Shauna Hicks, MD OB/GYN: Several immunizations are recommended, some prior to pregnancy and some during pregnancy. Main immunizations we recommend during the pregnancy are the flu shot every year during flu season. Women who are pregnant are more susceptible to getting the flu. Flu season's usually through October to April, so if you're pregnant any time during that time frame, then we'll recommend a flu shot.
We also recommend the Tdap shot, which is the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, which is whooping cough. We recommend that in the third trimester for every pregnancy for every woman. Because you're over 27 weeks we do recommend the whooping cough vaccine, which is Tdap.
It's mostly to give those immune proteins to the baby. And then we'll have them for the first three months of life, which is the most vulnerable time for newborns getting whopping cough.
Fonda Mitchell, MD OB/GYN: What is important to stress is that the immunizations that are recommended during your pregnancy are not live vaccines. So it's necessary that the mom stay as healthy as possible so the immunizations provide a balance of support for her. But equally as important, it protects the newborn at the time of delivery.
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