New Recommendation: The Vaccine Pregnant Women Need

Photo: Veer

A note to mamas-to-be, you might have to get vaccinated during your pregnancy. The Advisory Committee on Immunization practices (ACIP) just put out their recommended Adult Immunization Schedule. The committee recommended that pregnant women who have not received the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccine receive the shot during later pregnancy -- after 20 weeks. Previously, it was recommended that women who hadn’t gotten the Tdap vaccine wait to receive it after baby’s birth. This is to prevent both you and your newborn from developing pertussis (aka whooping cough) during his first two months, when he won’t have been immunized for it yet. Pertussis can lead to coughing spells that cause difficulty breathing, vomiting and sleep problems.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Can I Get Vaccinations While I'm Pregnant?

Whooping Cough in Babies

Your Guide to Prenatal Tests and Checkups

-- Sarah Yang

Feb 01, 2012

See More: Pregnancy Health , Prenatal Checkups