DTAP Vaccine

[Anonymous]

roamet wrote:
Thank you all in advance for your input. I know this whole vaccine issue is a bit controversial. My concern isn't about vaccines overall rather about getting them while pregnant. I didn't get the flu vaccine as I got pregnant after the flu run was done and my OB didn't feel it was necessary. So I didn't have to deal with this issue of vaccines during pregnancy until now.

The "whole vaccine issue" isn't controversial, unless you consider the roundness of the earth controversial. It's a matter of science, and there is consensus in the scientific community.

I appreciate your desire to do well by your child, but honestly, if you don't know the difference between DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis), which is given to children, and the Tdap given to adults, then your googling isn't giving you accurate information. If the websites you are turning up are using them interchangably or discussing recommendations for giving DTaP to adults, then they clearly are confused.

[roamet]

OP here.

thank you all for responses. Food for thought. Being condescending doesn't really help get a point across. If I didn't need reassurance from my community, I wouldn't be posting here. I view these type of outlets as first and foremost providing a sense of community from folks going through or having gone through same experiences. Having questions is part of the human experience. Obviously I have spoken with my OB and felt the need to also reach out to those within my immediate vicinity going through similar experiences.

I thank all who responded, regardless of tone. I especially thank those who took the time to put in some references, personal experience, and data.

[Anonymous]

roamet wrote:I am 28 weeks pregnant with twins - my first pregnancy. I have a checkup next week and I believe this is when my Dr. wants me to get the DTAP vaccine. Let me upfront that I am one of those people that does google searches on medical issues which I have come to learn is the pathway to madness. I've been good about it during the pregnancy but made the mistake of looking up ingredients and warning of vaccine.

My husband an I are discussing if I should get it now or after they are born. I know there is a rise in whooping cough.

Here are some questions, especially for folks who have gotten it and have toddlers now, but everyone's input welcome.

1. Is DMV area an area that has seen the rise in whooping cough?
2. I know they give the DTAP vaccines to infants 2 months on and the theory is my antibodies will help with increased immunity during that lag time between brith and first DTAP.. Are there any concerns with it being more harmful to them while in-eutro. Has anyone had it impact the babies negatively while pregnant? There is a part of me that thinks it is actually safer as I will get the aluminum deposited in my organs and they will only get the antibodies from me. But I am not a scientist and don't know if my assumption is technically correct. Or does aluminum cross the barrier and since they are developing still make them vulnerable? Or is it actually too much of a stressor on them from the immune reaction to vaccine while still in-eutro. Some of the posts say their little brains and liver can't handle the immune response from me at this time much less for themselves. But again, those aren't from vigorous studies but certain enough to cause me anxiety as I type this at 1:15 AM.

It is so difficult making all these choices for them already. And they haven't even technically arrived. YIKES.

Thank you all in advance for your input. I know this whole vaccine issue is a bit controversial. My concern isn't about vaccines overall rather about getting them while pregnant. I didn't get the flu vaccine as I got pregnant after the flu run was done and my OB didn't feel it was necessary. So I didn't have to deal with this issue of vaccines during pregnancy until now.

No, it's not. You think it is because you looked things up on the internet and are placing equal value on reputable organizations and the opinions of unqualified, non-scientific sources. Some resources for you:

From the CDC, "Pregnant? Get Tday in your 3rd trimester": https://www.cdc.gov/features/tdap-in-pregnancy/index.html

"CDC recommends pregnant women get the whooping cough vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy, preferably during the earlier part of this time period. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Nurse-Midwives support this recommendation. The goal is to give babies some short-term protection against whooping cough in early life."

From March of Dimes, "Vaccinations and pregnancy": https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/vaccinations-and-pregnancy.aspx

The CDC recommends two vaccinations during pregnancy:

- Flu shot if you weren’t vaccinated before pregnancy.
- Tdap vaccine as early as possible between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Getting the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your baby from pertussis in the first few months of life before she gets vaccinated herself. The first few months after birth are when your baby’s most at risk of getting pertussis and when pertussis is most dangerous. Get a new Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy.

From ACOG, "FAQ for pregnant women concerning Tdap vaccination": https://www.acog.org/-/media/Departments/Immunization/Tdap-Vaccine-Mailing/Tear-pad-FAQTDAP.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20160922T1312148436

I am pregnant. Should I get a Tdap shot?
Yes. All pregnant women should get a Tdap shot in the third trimester, preferably between 27 weeks and 36 weeks of pregnancy. The Tdap shot is an effective and safe way to protect you and your baby from serious illness and complications of pertussis. You should get a Tdap shot during each pregnancy.

