Messages for Mothers (M4M) recently held a digital event where experts fielded questions from pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and women planning a pregnancy.
M4M is a collective of maternal health-focused organisations and on the panel were Prof Priya Soma-Pillay, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at Pretoria’s Steve Biko Academic Hospital, pharmacist Nsovo Mayimele and public health economist Kristal Duncan-Williams.
They said all the discussion about vaccines could be scary and confusing, and that, “unfortunately, false information is spread on social media or in person, and this stops people from making good decisions”.
The panellists said it was important to discuss the risks and benefits with a healthcare provider and make decisions based on accurate information.
These were some of the questions that were answered:
Should pregnant and breastfeeding women get vaccinated?
Covid-19 vaccines should be offered to all pregnant and breastfeeding women who are 18 years and older during any stage of pregnancy. Eventually younger women will also be eligible to be vaccinated. Vaccination should routinely be offered to eligible women during their antenatal and postnatal visits. Regarding breastfeeding, there are no known risks for the baby, but many benefits.
If you’ve recently had the jab, then find out you’re pregnant, what should you do?
You might get vaccinated while you’re expecting without realising you’re pregnant. Or you might become pregnant soon after getting the vaccine. If this happens, there is no reason to be concerned. It’s highly unlikely there will be any harmful effects for mother or baby. The vaccine will protect you against the severe complications that can result from Covid-19 during your pregnancy. It’s important to go for antenatal care visits and to tell the nurses and doctors you’ve recently had the vaccine.
Most health experts would highly recommend you get vaccinated as a pregnant or breastfeeding woman. It is now known there are far more benefits to you and the foetus or baby than any possible harm. This is especially true if you are a healthcare or essential worker, or have a high-risk medical condition.
If you are pregnant and have been vaccinated, you will pass some protection against Covid-19 on to your baby. The baby is thus less likely to get Covid-19 during the first few months of life.
Are there side effects?
You may experience mild short-term side effects, such as a sore arm where the vaccine is injected, and tiredness, headaches, muscle pain, fever and joint pain. We recommend that you use paracetamol tablets for this.
How does one know it’s safe?
In other countries, tens of thousands of pregnant women have already received the vaccine. There is no evidence from this experience that the vaccine causes harm to the foetus or newborn baby.
What if I am planning to become pregnant?
It is advisable for women planning to conceive to be vaccinated before pregnancy. It would be best for this to happen at least two months before the pregnancy starts so the vaccine will already be fully effective by the time you become pregnant.
But remember, if you missed out and are already pregnant, you can get vaccinated at any stage of the pregnancy.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.