So much of pregnancy (and parenthood!) feels like a constant balancing act of unpleasant possibilities and even less pleasant possibilities. Even moms who are generally trusting of vaccines are often nervous about getting them during pregnancy. The good news is that, with few exceptions, common vaccines have been studied for their use in pregnancy, so we know which ones are okay and which ones are totally off-limits. Here are the vaccines that, according to the CDC, you'll want to get during pregnancy... and the ones you'll want to stay away from!
Green Light: Recommended Vaccines
There are only two vaccines that health care providers say are definitely worthwhile for moms-to-be. Moms' immune systems are weakened to keep their bodies from attacking the baby, so flu can be super-serious and cause miscarriage or death. Luckily, studies show that a seasonal flu shot is safe and (usually) effective for expectant moms. We've also found out that TDaP, which vaccinates against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough, is safe during pregnancy… And that's great news, since whooping cough is often fatal to babies, and Mom passes her immunity to it through the placenta. Babies whose moms are vaccinated with TDaP are protected from whooping cough for a good six months, at which point they can have their own vaccines!
Green Light: Recommended Vaccines
There are only two vaccines that health care providers say are definitely worthwhile for moms-to-be. Moms' immune systems are weakened to keep their bodies from attacking the baby, so flu can be super-serious and cause miscarriage or death. Luckily, studies show that a seasonal flu shot is safe and (usually) effective for expectant moms. We've also found out that TDaP, which vaccinates against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough, is safe during pregnancy… And that's great news, since whooping cough is often fatal to babies, and Mom passes her immunity to it through the placenta. Babies whose moms are vaccinated with TDaP are protected from whooping cough for a good six months, at which point they can have their own vaccines!
Yellow Light: Recommended in Special Cases
Lots of vaccines haven't been studied well enough to make a blanket recommendation, but they seem to be worthwhile for moms that are high-risk. In particular, hepatitis A and B seem to be worth vaccinating for if there's a specific reason that the mom needs the vaccines. Typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, and meningococcal vaccines are also all a safe bet for moms-to-be if the mom is at high risk for catching any of them.
Red Light: Avoid These
Many of the most popular vaccines are a no-go during pregnancy because of the effects they could have on an unborn baby. That's unfortunate, since many of the diseases, like chicken pox and rubella, are very dangerous to unborn babies. Avoid vaccines for chicken pox, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), shingles, and HPV. While the flu shot, which contains only killed viruses, is great during pregnancy, the live vaccine, which is given as a nose spray, is off-limits. Getting a "bad" vaccine during pregnancy could hurt you or the baby, so make sure you tell any doctor or pharmacist who treats you that you're pregnant. If you have any questions, touch base with your obstetrician or midwife to find out which vaccines are right for you.