Vaccinations are important to prevent lots of disease including flu, chicken pox and hepatitis. Some of these infections may be harmful to you or your baby during pregnancy. Vaccinations also help to keep our baby safe for the first few months of life until he gets his own. You should note that not all vaccines are safe during pregnancy. Ask your health care provider about vaccines you need.

What vaccines are recommended before pregnancy ?

Vaccines recommended before pregnancy include the following :

• flu vaccine which is given once a year during the flu season (October through May). The vaccine protects you and your baby against both seasonal flu and H1N1
• MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Measles can cause miscarriage during pregnancy. It is recommended you get this vaccine at least one month before trying to get pregnant
• varicella protects against chicken pox. Chicken pox spreads easily and causes birth defects  and pregnancy complications  if contracted  during pregnancy. You should get this vaccine at least one month before attempting to get pregnant
• TDap protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. This vaccine can either be given before pregnancy or after pregnancy week 20. Pertussis is very dangerous to baby and spreads easily.

What vaccinations are  recommended during pregnancy ?

Vaccines recommended during pregnancy include

• flu vaccine if you have not already received it
• Tdap vaccine during pregnancy at 27 to 36 weeks
• hepatitis B is recommended for pregnant women at high risk of passing the virus on to the baby

It is crucial to get the inactive form of the flu  vaccine through a shot than the nasal spray which is an active form.

What vaccinations are not recommended after pregnancy ?

You should not get these vaccines during pregnancy .

• MMR
• varicella
• BCG (tuberculosis)
• typhoid
• nasal spray flu vaccine
• meningococcal

What vaccinations are recommended after  pregnancy ?

If you didn’t catch up on your vaccines before or during pregnancy, you can still get them after pregnancy to protect your future pregnancies from infections.

It is safe to get your routine adult vaccines if you are breastfeeding. Ask your healthcare provider if you have some concerns.

Does vaccinations cause autism ?

No, vaccination does  not cause autism. Some people were concerned that  thimerosal, a chemical which contains mercury in some vaccines   causes autism. This concern brewed from a study done some years ago. However  research indicates that the study had flaws. More careful research has been done that shows that  thimerosal does not cause autism.  Thimerosal is no longer used in vaccines except in small amount in flu shots. Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns about  thimerosal in vaccines