Vaccines are an essential part of our health as they prevent and keep us safe from different health issues. Pregnancy vaccination plays an integral role in protecting the health of both the mother and the baby.
If a mother’s immunity is affected, it can directly affect the baby’s health during and after pregnancy. To stay safe and healthy, it is recommended to get certain vaccinations.
This blog covers important information on the time of vaccination during pregnancy and all things related.
Importance of Pregnancy Vaccinations
A mother’s immunity plays a defensive role in protecting the baby from serious illnesses. A pregnant woman makes a lot of antibodies, all of which are transferred to the baby. When you take certain vaccinations, these antibodies boost your immunity and help you prevent certain infections.
Whenever a pregnant woman catches an illness like flu, chickenpox, etc., there is a risk of a miscarriage or preterm labour. To decrease these risks, one should take certain vaccines before and during pregnancy.
All the vaccines you will receive during pregnancy will depend on factors like your age, medical conditions, lifestyle, travel, and vaccination history.
When it comes to vaccines, there are three types; dead virus, live virus, and toxoids. Live virus vaccines like MMR vaccine are not advised during pregnancy. However, dad virus vaccines and toxoid vaccines are safe for pregnant mothers.
Let’s now know about these vaccines in detail.
Vaccines To Take Before Pregnancy
The best time to take vaccines is before conceiving. It ensures the safety of both the mother and the fetus throughout and after pregnancy.
Certain infections and illnesses like rubella and chickenpox can be harmful during pregnancy. If a pregnant mother gets one of them, the baby can be born with disabilities in the eyes, brain, mouth, etc.
The good news is that we can prevent these infections by getting vaccinated.
In most cases, we get vaccinated for rubella and chickenpox during childhood. But sometimes, these vaccinations can get ineffective, resulting in you catching the infection.
However, a person with rubella or chickenpox will never get these infections again. It is because the body creates a lifetime of antibodies against such viruses.
To prevent such infections, you can test the antibodies in your body during pre conceptional check-ups, including Rubella IgG and Varicella IgG.
Contact our experts on 88569-88569 and get a preconception checkup booked if you are planning a pregnancy.
If you don’t have antibodies, you should get Rubella and Chicken Pox vaccines before planning your pregnancy. Moreover, remember to keep a gap of at least a month between vaccination and your pregnancy, as these shots contain live viruses that can affect your fetus’s health.
Apart from the above two vaccines, other pregnancy vaccinations that you can take before conception are:
- Flu Vaccine
- Hepatitis A, B
You should also read our blog on early signs of pregnancy
Vaccination During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, it is not advised to take live attenuated vaccines like:
- Polio Vaccine
- Rubella Vaccine
- MMR Vaccine
- Chicken Pox Vaccine
However, CDC recommends that every woman should take two vaccines during every pregnancy:
- Flu Vaccine
- Tdap Vaccine
If you haven’t taken a flu vaccine before conceiving, getting one during pregnancy can keep you and your baby safe for several months after delivery.
You can take a flu vaccine (injection and not a nasal one) anytime during pregnancy. The best time is to take it before a week or two of the flu season. However, if you have taken a flu vaccine before conceiving, you can take another one during the 7th month.
Another vaccine to take during pregnancy is Tetanus Toxoid. Usually, two doses of this vaccine were given with a gap of four to six weeks between them. Today, its second dose is replaced with Tdap, which prevents tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. With Tdap, a mother and baby are safe from whooping cough for several months after delivery.
COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy
With the inception of coronavirus in 2019, getting a covaxin during pregnancy is mandatory. As the immunity of pregnant women stays low, it is easy to get infected with COVID. To stay safe and prevent health complications, pregnant women should take covaxin during pregnancy.
Apart from these vaccines, there are some vaccines you can take as per your doctor’s advice if you are traveling to a danger zone. These vaccines include yellow fever, Typhoid fever, and Japanese encephalitis.
Vaccinations After Pregnancy
If you haven’t taken necessary vaccinations before or during your pregnancy, you can take them immediately after delivery. These include vaccines for:
- Rubella
- Flu
- Chicken Pox
- Hepatitis
Moreover, if you are at risk of some particular health issue, you can take that vaccine after consulting your doctor.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a beautiful yet critical phase of every woman’s life. One needs to take extra care before to ensure the best health of both the mother and the baby.
If you plan a pregnancy, above is all the information you need about vaccinations. If you have any other queries, call us on 88569-88569 and get free teleconsultation with our expert doctors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are vaccines safe during pregnancy?
Yes, vaccines during pregnancy are entirely safe. If you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor about what vaccines you should take before and during pregnancy.
Vaccines prevent you from specific illnesses that are otherwise harmful to your health. Get all your pregnancy vaccinations on time to stay healthy and safe.
Is the Covid-19 vaccine safe during pregnancy?
Yes, covid-19 vaccines are completely safe for pregnant mothers. As immunity is low during pregnancy, getting vaccinated is a smart and safe move. Getting a covid-vaccine helps prevent the known risks of coronavirus during pregnancy.
tt injection during pregnancy which month?
TT or tetanus injection during pregnancy is a recommended vaccine for every pregnant woman. It should be taken as early as the 27–36-weeks of conception. Moreover, the second dose of TT injection is replaced by a Tdap injection that prevents tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis altogether.
Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Group has 16 hospitals. Kanpur, Rewari, Kashipur, Varanasi, Sonepat, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Nangloi in Delhi, Rama Vihar in Delhi, Kaithal, Bahadurgarh, Karnal, Moradabad, Haldwani, and Agra.
You can book an appointment at your nearest Ujala Cygnus Hospital for any health issue treatment. For any query, you can give a missed call on 88569-88569 and get a free consultation over the phone.
