Vaccines before getting pregnant?

[Premommy]

Made it through my preconception visit this morning, and everything looks good to start TTC next month. I was hoping that my childhood vaccines would have me covered completely, as I don't want to inject anything with mercury in me right before a baby forms in there, but the dr. was a fresh-out-of-med-school type who recommended I get another Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine to make sure I'm covered. My last shot would've been years ago when I was pretty young, and she said they have a new whooping cough vaccine out now, and there was an outbreak last year where some children died, so I should get it.

We haven't done enough research yet to be pro-vaccine or against it (getting started on that research now!), but I know many of you have researched vaccines for your children, so I was curious what you would do about getting vaccinated a month-ish before getting pregnant.

Obviously I'll be seeking a different doctor for my next visit, too! Thanks for any input, ladies!

[Premommy]

No, no, not while pregnant, just about 3 weeks before we could possibly conceive! Wondering if I should put mercury in my body 3 weeks before a baby could be forming, as it sounds as bad as getting it while pregnant to me! Sorry I wasn't clear.

[Cheeseburger]

We're no vax for ethical reasons, so I wouldn't. Here's two links to my own research on vax.

http://blog.trentonadams.ca/2009/03/...us-cell-lines/

http://blog.trentonadams.ca/2009/03/...ll-line-wi-38/


DTaP vaccines no longer include mercury, but they do include formaldehyde and aluminum hydroxide. The DTaP also don't use human aborted fetal cells (If I remember right those particular ones use bovine cells for incubation.)

I would probably decline, nonetheless, and just observe general cleanliness practices while pregnant.

[Cheeseburger]

....aaand apparently a lot of the links are broken, since I did that research in 2009. Well, the information is still solid.

[ChamomileFriend]

I didn't get any vax's before conceiving any of my children. The only thing I ever worried about was the flu but PTL I never got that - lots of prayer, hand washing and using clorox wipes on my classroom door or other frequently touched surfaces kept that away. I didn't get the flu shot while pg, either. I am not anti-vax, we do some but not others. If I feel like something is a real risk then I and/or the kids will get the shot for it, but if I feel like it is something where the risk of catching something is smaller than the risk of negative side effects from the vax itself, then I will avoid it.

Is there an outbreak of whooping cough where you are right now? Does someone you know have it or are their kids sick with a mystery coughing thing that does not sound like seal bark? If you work outside the home, is it in a high risk area of contagion like a school, nursing home, hospital, dr's office etc..?

[buttercup_97140]

I was just reading out the "outbreak" of whooping cough in the States, and "professionals" were worried that the five vaccines in the series for whooping cough is not enough and kids around 13 or 14 are starting to get it now too.
Personally we don't vax for many reasons, but it doesn't make sense to me to get FIVE shots (especially as children) and then not even have 13 years of immunity. Out of 18,000 cases of whooping cough in the report, only 9 people died, and they didn't even say if they were immuno compromised. I would bet more so or very young. I would say avoid it, no reason to put that into your body unless you have immune issues, and even then.

We keep very aware of our bodies, watch our symptoms, and try and keep our immune systems good. We don't always miss out on viruses, but as my pro-vax doc said, everything but Polio can be treated after you get it if you catch it in time.

I know many or most vaccines don't use mercury anymore, but I don't think you really ever want to put something into your body with mercury in it.

Congrats on your good pre-preggo visit. I'm glad everything went well! Praying or a BFP for you soon!!

blessings,
Amber

[Cheeseburger]

Originally Posted by buttercup_97140

I was just reading out the "outbreak" of whooping cough in the States, and "professionals" were worried that the five vaccines in the series for whooping cough is not enough and kids around 13 or 14 are starting to get it now too.
Personally we don't vax for many reasons, but it doesn't make sense to me to get FIVE shots (especially as children) and then not even have 13 years of immunity. Out of 18,000 cases of whooping cough in the report, only 9 people died, and they didn't even say if they were immuno compromised. I would bet more so or very young.

Those 9 people could also have been very old or had other health issues, like COPD or asthma. Whooping cough also gives you diarrhea so it could be something like "they died because they were too stupid to keep hydrated when they had the runs". I really think it's unnecessary for me to get a shot because some people are too stupid to take care of themselves or get to the hospital.

[Premommy]

I'm still feeling really conflicted, as our state had an outbreak in 2009, and we are just one state away from WA, who is having the outbreak now. I do work with 2 and 3 year olds in Sunday school, so there is a chance I could be infected and pass it on. From what I've read, the vaccine contains no mercury or fetal parts (it is bovine, as one of you mentioned). I just don't know what I'd do if my baby did catch it and suffered because I just didn't know if getting the shot would matter or not.

On the vaccine's effectiveness, I did read somewhere about a study that was showing the length of immunity was found to be much shorter than they thought. I had the shot series as a baby and never received a booster as far as I know (going to check that in a minute), so I'm probably as good as unvaccinated, what with the inferior vaccine being given when I would've had it, and then not receiving a booster either.

Ugh, decisions!