Is it safe to get the Tdap shot during pregnancy?
Yes. There are no theoretical or proven concerns about the safety of the Tdap vaccine (or other inactivated vaccines like Tdap) during pregnancy. The shot is safe when given to pregnant women.

[Anonymous]

Get the vaccine while pregnant.

[Anonymous]

If you want personal reassurance, my DD is 7 now and I got the vaccine when I was pregnant. She is very healthy and neurotypical. she is sweet and funny and has lots of friends. She is also very smart, athletic and artistic.

[Anonymous]

Aluminum is the new boogeyman for anti-vaxxers. Since thimerosal was taken out of vaccines, they had to find something to justify the anti-vaxx stance. Don't let this ingredient solely dissuade you--you take in more aluminum every year from food (sorry to be the one to tell you).

[Anonymous]

OP, the problem is that there isn't an outbreak - until there is one. I live in metro atl and haven't heard of any cases and just a couple weeks ago a girl in my friend's Girl Scout troop was diagnosed with it. Better to be safe than sorry.

There is plenty of research indicating the vaccine is safe - and googling random articles on the internet is a deep, dark hole and your anxiety is only going to increase when it's time to give baby his or her own vaccines. I get weary too but just try and trust the judgement of my dr and CDC.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP - I started a similar thread on the tdap (something tdap and it’s recent introduction) because I’m a weird “terrified of vaccines even though I’m educated to know better but why am I googling this still” mom haha.

The thread helped - I got the vaccine (pushed it a bit to third trimester) and all is well. I will do it again for next baby. I am also vaccinating my baby according to schedule (despite still googling things ha!). One thing that helped is I was talking to my dad who is also weird about shots but when I mentioned the whooping cough he said get it - he had it as a kid and vividly remembers gasping for air. That made my decision easy and in retrospect I’m glad I got the vaccine. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Op- I was nervous about vaccines while pregnant too. I was also pregnant with twins. I did get the vaccine. My twins are 3.5 and perfectly fine. As a twin mom, I will tell you this, once those babies arrive and you bring them home, you will be soooo busy. You won’t gave time to dwell on vaccines, and you will feel relieved that you protected them from terrible diseases.

[Anonymous]

Whooping cough is no joke. We just had a recent houseguest email to notify us that she had whooping cough when she was staying with us in the district. She thought at the time she just had a bad cough resulting from a head cold. Thankfully we are all vaccinated. It could easily kill an unprotected infant.

[Anonymous]

Get the vaccine. Whooping cough is serious and it is around in this area. You do not want to deal with a newborn being that sick. The risk of something bad happening from a vaccine is so very small, especially if you have never had an adverse vaccine reaction in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - I started a similar thread on the tdap (something tdap and it’s recent introduction) because I’m a weird “terrified of vaccines even though I’m educated to know better but why am I googling this still” mom haha.

The thread helped - I got the vaccine (pushed it a bit to third trimester) and all is well. I will do it again for next baby. I am also vaccinating my baby according to schedule (despite still googling things ha!). One thing that helped is I was talking to my dad who is also weird about shots but when I mentioned the whooping cough he said get it - he had it as a kid and vividly remembers gasping for air. That made my decision easy and in retrospect I’m glad I got the vaccine. Hope this helps!

Oh hi you! I'm the vaccine expert. Glad you and the baby are doing well! (And I'm glad you got vaccinated too.

[Anonymous]

Get the vaccine and have your husband get it also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - I started a similar thread on the tdap (something tdap and it’s recent introduction) because I’m a weird “terrified of vaccines even though I’m educated to know better but why am I googling this still” mom haha.

The thread helped - I got the vaccine (pushed it a bit to third trimester) and all is well. I will do it again for next baby. I am also vaccinating my baby according to schedule (despite still googling things ha!). One thing that helped is I was talking to my dad who is also weird about shots but when I mentioned the whooping cough he said get it - he had it as a kid and vividly remembers gasping for air. That made my decision easy and in retrospect I’m glad I got the vaccine. Hope this helps!

Oh hi you! I'm the vaccine expert. Glad you and the baby are doing well! (And I'm glad you got vaccinated too.

Tottaly remember your advice backed by links to actual studies thank you! Hope the thread helps the OP too!

[Anonymous]

I was working in a clinic in Arizona when I saw my first case of whooping cough. Please google babies withehooping cough. It is horrific and so pathetic to watch abanywho can’t even cry ecahse he is struggling to breathe.