So it was interesting to read today in the Guardian online that the UK have changed their guidance that pregnant women should go for their vaccine when their eligibility ( i.e age group) is called for vaccine as a large study in the US using the Pfeizer and moderna vaccines in 90,000 pregnant women have shown no adverse effects.. When your age group is called up will you be going for your jab??
I am just over 9 weeks and my age group is likely to be called up in May/June ( i am 38) so i will be in trimester 2 then.
It mentions particularly in the 3rd trimester that the risks are high for more severe disease unprotected without the jab..
What will you be doing for those of you that are pregnant? Or even those of you that have recently given birth that had been given the vaccine, was everything ok?
Thanks
xx
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sunset212
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I will for sure. Currently 9 weeks 6 and age 40 nearly 41. I’m excited as I thought I’d have to wait until after birth (assuming I make it that far🤞🏻) . Very keen to feel protected and I read the baby gets protection too, but unclear how long their protection would last. Are you planning to get it?
I’m leaning more towards having it now since the US studies have been released. And as you say offers baby some protection too which is comforting. I have a 20month old and so it would be good to take him on a mini summer break somewhere but I wouldn’t risk it without the jab I won’t probably have time or want to next year as baby will still be very young ( I am due in November) so I wouldn’t wish to go abroad really with an 8 month old xx
Yes I think I am my baby is due in winter which is already risky season everything opening up in society now and all I would feel concerned unprotected. The only thing I would not be doing is having it in the first 12-14 weeks as this is the critical time for organ development in the first trimester and so until I am at least 16 weeks that’s when I will go which looks like will fall in good timing anyway as I am 10 weeks almost now and will be 15/16 weeks when I am called up most likely ( I am 38) x
I’m 33w and 41 I’m not getting it whilst pregnant, even afterwards I’m not in any rush for it.
I’m 34 weeks and aged 36, so likely to be called for jab late May / June but as due day is very early June I figure I might aswell wait til baby is here. Am already uncomfortable with my bump so don’t want to make myself anymore uncomfortable with any side effects in that very late stage.
However.... if I were less pregnant and had longer to go with the worry of covid then I would definitely be happy to get it.
I completely trust in the science, the academics, the research and the doctors just as I have throughout the IVF process and any other jab / test / procedure I’ve ever had.
I'll definitely be having it when I'm called, I wanted to anyway and was kind of dreading being the only one not vaccinated in my family/friend group especially when I get to the third trimester so I'm very happy the guidance has changed x
In case it is helpful I'm in the US and OB strongly encouraged jabs, especially after 30wks to transfer antibodies to fetus. I've had both jabs and had mild symptoms (fatigue + low grade fever) after 2nd jab for about 36hrs. Key is you can't wait longer than 6wks between jabs for Pfizer vaccine otherwise you don't really get much benefit (only 40-50% effective - same as from just 1 jab), so don't be late for the 2nd jab (18-26days between is optimal). Moderna is similar, but I think you can wait 8 wks between jabs, or longer.
Everyone seems to think it is no big deal for pregnant women in US to get vaccinated. Where I live there are mass vaccination centers and the only difference for pregnant women is you get to skip the queue. No issues reported in papers etc. OBs are pushing all to get vaccinated - so they aren't showing any concerns.
I don't have concerns-if anything I'm hoping being vaccinated means no masks in the delivery room.
I’m just over 10 weeks and 36 years old so would be called up at a similar time to you. I would like to get it but would also like to know more about the study in the USfirst. Does the research just cover pregnant women or does it look at the health of the baby once born? Does anyone know If the research has been published in a medical journal that’s accessible to the public?
I would love to know more too about the study and benefits/risks to the baby, so let me know if you find any please 😇🥰 I will too. Perhaps that makes it easier to decide - feeling a bit nervous with all the guidance changing all the time, which is weird cos normally I am all for vaccines! Just had my whooping cough one. It has just taken so long to get here - my thinking is all for the safety of my unborn child. But if that now means having the vaccine, to prevent it getting potentially poorly if it got covid, I would! I feel I can protect myself if needed - isolate, work from home etc. Just feel I need more information to make an informed choice about this.
This link below takes you to the Pfizer website and it looks like they started phase 2 of the trial mid Feb 2021. They are monitoring 4,000 women who will be given the jab or placebo between 24 -34 weeks pregnant. They will then monitor the child until 6 months. It’s going to take 7-10 month so that means we are unlikely to get any answers in the time frame we are pregnant.
