Pregnancy and Vaccines
Top 7 things to know about pregnancy and vaccinations - according to the cdc
1. Vaccines don't just protect you, vaccines administered during pregnancy give your baby early protection as well.
- Getting the flu shot and Tdap vaccine while you're pregnant causes your body to create protective antibodies, some of which are passed on to your baby. This can protect your baby from some diseases during their first few months before they can get vaccinated themselves. This immunity decreases over time.
2. Maternal vaccines are very safe for both you and your baby.
- Tdap and flu vaccines are safe for you and your baby according to the CDC and a panel of experts. Most people who get vaccinated to not experience side effects but the most common side effects are mild; redness, swelling, and tenderness at the site where the shot was given.
3. Whooping cough can be very dangerous for your baby and a Tdap vaccine can help protect against it.
- You need to get a Tdap vaccine during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy to protect against whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for newborns. About half of babies under 1 year old who get whooping cough will need treatment in the hospital and the younger the baby is, the more likely hospital treatment will be necessary. Whooping cough can infect babies, causing coughing or causing a baby to stop breathing and turn blue.
4. Serious complications can come from catching flu while pregnant.
- Changes in your immune, heart, and lung functions during pregnancy lead to a higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu as well as causing a higher change of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor and preterm birth. Serious problems for your baby can also come from catching flu. Flu vaccines can be given during any trimester.
5. Timing is everything when it comes to vaccinations.
- CDC recommends getting flu vaccine by the end of October to help ensure that you are protected before flu activity increases. The Tdap vaccine primarily protects your baby and because of this, the CDC recommends that you get it in your third trimester, between the 27th and 36th week. This passes the greatest number of protective antibodies to your baby before birth.
6. Anyone who is around your baby needs to be vaccinated as well.
- Since newborns do not have fully developed immune systems yet, they are particularly vulnerable to infections and can be infected with flu or whooping cough from older kids and adults. Anyone who needs vaccinated should do so at least two weeks before meeting the baby to allow for time to develop antibodies after their vaccination.
7. You'll need to get vaccinated each time you are pregnant.
- Antibody numbers in your body decrease over time so your vaccinations from one pregnancy may not be strong enough for future pregnancies; even if the babies are close in age. To best protect your baby, get your Tdap vaccine each time you are pregnant and continue to get a flu shot each influenza season.
- Getting the flu shot and Tdap vaccine while you're pregnant causes your body to create protective antibodies, some of which are passed on to your baby. This can protect your baby from some diseases during their first few months before they can get vaccinated themselves. This immunity decreases over time.
2. Maternal vaccines are very safe for both you and your baby.
- Tdap and flu vaccines are safe for you and your baby according to the CDC and a panel of experts. Most people who get vaccinated to not experience side effects but the most common side effects are mild; redness, swelling, and tenderness at the site where the shot was given.
3. Whooping cough can be very dangerous for your baby and a Tdap vaccine can help protect against it.
- You need to get a Tdap vaccine during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy to protect against whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for newborns. About half of babies under 1 year old who get whooping cough will need treatment in the hospital and the younger the baby is, the more likely hospital treatment will be necessary. Whooping cough can infect babies, causing coughing or causing a baby to stop breathing and turn blue.
4. Serious complications can come from catching flu while pregnant.
- Changes in your immune, heart, and lung functions during pregnancy lead to a higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu as well as causing a higher change of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor and preterm birth. Serious problems for your baby can also come from catching flu. Flu vaccines can be given during any trimester.
5. Timing is everything when it comes to vaccinations.
- CDC recommends getting flu vaccine by the end of October to help ensure that you are protected before flu activity increases. The Tdap vaccine primarily protects your baby and because of this, the CDC recommends that you get it in your third trimester, between the 27th and 36th week. This passes the greatest number of protective antibodies to your baby before birth.
6. Anyone who is around your baby needs to be vaccinated as well.
- Since newborns do not have fully developed immune systems yet, they are particularly vulnerable to infections and can be infected with flu or whooping cough from older kids and adults. Anyone who needs vaccinated should do so at least two weeks before meeting the baby to allow for time to develop antibodies after their vaccination.
7. You'll need to get vaccinated each time you are pregnant.
- Antibody numbers in your body decrease over time so your vaccinations from one pregnancy may not be strong enough for future pregnancies; even if the babies are close in age. To best protect your baby, get your Tdap vaccine each time you are pregnant and continue to get a flu shot each influenza season.