When you are pregnant, your baby is fed in the womb via the placenta. This gives it the benefit of the antibodies you have from your own childhood vaccinations. So pregnant mums should make sure they have had all their jabs and get boosters if necessary.
Open up each section below to learn more about how you can keep yourself and your baby safe and healthy. always ask your GP for advice if you are uncertain about anything.
There is strong evidence that pregnant mums are at greater risk of developing complications should they catch Flu. These can include bronchitis and even pneumonia. This can lead to a your baby being born prematurely, have a low birth weight or even be stillborn.
You will be advised to have a flu jab irrespective of the stage of your pregnancy. You can read more about this on the NHS pages here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/flu-jab-vaccine-pregnant/
There has recently been an increase in Pertussis (Whooping Cough) cases and as your baby will not receive their vaccine until they are 8 weeks old, that is the time they are at most risk. If your baby does get Pertussis, they will become very unwell and will almost certainly have to be admitted to hospital for care.
Pregnant mums can help stop this by getting a Whooping Cough vaccination between 16 and 32 weeks, (though you can have one right up to birth). This provides your baby with protection, because the benefit passes from you to the baby in the womb. This protection fades after the baby is born, which is why it is important that they get their own vaccination at 8 weeks. Click here to see the NHS information on this – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant/
The search for a safe and effective Covid vaccine is the World’s no1 medical priority
In your first days as a new parent here is what you need to know about vaccinations