Pregnant mothers should get vaccines to protect the fetus?

During pregnancy, the resistance of women will weaken. Pregnant mothers should get vaccines to protect mothers and fetuses?

Pregnancy is a woman's favor. The happiness of being a mother cannot be compared. However, besides that joy, there are countless worries about how the child can best develop from the womb, how to help prevent dangerous diseases at birth? One of the best answers is to get vaccinated. So, what vaccines should pregnant mothers get, should they be given before pregnancy or not?

Why should pregnant mothers get vaccinated?

Vaccination before and during pregnancy plays an important role in protecting the health of the mother and her fetus. Maternal immunity is the first line of defense to help the fetus fight certain serious diseases.

However, not all vaccines are safe during pregnancy. The vaccine has 3 forms: live virus, dead virus and detoxification (non-harmful substances, chemically modified proteins taken from bacteria).

Pregnant women should not get a live influenza vaccine such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because of the risk they will harm their unborn baby. Vaccines made from dead viruses such as flu shots and antidote vaccines such as tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines are safe for mother and baby.

Here's a summary of what you need to know about vaccinations before, during, and after pregnancy.

What vaccines should pregnant mothers get before pregnancy?

Some infections can be harmful during pregnancy. That is why it is advisable to order a blood test during the prenatal test to find out if you are immune to these diseases.

If not, pregnant women should get the vaccine before becoming pregnant and delay the pregnancy for 1 month to get the vaccine, because these vaccines are made from live viruses that can harm the fetus.

1. Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

Measles is a viral disease and is very contagious. When you have measles, you may have a fever, cough and runny nose; followed by a red skin rash a few days later.

Mumps is also a contagious viral disease that causes the salivary glands to swell. If you get infected with either of these diseases during pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage may increase (measles can also increase the likelihood of early labor).

Rubella  (German measles) causes flu-like symptoms and a rash that follows. About 85% of babies born to mothers with the condition in the first 3 months of pregnancy will have severe birth defects, such as hearing loss and intellectual disability.

2. Smallpox vaccine

Smallpox (chickenpox) is a very powerful contagious disease that can cause a fever and a very itchy rash. About 2% of babies born to mothers with chickenpox in the first 5 months of pregnancy have birth defects, including deformed limbs and paralysis. In addition, if pregnant women get chickenpox during the time of birth can also threaten the child's life.

What vaccines are safe when pregnant women?

1. Flu vaccine

Pregnant mothers should get vaccinated during the flu season, from November to March. The flu vaccine is made from a dead virus, so it's safe for both you and your baby. However, you should avoid the FluMist vaccine, an aerosol vaccine made with live viruses.

The best time to get a flu shot is October or November, before the flu season starts. Because flu changes every year, so does the vaccination. Therefore, you should not just rely on last year's vaccination but skip this year's vaccination.

Mothers with the flu, especially in the second half of pregnancy, are more likely to have symptoms worse than others or have complications such as pneumonia . Even mild flu can cause pain, fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and cough. Most of these symptoms last about 4 days, but coughing and fatigue can last for 2 weeks or longer.

If you have the flu, contact your doctor, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. You should let your doctor know if you feel unwell after a few days or if you have trouble breathing as these could be signs of more serious complications such as pneumonia. Although the flu can make pregnant women extremely tired, it will not harm the fetus.

2. Vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap)

Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are diseases that can put you and your baby at risk. Therefore, it is essential to get these vaccines. Pregnant mothers should get the vaccine at any time during pregnancy but preferably 27 to 36 weeks from pregnancy. The vaccine is made from toxoid detoxification so it is safe to use during pregnancy.

Tetanus (leprosy) is a disease of the central nervous system that causes pain, spasms and convulsions. The bacteria that cause tetanus are found in soil and in animals. It can enter the bloodstream through a cut in the skin, so see your doctor if there is a deep or dirty wound in the skin. If caught during pregnancy, tetanus can be fatal to the unborn baby.

Diphtheria is a respiratory infection that can cause breathing problems, paralysis, coma, and even death. Now, the disease is not too common, but you should get vaccinated every 10 years or else your immunity to this disease may weaken.

Whooping cough is a disease caused by infectious bacteria that can lead to death in a newborn. These are very dangerous diseases, so you should follow your doctor's vaccination schedule.

What other vaccines should you consider before or during pregnancy?

1. Get vaccinated against hepatitis B

If pregnant women work as a nurse or live with someone who has the disease, consider getting the hepatitis B vaccine.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes hepatitis, nausea, fatigue, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. In some cases, the disease can cause chronic liver disease, liver cancer and death. Pregnant women with hepatitis B can pass the disease to their babies during childbirth and if they are not treated promptly, their babies are at risk for serious liver disease as they grow up.

All pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis B because it is possible to get it without knowing it.

Hepatitis A vaccine

This vaccine helps to protect you against liver disease that is spread through contaminated food or water. Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue and nausea. It is not as serious as hepatitis B and will not affect the unborn baby. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause you to go into labor early and cause infection in your baby.

The safety of this vaccine has not been established, but since it is made up of dead viruses, the risk of harm is quite low. If you are traveling to a developing country or working with the virus in a laboratory, you should discuss immunization with your doctor.

3. Pneumococcal vaccine

If you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease, your doctor may recommend a pneumococcal vaccine to protect you against some types of pneumonia.

What vaccines should pregnant mothers get after giving birth?

At this point, pregnant mothers should get vaccinated against the vaccine during pregnancy or before pregnancy. Mothers who are breastfeeding can get the regular adult vaccination schedule.

Women younger than 26 years of age should also consider getting the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. This vaccine may help protect against cervical cancer. However, you should not get this vaccine during pregnancy because studies have not determined its safety for the fetus.

If pregnant mother should get any vaccine if allergic?

Serious reactions to the vaccine are very rare. However, your doctor may advise you to skip certain shots if you are allergic to a substance in the vaccine:

If you have a yeast allergy, the hepatitis B vaccine should not be given;

If the egg allergy is severe, then avoid the flu shot;

If a severe allergy to gelatin or the antibiotic Neomycin, the measles, mumps, or varicella vaccine should not be given;

If the allergy is not too severe, the doctor can advise pregnant women to vaccinate a certain vaccine to ensure the best health for both mothers and children;

If you cannot get any vaccines, you should discuss with your doctor other ways to prevent the disease.

In summary, the answer to what vaccines should be vaccinated before, during and after pregnancy to prevent dangerous diseases for the health of the mother and fetus has been answered in 2 parts of the article. Pregnant mothers need to know thoroughly and choose the right immunization to ensure the health of both mothers and children. Hope this article has provided you with lots of useful information.