I may hold off for at least another 3 months, speak to GP/Midwife and work and then make a decision when approaching the 3rd trimester based on all risk factors. I have a Community based job and am now expected to be working out and about so I need to factor in that risk. Some babies will have been born by then and surely if any major problems are detected at birth or in the first few months, this will be shared and jabs holted.
I feel like we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t! 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏽♀️
Thanks for sharing this. I think one very important 'flag' that stood out for me in the article is their assessment of the infants of those vaccinated up to 6 months old. Its important if any what effects hopefully none this may have one the babies born as at the end of the day they can't speak up its good to protect the mother but equally the baby is just if not more important in their health. All being well with developments of the trial ( and other trials) I am more than happy to wait until my third trimester which would bring me to the start of September plus will give me time to see the outcomes a bit more of these trials ( traditionally the start of influenza season anyway etc) and when covid is likely to increase ready for winter again, the only thing that concerned me was if you turn down being called up for your jab before ( i am likely to be called in May or June i am 38 now, will that mean that opportunity won't be available later down the line if i want it in the September? That's something i'd have to be sure about x
No way, I’m lucky enough to be working from home and fair enough if those women didn’t have an adverse reaction, but that doesn’t exclude that I could be the first one to have one....and since I don’t need it, I’m not going to put at risk a pregnancy I worked SO HARD to achieve! X
I agree. It’s risky taking something they made so quick. Only now are you hearing stories of individuals suffering with side effects and you want to put pregnant women through something you are entirely 100% sure on. They advised pregnant women not to get it, so for me that’s already alarming so to change my mind and say yep I should get it because a percentage of pregnant people got it done in America doesn’t make it safe. To be honest I have had covid twice and have become immune to it luckily- hoping it stays that way. Just not enough information about it- or how safe and effective it really is. I just don’t think there is a need for an un born baby to receive such amount of drugs.
The guidance is really clear that there is no problem for breastfeeding mothers. One of the great benefits of breastfeeding is passing on immunity to your baby, so I would say that's a reason to go for it!
Thanks, appreciate your feedback but I just dont see how they could possibly know the long term side effects yet. It's taken us 6 years, 9 transfers and 2 losses to get here so I'm still erring on the side of caution.xx
They don’t and to be honest I don’t believe half the crap you read anymore. One min they say don’t get it, it isn’t safe while pregnant and now they say it is???? Your better off not getting it if you feel your healthy enough girl!
Thank you! Yes, I think I'll be hanging fire for a while. I'm quite lucky in the fact that I live in a quiet little village and cant see me going far after the little ones get here....be lucky if I manage to get dressed in the day to begin with!🤣🤪xx
Absolutely agree with you, they keep changing their mind about safety on EVERYTHING....don’t trust what to say anymore.... surely not going to put my pregnancy at risk after everything I’ve been through to get where I am! X
I agree hun. And to be honest all the crap now that you see people reacting to certain jabs worries me even more. So to be honest everyone can have it, I’ll sit back and watch and see the effects before passing it through my unborn HEALTHY baby. It just makes no sense. They where so sure pregnant women shouldn’t get it. So for me that’s already alarming and now it’s suddenly been approved to be safe🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️. I don’t think the government for one know what they are even doing and two this vaccine hasn’t been trialled anywhere else but humans in a short space of time.
It wasn’t they were so sure pregnant women shouldn’t get it just that at that time there wasn’t enough data on studying pregnant women who had the jab and what if any effects there were to say it should be routine all pregnant women receive it. Likely just being extra cautious.. Since the large US study of 90000 women there has been no adverse outcomes and some ladies became pregnant here in the UK trials soon after vaccination with no adverse outcomes so I believe these two factors the larger study and time passed of vaccinated pregnant ladies in the high risk groups with no adverse outcomes is why the ‘guidance’ has since been updated. The guidance for high risk groups has been there from day 1 so I am confident that ‘something’ may have been flagged from that subset group aswell had there been adverse effects seen in baby or mother. Of course we have choices and rightly so and some will decide to have it and some won’t. X
I actually got advised by St Thomas hospital to not get it until after birth. But yes you are right, each to their own, hoping that those women that do get it will be okay. I don’t think there is enough research at all about it even if you aren’t pregnant. It is a vaccine that was created and unfortunately I know healthy people who have been effected by getting the vaccine. If I’m honest I don’t really know what to think get it don’t get it? So to be safe and considering I am healthy and have had covid I have become immune so I would rather wait. But praying all who do get it while pregnant stay safe ❤️
For me there’s data about safety in pregnancy but there’s a gaping hole in data for baby and later child. There just hasn’t been enough time to have long term data so I won’t be. I’m not going to lie thought of Covid scares me whilst pregnant and someone on my street ended up in hospital very sick with it delivering baby 5 weeks early.
