What Vaccines Do You

Need Before and During

Pregnancy?
Make sure to protect yourself and your baby by getting the right vaccines before,
during, and after your pregnancy.
By Richard Schwarz, MD from

American Baby

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Why Should You Get Vaccinated?

Consider this: The vaccines you get before and during pregnancy not only play an important role
in protecting your health but safeguard your baby's health too. Your immunity is your baby's first
line of defense against certain serious illnesses. So if you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy,
now is the time to make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
But not all vaccines are safe to get during pregnancy. Vaccines come in three forms: live virus,
dead virus, and toxoids (harmless, chemically altered proteins drawn from bacteria). Pregnant
women shouldn't get live virus vaccines, such as the combined measles, mumps, and rubella
vaccine (MMR), because there's a slight chance these will harm the unborn baby. Vaccines made
from dead viruses, such as the flu shot, and toxoid vaccines, such as the
tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) shot, are safe. Here's a rundown of what you need to know
about vaccinations before, during, and after pregnancy.

What Vaccines Should You Get Pre-Pregnancy?

Certain preventable infections can be harmful during pregnancy. That's why you should ask for a
blood test during a pre-pregnancy checkup to find out if you're immune to these diseases. If
you're not, you should get vaccinated before becoming pregnant. Just be sure to postpone
pregnancy for one month because these shots are made from live viruses that can harm your
baby.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR) Measles, a very contagious illness caused by a
virus, is on the rise in this country, in part due to an outbreak that began in December 2014 at
Disneyland in California. Measles starts with a fever, cough and runny nose and is followed by a
spotted red rash a couple of days later. Mumps is also a contagious viral disease that causes the
salivary glands to swell. If you are infected with either one in pregnancy, the risk
of miscarriage may rise (measles may also increase the chance of premature labor). The rubella
virus, also called German measles, the rubella virus presents flu-like symptoms often followed
by a rash. It can be harmful during pregnancy: Up to 85 percent of babies of moms who contract
it during the first trimester develop serious birth defects, such as hearing loss and intellectual
disabilities.
Chickenpox vaccine An extremely contagious disease, chickenpox causes fever and an
uncomfortable, itchy rash. About 2 percent of babies of women who develop chickenpox during
the first five months of pregnancy have birth defects, including malformed and paralyzed limbs.
What's more, a woman who develops chickenpox around the time of delivery can also pass a
life-threatening form of the infection to her baby.

What Shots Are Safe During Pregnancy?

Flu shot The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu shot for all
women who will be pregnant during the flu season, which is November through March. The flu
shot is made of dead viruses, so it's safe for both you and baby. But you should avoid FluMist, a
nasal-spray vaccine made from live viruses.

The best time to get a flu shot is in October or November, before the flu season is in full swing.
And because flu strains change every year, the vaccine does too -- so don't rely on last year's shot
to get you through this year's season.
Moms-to-be who come down with the flu, especially during the second half of pregnancy, are
more likely than other women to suffer severe symptoms or complications such as pneumonia.
Even a moderate case of the flu can make you feel miserable, resulting in fever, headaches,
muscle pain, sore throat, and coughing. Most of these symptoms last about four days, although
coughing and fatigue can drag on for two weeks or longer.
If you do get the flu, contact your doctor, get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. Tell your
doctor if you're not feeling better after several days or if you have trouble breathing, as this can
be a sign of more serious complications such as pneumonia. Fortunately, although the flu can be
a real drag for you, it's unlikely to harm your baby.
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis shot (Tdap) Because of the increase in pertussis (whooping cough)
in the U.S., the recommendation regarding the Tdap vaccine was updated in June 2013. If a
tetanus/diphtheria booster (Td) is needed (it has been more than 10 years since the last one),
women should receive Tdap, which includes pertussis. Tdap can be given at any point during
pregnancy, though the preferred timeframe is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. The vaccine
is made with toxoids, so it's safe to get during pregnancy.
Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a disease of the central nervous system that causes painful muscle
spasms and convulsions. The bacterium that causes tetanus can be found in soil and in animal
waste. It can enter the bloodstream through a cut in the skin, so follow up with your doctor if you
get a deep or dirty wound. If contracted during pregnancy, tetanus can cause fetal death.
Diphtheria is a respiratory infection that can cause breathing problems, paralysis, coma, and even
death. It's now rare in this country, but you need a booster shot every 10 years; otherwise your
immunity is likely to wane. Pertussis, an extremely contagious bacterial disease, can be fatal in
infants and is characterized by a deep, hacking cough and a high-pitched "whoop" sound.

What Other Vaccines Should You Consider Before or During

Pregnancy?
Your job or lifestyle can make you more susceptible to specific illnesses, as can certain chronic
health conditions, such as diabetes. If you fall into one of these categories, your doctor may
recommend additional vaccinations before or during pregnancy.
Hepatitis B vaccine It's safe to get this shot when you're pregnant, and if you're a healthcare
worker or you live with someone who has the disease, consider vaccination.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, nausea, fatigue, and jaundice
(yellowing of the skin and eyes). In some cases, it can cause chronic liver disease, liver cancer,
and death. A pregnant woman with hepatitis B can pass the infection to her baby during delivery,

and without prompt treatment, the baby has a high risk of contracting serious liver diseases as an
adult.
The CDC recommends that all pregnant women be screened for hepatitis B because it's possible
to have it without knowing.
Hepatitis A vaccine This vaccine protects against a liver disease that spreads through
contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and nausea. It isn't usually as
serious as the B version of the disease, and the illness won't affect an unborn baby most of the
time. In rare cases, hepatitis A may contribute to premature labor and infection in the newborn.
The safety of this vaccine has yet to be determined, but because it's produced from dead viruses,
the risks are likely low. If you're traveling to a developing country or if you work with the virus
in a laboratory setting, you should discuss vaccination with your doctor.
Pneumococcal vaccine If you have a specific chronic condition, such as diabetes or kidney
disease, your doctor may recommend the pneumococcal vaccine, which protects against some
forms of pneumonia. Although potential harm to an unborn baby is unknown, researchers believe
that the risk is low.

What Vaccines Should You Get Post-Pregnancy?

Now is the time to catch up on any vaccines you may have been unable to get during pregnancy
or before becoming pregnant, such as the MMR and chickenpox vaccines. Moms who are
breastfeeding can get vaccinated according to a normal adult vaccination schedule.
As mentioned above, if you're due for a Td booster and didn't get one during pregnancy, the
latest recommendation is to get Tdap, which includes pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
Women younger than 26 should also consider getting the new HPV (human papillomavirus)
vaccine that helps protect against cervical cancer. The shot isn't recommended during pregnancy
because studies haven't yet determined its safety for a developing baby.

What If You're Allergic to a Vaccine?

Serious reactions to vaccines are rare. However, your doctor may tell you to skip certain shots if
you have an allergy to a substance they contain. Those who are allergic, for example, to baker's
yeast (used in making bread) shouldn't get the hepatitis B vaccine; those with a severe egg
allergy should avoid the flu shot; and people with a severe allergy to gelatin or to the antibiotic
neomycin shouldn't get the measles, mumps, and rubella or varicella vaccine. If you're skipping
any shots, you should discuss alternate ways to prevent illness with your doctor.
Originally published in the June 2008 issue of American Baby magazine. Updated February
2015.

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