by
Martine Tesone DNP, CNM, of Foothills Community Midwives
Did you know that getting vaccines during pregnancy not just protects you
from infection but gives your baby some early protection too? After receiving
vaccines, a mom-to-be creates protective antibodies and passes some of
them on to her baby. These antibodies can give a newborn disease protection
(immunity) during the first few months of life.
Recommended Vaccinations During Pregnancy
Vaccines can contain both live and killed (inactivated) viruses. Pregnant
women should only get those made with inactivated viruses. Getting inactivated
vaccines during your pregnancy will not put you at increased risk for
pregnancy complications.
Pregnant women can safely receive inactivated vaccines, such as:
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Flu Shot – Getting a flu shot during flu season is the best way for a pregnant
woman to protect herself against the flu and protect her baby for several
months after birth from flu-related complications. The flu shot vaccine
is safe for moms-to-be, and studies show no harmful effects to a fetus.
However, pregnant women should avoid the influenza nasal spray vaccine,
which is made from a live virus.
-
Tdap Vaccine - The Tdap vaccine (against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) is recommended
for all pregnant women — even if you’ve gotten one before.
The Tdap vaccine can provide your baby short-term protection from whooping
cough (pertussis) after birth. This is important because whooping cough
can be life-threatening in newborns who are too young to be protected
by their own routine vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women get a whooping cough shot
during their 27th through 36th week of pregnancy, preferably during the
earlier part of this time period.
However, before you get any vaccines during pregnancy, check with your
health care provider to make sure they're right for you.
Vaccine Studies
Studies on the flu shot and Tdap vaccine have shown that they are beneficial
for moms-to-be and their babies.
-
A 2018 study showed that getting a flu shot reduced a pregnant woman’s risk of
being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40%.
-
A 2017 CDC study 7 found Tdap vaccination during the third trimester of pregnancy prevents
more than 3 in 4 cases of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months old.
Talk to Your Health Care Provider About Vaccinations During Pregnancy
Ask your health care provider about the vaccines you need during pregnancy
to protect yourself and your baby.
Also, if you're planning a pregnancy, ask about any vaccines you might
need beforehand. For example, some vaccines should be given a month or
more before pregnancy if a pregnant woman didn’t get the vaccine
as a child.
To make an appointment with Martine Tesone DNP, CNM, call Foothills Community Midwives at
(303) 415-4045