I don’t know if my feelings on this is also because of going through ivf again but I don’t want my baby to be a guinea pig which is ultimately what it would feel like.
Exactly what I was going to comment! There just are not any studies done on what kind of effects this vaccine could have on the babies long term. I don’t think pregnant women or babies should ever be guinea pigs! I hope more women read this comment and think twice about getting the vaccine while pregnant. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk.
Hi sunset212I had my first vaccine prior to starting IVF and I am due my second in May. If this round of IVF is successful (not feeling very hopeful), I won't have my second vaccine until after I have had the baby.
As a few others have said, I am just a little concerned on the lack of data available and the impact it may have on the baby.
It is a really tough decision for us all to know what to do for the best but I was hoping that having one dose has given me some sort of protection for the time being x
I’m 12 weeks pregnant & 36 , i worry so much about catching covid whilst pregnant, but I’ve decided not to have the vaccine I just don’t want to take any chances after it’s taken so long to get pregnant, if anything was to happen I’d blame it on the jab even if this wasn’t the case. I’m just going to carry on being cautious throughout & if that means having to shield further down the line then il do that. x
Do your hospital run covid tests on admission into labour? Mine do and birth partners which is reassuring but as my baby is due early November ( I’m nearly 10 weeks now) I don’t think I will be taking the chances not to have the jab when called as it’s particularly serious if caught in 3rd trimester and I just don’t want that worry personally but every woman should absolutely have a right to choose what they want for them selves and their baby. As it protects baby too I’m definately leaning towards having it being a winter birth. Congrats on your pregnancy X
If it is between the risk of the jab and the risk of covid, I would rather have the jab. The effects of covid on pregnancy are known to be potentially serious. I would feel reassured having had the vaccine.
I’m just over 9 weeks and I am very tempted to have the jab when I get called up S long as it remains the recommended thing to do. I am just very cautious about the Astra Zeneca one as I have a family history of blood clots and I am on blood thinners as it is due to OHSS and pregnancy. My friend just gave birth 6 weeks premature because she caught COVID and the high temp brought on early labour, she was then separated from her baby for over 48hours ( not even allowed to see her through a window) until she tested negative.
The AstraZeneca one has been opposed not to have due to the tiny blood clot risk associated with that one on the new guidance. The pfeizer and moderna are the recommended ones in the new guidance xx
I had my first shot in week 30 and am now hoping they can do the second one a bit earlier than usual because it would just fall in the time of or just past my EDD. I felt pretty exhausted and had a temperature for a day or two but it was easy to manage with low level paracetamol. The midwife said to not have it directly postpartum and I can understand that it might be a bit much for the body (also I don't know how easy it would be to turn up for the jab just days after birth...) and they say to not have it in the first 6 weeks after birth, which is why I'd like to have it earlier. AZ is a vector vaccine and does not cross the placenta, the mRNAs likely don't cross too. Antibodies however do cross to the baby and I wanted it to be protected from birth onwards. They are quite vunerable in the first few months, especially if breastfeeding does not work for whatever reason. I expect cases to go up with reopening and I don't want to (and realistically cannot) isolate with baby until their immune system is more mature.
I won’t be -I have had covid twice so my body has become immune at the moment. However I will be getting it done once labour is out of the way. I just don’t think there is enough research and study on it and at first they advised pregnant women not to get it so for me that’s already telling me not to get it and now all of a sudden it is okay for pregnant women to get it. I don’t believe half the logistics that you read in the paper either. I think for my baby to be safe it’s best to wait, plus I’m healthy so for me I’m trying to continue being strong. Think everyone’s situation and age is different and people need to go by how they feel and assess there situation if that makes sense. But there is no right or wrong way. We live in such a strange world at the moment, and it scares me because whatever decision you make you don’t know if it’s the right one or the wrong one. ❤️
I haven’t made up my mind but definitely considering it. I am concerned about catching COVID in the third trimester which comes with considerable risk so I’m defo weighing up the options. It’s a tough one. X
Yes I am due in November which is traditionally the start of influenza season anyway so covid is most likely to rear it’s ugly head again after summer relaxations. When are you due? X
My sister is pregnant and was advised to have it a couple of weeks ago as she has asthma. Her midwife said they have now seen quite a lot of cases towards the end of pregnancy that are causing serious illness. It's a really tricky one
Yes that’s what worries me the third trimester as they do point out specifically more dangerous to contract the virus in the last 3 months poses much higher risk of more serious disease and as I am due mid November it does raise concern to me being the influenza season x
I'm due mid November, too. I think on balance I'll probably have the Pfizer or moderna jab when offered as I'm 42 and a teacher. I would really like to see the data from the 90,000 who have the jab in pregnancy without problems.
