Tdap immunization

[rainbowbb]

My midwife wants me to get the tdap shot and I am considering getting it ONLY because we may be flying during the holiday season before she's 2 months old and able to get her own dtap shot. Otherwise I wouldn't be because it will literally be only my husband and I around her as we don't live near family and don't have friends who come over. Has anyone else been given the shot? I did some research on it and it seems fine to get, but there is conflicting research saying it prevents pertussis until she can get her own shots going and some say despite getting it you and baby can still get it (adult-whooping cough, baby-sitting pertussis) but it MAY not be as severe. It kinda seems like the flu shot where it probably won't make any difference at all. I'm not anti vaccines, but I don't really agree that all of them are necessary. And what makes me hesitant about getting it is I have not read a single thing about receiving the tdap shot while pregnant in a single article or book

[specialmom]

That certainly makes sense sorenr.  Women need to do what is best in their opinion for themselves and work with their doctor when making the decision.  luck to everyone!

[sorenr]

I didn't get it for 2 reasons. I had whooping cough as a child, so the immunity I pass on is more effective than the synthetic immunity. Secondly, our doctor refused to immunise me as a child because my mum had taken a horrendous reaction to it. I later discovered that you should not get this vaccine if you have a latex allergy (which my mum does) whilst I am not allergic, I work in a lab and do need to wear special gloves as I react to the normal ones provided. I felt the risks outweighed the benefit on this one for me.

[lousie_1986]

Cacooning is the practice of close family and friends getting vaccinated. It was widely used a few years ago but has declined in popularity recently due to evidence of its inefficiency. However many women still like the idea and many doctors still recommend it (actually I've even seen it rise in popularity in some areas due to celebrities and media who are not up with the science). In fact many women who refuse the tdap while pregnant are recommended cacooning by their doctors instead. I don't think all those women are obnoxious, whether they COULDN'T get the shot or WOULDN'T.

Just not a fan of labelling mums as horrible because a choice they made differs to mine.

[AJsbaby]

Louise you and I obviously have differing opinions. My brothers girlfriend wanted people to visit and be around the baby but in the same breath told everyone they HAD to get the shot, because the baby wasnt protected because she didnt get it while still pregnant because she didnt want too. If you do not want to get the shot yourself then certainly dont demand others to get it, just tell everyone to stay away, and tell everyone you have made the choice to practice the "cacooning". Like I said before there are people out there that cant do this for whatever reason and they should certainly not be demanded to get this shot because you dont want to. Cant and dont want too are two very different things.

[lousie_1986]

@AJ'sbaby I read your statement correctly the first time. If a mum genuinely believes that demanding those around her get the shot or otherwise stay away from baby is the safest option, then I don't think it's obnoxious. Personally I can't stand it when I hear of mums making this demand, as CDC says this practice of 'cacooning' is not very effective at all for reducing newborn whooping cough rates (so I actually agree with you on your stance). But I'm going to assume that, even though I believe the mother is misled, she is most likely doing what she thinks is best for her child, and that to me is not obnoxious.

[amor122085]

I chose not to get it because I've had horrible allergic reactions to tetanus shots in the past, and I don't want to go through that particular agony while pregnant. My doctor was supposed to look into getting me a pertussis and a diphtheria shot separately, but he never got back to me. I'm nervous about my baby inheriting my allergy to the tetanus shot, but I'm still considering giving him the tdap vaccine anyway.

[AJsbaby]

I did the right thing and protectedy baby on my own Im not demanding anyone get anything due to financial cost or lack of insurance among other issues. I believe this is your baby and your responsibility to protect them! If you dont want to get the shot then tell people to stay away, dont tell them to come over but only if they've gotten their tdap shot because you wont!

[AJsbaby]

Re read my statement It was obnoxious for her to DEMAND for everyone else to get one but wouldnt get one herself. I understand some moms dont want to get the shot but dont go around demanding others to do it then!!

[lousie_1986]

^^ why is it so incredibly obnoxious for a pregnant mother not to get tdap? There is no evidence to say it is safe for the fetus, just assumed, and it's a category C drug as classed by the FDA (I would be wary of even category B in pregnancy, but that's just me) with suspected issues for immune responses in babies who get tdap as fetuses. If she wanted everyone around her to get the shot before baby is born then she's being as safe as she can (people can just forego visiting for 6 weeks if they don't want to get it). She really just took what she thought the safest route was for her and her baby, just as you did...

[AJsbaby]

I recieved the shot a little over a week ago. Due to my family and my husbands family who will want to visit I was afraid of the whooping cough spreading. One of my brothers, girlfriend demanded that when she was pregnant with my nephew we all get the shot before we were able to see him, but she herself wouldnt get it which I thought was incredibly obnoxious! Im protecting my son and had it fone because I'm certainly not going to demand other people go out and pay the money or take the time to get the shot! Ive heard some negative stuff about it, but those same people seem to be anti vaccine all around. Im certainly not anti vaccine but I also believe there are some more important than others ( ive never had a flu shot for this reason).

[AnnieBrooke]

My son had a horrible gasping cough in the winter when he was a baby.  It was really scary.  It wasn't whooping cough (we had had the vaccination) but I was totally awakened to how frightening it can be to have a small child with something serious that you can't control.  You sound good, getting the shot.  All protections are good.

[mags242001]

I had some friends who just had their baby abt a month ago. They were perfectly fine. I think there r a very small percentage that may have a bad reaction to it but the benefits outdo the neg. So we r getting them. My husband also. He said we definitely wants to because he had the whopping cough when he was younger n doesn't want our baby to get that.

[specialmom]

Honestly, you really never know.  I got my shot this past Tuesday.  I'm protected which is good for all of us.  good luck