You're paying attention to your diet, keeping active and getting plenty of sleep, but did you know one of the most important tools for staying healthy during pregnancy is making sure you're up-to-date on your vaccines? On the list: the Tdap vaccine (short for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), which not only protects you from catching whooping cough (aka pertussis) but also your baby after birth until she can get her own vaccine. And that's ultra important considering how serious whooping cough can be, especially in newborns and young infants.
Here are some common questions you may have about the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy.
Do I need the Tdap vaccine when I'm pregnant?
Yes, all moms-to-be should get the Tdap vaccine in the third trimester (between weeks 27 and 36) of every pregnancy for their health and the health of their newborn babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).[1]
Why should pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine?
When you get the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your baby from whooping cough through passive immunity, meaning immunity that's passed from mom to baby, which is critical, since if a baby gets pertussis as a newborn, it can be extremely serious and even life-threatening.
Newborns are the most likely age group to be hospitalized because of whooping cough and suffer potentially fatal complications from it, and babies can't get vaccinated themselves until they are 2 months old.
Your vaccination passes the antibodies to your baby so she has protection until she can get her own vaccine. This effect is so strong that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy as a way to protect infants up to 2 months of age.[2]
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Children should get five doses of the comparable pediatric shot, known as the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) vaccine, at 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months of age, followed by another at 4 to 6 years old.
What does the Tdap vaccine protect pregnant women and their babies-to-be against?
The Tdap vaccine protects against three serious illnesses: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.[3]
Here's what you need to know about each one.
Tetanus
Also known as "lock jaw," tetanus is a condition caused by a puncture or deep cut that leads to a bacterial infection. Though very rare due to vaccines, it causes tightening of the muscles in the face and neck making it difficult for people to open their mouths or even breathe.
It is fatal in 1 in 10 people who contract the infection, even those with high-quality medical care.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria causes a thick coating to form on the back of the throat making it hard to breathe. Though it's exceedingly rare in the U.S. because of vaccines, it can cause heart failure and paralysis.
Up to 1 out of 5 children under age 5 who get diphtheria will die from the infection.
Pertussis
Also known as whooping cough, pertussis causes intense coughing spells, vomiting, problems breathing, difficulty sleeping and sometimes even death. The vaccine provides protection for your baby-to-be against whooping cough, which can strike newborns before they're able to get their first dose of the DTaP vaccine starting at 2 months old.
Since 2010, between 15,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough are reported annually in the United States, and up to 20 babies die from the infection each year.
Widespread vaccination has greatly reduced how many people get these three diseases in the United States. Before the Tdap vaccine was available, 200,000 people a year came down with pertussis and diphtheria and hundreds contracted tetanus.
However, pertussis is still quite common since the vaccine does not protect you for a very long time. That's why it's so important that expectant women get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy.
When should pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine?
Pregnant women should get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy, preferably during the earlier part of that window. If you miss that timeframe, you can still get it before delivery or immediately postpartum. And if you're in an area where an outbreak of whooping cough is currently going on or have a deep cut in your skin and it's time for a tetanus booster, you can get the vaccine even earlier than 27 weeks.
Adults and kids 11 years and older should also make sure they are up to date with the Tdap vaccine to create a "cocoon" of protection against whooping cough when your baby is the most vulnerable. Since cocooning does not completely protect babies from whooping cough on its own, though, it is still important that you get the vaccine while you are pregnant.
Cocooning, in combination with getting the Tdap vaccine during your pregnancy and making sure your little one gets all the necessary vaccines on time, provides the best protection possible to your baby.
Is the Tdap vaccine safe during pregnancy?
Yes, the Tdap vaccine is safe for both you and your baby during pregnancy. You may experience some minor side effects, including soreness at the site of the shot, redness, body aches, headaches, mild fever, nausea, chills and tiredness. You cannot get whooping cough, tetanus or diphtheria from the vaccine.
Serious reactions such as fainting, severe pain and bleeding are exceedingly rare.
How often should pregnant women and other adults get Tdap?
Pregnant women should get one dose of Tdap during each pregnancy. Adults who are not pregnant only need one dose of Tdap in a lifetime. All adults should get a Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster every 10 years.
What if you've already received the Tdap vaccine before you were pregnant — do you still need it?
Yes, even if you got the vaccine before you got pregnant, you should get it again in the third trimester of every pregnancy.
If you're concerned about the safety of the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, don't be. It's safe and a smart way to protect your child from the real risk of whooping cough when she's the most vulnerable. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
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