Vaccinations During Pregnancy
Vaccinations During PregnancyWhen you are pregnant, you share everything with your baby—including protection from certain diseases. To give yourbaby every ounce of protection you can, it’s important to get vaccinated during your pregnancy.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pregnant women or women thinking aboutgetting pregnant get certain vaccines to protect both mom and baby. The first one is the MMR vaccine, orMeasles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine. This vaccine should not be given to pregnant women, so if you’reconsidering getting pregnant, make sure you’re up to date.During your pregnancy, it is safe to get the flu vaccine to help protect you and your baby. In fact, it isrecommended that all pregnant women receive the flu vaccine when they are pregnant. The flu vaccine is safefor pregnant women, but getting the flu is not. The flu is a leading cause of hospitalization for pregnant women,and it can cause premature birth or birth defects in their babies. However, the nasal spray version of the fluvaccine is not safe for you and your baby.In addition to the flu vaccine, pregnant women should be vaccinated against Whooping Cough, or Pertussis.This is in the form of the Tdap vaccine. Whooping Cough can be life-threatening in newborns, who cannotreceive the vaccine until they are 2 months old. Vaccination in pregnancy means some of those protectiveantibodies get to baby, providing protection until the time when the baby can get the shot himself.It is also important that people who will be coming into frequent contact with the baby - such as partners,siblings, and babysitters – receive the whooping cough and flu vaccinations. This is to add an extra layer ofprotection. Talk to them while you are pregnant, so they have time to see their doctors.American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends pregnant women receive one dose of thewhooping cough vaccine, between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. There are several vaccines you should not getduring your pregnancy, including the chickenpox and rubella vaccines because research has not proven them to besafe for your baby.You may need other vaccines if you have certain risk factors such as a chronic illness or if you are planning to travelduring your pregnancy. Be sure to talk to your doctor about which vaccines you need to protect your baby as hegrows and develops. And make sure to keep a record of all your vaccinations.Staying up to date on your vaccinations before and during pregnancy is one way of protecting your baby beforehe is even born. Once he arrives, it will be important to continue this with his pediatrician in the years to come.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG56216A EN VaccinationsDuringPregnancy.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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