admit they don't know and have sent me to my GP.
One time I told my midwife I was going on a long haul flight (went to Las Vegas at 20 weeks preg) and she recommended I take an aspirin tablet just before each flight. My mum works at my GP's office so I asked her to check with one of the docs that this was ok. Well she asked about 5 doctors and one specialist who was visiting from the hospital who all said not to take it at all and it could actually have been quite dangerous!