I have now had both jabs between my IVF cycle as working in the nhs I felt the risks of covid outweighed the risks of having the jab. Discussed risks with my consultant and he was fully supportive and is happy to now start my second round of IVF next month. I understand we don’t know the risks if any to the child later on in life but I have my age to consider and if I don’t go down the ivf route this year time will pass me by so I’m taking a calculated risk as life’s too short and hope my potential baby doesn’t become a future statistic. X
Whilst I totally respect everyone's opinions and reasons for not wanting to take the vaccine whilst pregnant as the journeys to get here have been so tough, I think it's important to note that they weren't saying it wasn't safe and have now changed their minds, they said there wasn't any/enough evidence of whether it was safe, and now there is some evidence that it is. More evidence is always better so I get if the study so far isn't enough to convince people but to say they were saying it wasn't safe isn't accurate xx
Yes you raise a really clear and good point initially the concensus was ‘not enough evidence to ROUTINELY recommend to all pregnant ladies due to lack of testing in pregnancy not that it’s unsafe . America have been offering the choice to women whether to have the jab since December which is many months of observing outcomes. Clearly there is no zero risk in anything but you do have to weigh up the potential of catching it and becoming seriously ill x
Exactly as you say nothings zero risk, it's for everyone to weigh up the risks for themselves and decide on what they want to do, just worries me if people are making decisions on inaccurate info 😘 xx
There’s also the question of if you didn’t take up the vaccine when called would you miss your chance of having it further in to pregnancy if you changed your mind due to a dry up of supplies ?? 🤷♀️
No one can answer this for you sadly as we do not know if there will be any “dry-ups”. But I suspect they will try keep a steady stream too like with flu vaccines. Eventually it will hopefully be incorporated into the yearly flu vaccine like other strains of corona viruses in the past. I would like to think they will have every intention to vaccinate everyone, when they are ready, So they will likely try to keep supply up ☺️
It’s wonderful that pregnant ladies now have the choice. Everyone will make their own decision based on their unique circumstances, risks & benefits. You might find these interesting rcog.org.uk/en/news/vaccine...
I will not be having the vaccine for the simple fact they have no facts about any thing that might affect the baby after the birth such as learning or development issues as they grow, or anything else for that matter. There have been situations in the past back in the 60s 70s that pregnant women were given morning sickness medication which caused the thalidomide scandal and then the possible issues with the MMR vaccine, what if this vaccine doesn't show any issues until our unborn children reach puberty, I just feel there isn't enough evidence yet but I completely appreciate and am grateful for the women who will go ahead, as without them there would be no research or evidence, I just hope all will be well for those who choose to accept it X x
I’ve just found out I’ve gestational diabetes at 34w my midwife said they are now offering pregnant women with GD the jab as it can be serious contracting covid at this stage but said I’m not telling you to have it and discuss with my dr. I still don’t think I’ll get it I’ve 4w to go as I’m getting induced.
Aw sorry to hear this. I had GD with my son diagnosed at 23 weeks as he was way off the growth scale so Dr decided to run the test even though my urine etc had no shown any red flags for sugar up to that point. I was 8 cut off as you'll know being 7.7. I diet controlled it i think if you have just 4 weeks to go you could see it out without the jab but just be super careful and get partner to go to shops etc. Basically stay housebound until baby is here .. All the best xx
Yeah this was my 2nd GTT first at 28w was under this time was 10.1 I think. I've started today testing and its all been fine and under the amounts so hopefully it'll be ok. I'm fine with going out and I'm still going to work I see the same people I have from the start my partner's had both jabs my kids are testing at home I feel pretty safe.
