This vaccine protects you and your baby’s caregivers from carrying pertussis, a serious disease that is commonly known as whooping cough. The Tdap vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women in their third trimester. When you receive the Tdap vaccine at that time, you pass the antibodies that fight off whooping cough to your baby so they are protected when they are born.
It’s recommended that all caregivers and family who will be around your baby receive either the Tdap or Dtap vaccines, depending on age, at least two weeks before they will have contact with your baby.
All women, including those who are breastfeeding, should receive the Tdap vaccine soon after birth if they have not been vaccinated before or if they are unsure of their vaccination status.
The MMR vaccine protects you and your baby from many illnesses, including the rubella virus. During your prenatal care, you were most likely tested for a rubella status. If this test returns negative results or a low titer, that means you are not immune to rubella and meet the qualifications for needing an MMR vaccine.
You cannot receive the MMR vaccine while pregnant, and it is important to not become pregnant for three months after you have been vaccinated. If you have questions about the MMR vaccine, don’t hesitate to reach out to your health care provider.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone, including pregnant women. The flu is caused by the influenza virus and is spread by coughing, sneezing and close contact. Pregnant women are at a high risk for getting sicker than others and your baby cannot be vaccinated until they are six months old. The best way to protect your baby is for you and your baby’s caregivers to be vaccinated.
