Vaccines During Pregnancy
Vaccines during pregnancy are essential
Vaccines during pregnancy are one of the most effective ways to keep a mother and her baby healthy. Vaccines for pregnant women not only help maintain health through pregnancy, but also help keep the baby healthy for the first few months of life. Our Austin OBGYNs can help you determine which vaccines you need and when to get them.
Pre-pregnancy vaccines
Rubella
Hepatitis B
Chickenpox
Diseases such as rubella, hepatitis B and chickenpox can cause significant illness for a pregnant woman, but an even greater concern is serious, lifelong health impacts on the baby. It is essential to be vaccinated against these diseases before becoming pregnant.
If you are uncertain of your vaccination status, your doctor can do a simple blood test to check the antibody levels against specific diseases. Depending on the results, your doctor will advise if any vaccines are needed before pregnancy. If you get the rubella vaccine, it is critical to wait one month before becoming pregnant.
Vaccines for pregnant women
Flu
Whooping cough (pertussis)
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
COVID-19
Some vaccines, including those for flu, whooping cough, RSV and COVID-19, are recommended vaccines during pregnancy. Pregnant women and newborns have weak immune systems. Women who contract those illnesses can quickly become very sick and require hospitalization.
Vaccines can prevent serious illness, as well as protect your baby. You pass antibodies created by your vaccines to the baby, which can help protect against diseases for up to six months after birth, until the baby is old enough to be vaccinated.
When should pregnant women get vaccines?
Some vaccines, such as those for COVID-19, can be given at any point in pregnancy. The flu vaccine can also be given at any point in pregnancy, ideally before the beginning of flu season. The whooping cough vaccine should be given between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. The RSV vaccine is given to women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy during RSV season (typically September through January).
Are vaccines during pregnancy are safe and effective?
A common concern is whether vaccines during pregnancy are safe. Our Austin OBGYNs want our patients to know that the recommended vaccines are safe and effective for both the mother and baby. Potential minor side effects are the same as you would experience from the same vaccines given any other time. These include redness, swelling and soreness at the injection site; muscle aches; fever; and tiredness.
In addition to vaccines for pregnant women, our Austin OBGYNs advise that anyone who will spend time with a baby also be vaccinated. This includes siblings, grandparents and caregivers.
Our Austin OBGYNs encourage women to follow the recommended vaccine schedule for a safe, healthy pregnancy. Contact Hill Country OB/GYN to discuss vaccines during pregnancy or schedule an appointment.