Just consider your decision to getting induced thoroughly. If your GD is diet controlled then there is little rush to induce at 38 weeks you can safely go to 39 weeks , and even up to due date! ( providing your blood sugar readings are stable and you are not requiring insulin and of course what your levels were to begin with, ie were they mildly over?. I got a sweep at 38 weeks to avoid getting induced as was a bit scared and ended up needing a ventouse delivery anyway! I am convinced it was because i rushed things amongst other factors like them giving me diamorphine too late when close to pushing. Just saying i would talk to your Dr as they do tend to just offer induced labour like offering out sweets when many times its not that critical to rush baby before 39 weeks-40 weeks in well managed cases. Also it can take up to 38 weeks for babies lungs to be fully matured a process you don't want to rush x x
I was already going to be induced at 40w as I'm 41 as other issues can occur we'll see what they say. Ive had ventouse aswel with my first she was a back to back baby wasn't the best experience my 2nd was alot easier.
Looks like we've shared a very similar 1st Pregnancy, aside from yours a girl mine a boy. I am hoping for an easier birth this time. Did it go natural birth without intervention for your 2nd then? That's reassuring mine might go something similar x
Yes I was terrified tho it would be the same as my first but it was so much better 3 hrs instead of 12hrs (not including being at home) push twice I think she just popped out lol hoping this one is super easy 😬lol
I’m 8 weeks pregnant - I won’t be having the vaccine until al being well the baby is here. my reasons are it hasn’t been trialed properly from what I can see on pregnant woman. All that is reported is there is no known reason why they shouldn’t have it Those in the US who have had it what are the long term effects on their child when it is born?
Have any of these babies been born yet, we’re there complications etc?!
I hate to say it there is not enough firm evidence - unlike if you get the flu or whooping cough vaccines - that this is not going to cause risk to your unborn child.
Yes there are lots of question marks. I am going to review in September when i will be in 3rd trimester. Baby is due mid november. I am hoping more data is available then. I am certainly not doing any jabs until the third trimester at the earliest. How are you feeling? Is this your first baby?. i am 10 weeks tomorrow this is my second. just waiting my scan letter. These weeks will drag i know! x
This is our third round of IVF, this time we went with a relative as a donor, I’m 41 now.
Our first round our first go implanted and died before the 7 week scan
2nd round the two frozen ones were chromosomally abnormal and the one put back failed
This donor round, the first one we’ve put back has obviously taken, the 7 week scan they found a subchorionic hematoma and have told me to take it easy.
So this is our first and tbh I willing the next 4 weeks away to get out of the danger zone. I do have another scan on Tuesday to see if the hematoma has reduced in size
Like you say the weeks drag on, my mums had 4 kids and I swear to god she would wrap me in cotton wool if she could, telling me not to do this or that 🤦♀️
Other then that I don’t really have any symptoms, maybe going to the loo a bit more and sore breasts but that’s about it!
Aw that's very open of you to share your journey. And congratulations on your pregnancy. Its a lovely feeling isn't it nurturing a new life. I know with my first i was overwhelmed. My story is similar in that i had a loss prior to having my son. I had done IUI's previously the year before when i was 34 and on the 3rd attempt i found out i had conceived. However the joy was very much short lived, as like yourself embryo hadn't grown or developed a HB at 7 week scan.
I swiftly moved on to IVF after taking some time out over the summer in 2018 and my first frozen put back is now my Son who is 20 months old. This pregnancy is the next embryo they replaced from the same egg collection. My scans so far have been good and baby moving a lot. I also have a subchirionic haematoma and from 6 weeks bled clots some the size of grapes for 4 weeks solid each day. Only now its turned brown and a bit when i awake each morning. I had meltdowns and cried thinking it was all over and sat in EPU a handful of times whilst drs examined me. I have had more scans in this pregnancy than i can count! Like yourself i am having another scan next week to see if haematoma is shrinking. I am hoping its cleared up before i reach second trimester.
Yes sore breasts too, not too bad on the weeing front but feel sick a fair bit this time round but only been sick twice thank goodness.
Congratulations and wish you the very best enjoy your pregnancy x
As I say it’s the waiting to get to the 12 week stage an out of danger, so praying we get there!!!
My hematoma bled the day before our 7 week scan, I thought it was all over, but it literally stopped the same day, with just a bit of brown discharge the following 2 days so far nothing further - I thought it was amazing to see the little bean on the screen and hearing the heartbeat, I was just sad my husband wasn’t allowed to be there! But equally annoyed they had a student nurse in the room, to which i said if my husband can’t be here I certainly don’t want a student nurse in, so she was kicked out!!
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When to stop prednisolone? Consultant says at ET?
Tests for recurrent miscarriages?
Think we made a decision ☹
What's the must stupid thing someone has said to you about ivf? Please note that I'm being very tongue in cheek.
Covid vaccination types - no option to choose - help!
