I need some support. I cut my thumb over the weekend enough so that I needed stitches, but was unable to get them because of the type of cut it was. The clinic contacted my OBGYN prior to giving me a tetanus shot because I had not recieved one since my last booster (11-13 years old maybe?) I was pretty hesitant about getting the shot, but let them since my OBGYN gave the okay and even offered to give it to me themselves. Off I went and later that night ended up getting a reaction to the vac which thank goodness only lasted 24 hours. Feverish, constant numbing joint pain, nausea,.. I googled tetanus shot symptoms and found they were mirroring what I was experiencing. Called my OBGYN that morning and the nurse just told me that it was probably something i picked up while at the clinic. As the day progressed my symptoms began to deminish with the aid of tylenol. I had an OBGYN appointment the next day my doc confirmed it was probably a reaction to the shot and was not concerned about it at all, but was more concerned that I be careful to not let my cut get infected.
Since then I further researched the vac and came across some "extreme" cases/reactions holistic sites and I'm freaked out that I may have endangered my baby to be. Any mom's out there who were given the vac and had a perfectly normal healthy baby? Please only responses with support, I've done my fair share of research and am freaked out enough.
Thanks for the support ladies, I was having a serious pregnant moment the other day. The doctors/nurses at the clinic I received it at didn't seem to be very informed on what to do with a pregnant woman and just had a general discussion in the hallway the pros and cons and shrugging to eachother saying "It's one of those,.. grey areas in the medical field." A patient feels a lot more comfortable when you actually have someone who knows more about it and is a lot more confident in their answers/decision making, which is why I called my OBGYN. Anyways, I feel better today and your reinforcement has helped. Thanks!
The way my doctor summed it up: It's much safer to get the vaccine than to get Tetanus. I had to agree.
You will find a ton of misinformation on line, especially when it comes to any kind of vaccine (and a lot of out right lies). Do not take it seriously, and do not stress. Just focus on having the healthiest pregnancy you can from this point on.
There are plenty of pregnancy horror stories on the net for whatever symptom or problem you may be having. I would freak myself out too while I was pregnant and researching things on the internet! One thing you very rarely come across on the internet is the fact that while the baby is fairly delicate, he is also extremely hardy! Your baby is so protected by the fluids and whatever that it's pretty hard for anything harmful to get in there to hurt him. Your body knows there's a baby in there and it's not going to do anything bad to him! Your reaction was probably so harsh because of the baby! Your body reacted like that so that baby wouldn't be harmed by the vaccine not because your body was trying to harm the baby. I got a little cold while I was pregnant and went to the emergency because I felt so horrible only to be sent home and told to take a tylenol.
If your OB said everything was okay, then everything is probably okay. Just stay away from those horror stories! They'll only worry you into thinking something is wrong when it's not!
I'm not sure if you consider this "support," but I would not take the extreme information provided in the "holistic" sites too seriously. The concerns these sites often state are rarely based on real science or data. Your doctor is aware of all of the information you provided to us and doesn't seem to be worried, so that should ease your mind somewhat. Check out this site http://search.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_16189.asp
Take care of yourself and try not to get too stressed. (I know it's difficult to do.) Control that which you can and let the other stuff go. Good luck!
Do not worry, and do not pay any attention to those ridiculous sites touting nonsense about vaccine. Your OB would not have given the go-ahead if the shot were going to hurt you.
The reaction you had was normal. Vaccines basically force your body to have an immune response to whatever dead virus they put into the shot. That's why another name for vaccine is "immunization."
When you are vaccinated, your body responds much like you would if you had caught a cold. Sometimes you have a big immune response, and sometimes an almost non-existent one....but almost always less than if you'd been infected by the actual illness. Vaccine is a forced, artificially created immune response, but the results are the same as if you have a naturally contracted virus. Then, once that response is over, you are immune to that virus.
Do not get worked up over this. Your body responded as it should, and your baby is just as safe as he would be if you got a cold or the flu, and now you're protected against tetanus. :o)
I cut my finger and was given a tetanus shot around 32 weeks and my daughter was born in perfect condition. If you're OB cleared you for the shot, then it is safe to receive during pregancy. Their is more of a risk to your baby if your cut gets infected than with a tetanus booser. Take care of yourself and you will be taking care of your baby.
Be very cautious what you read online. A recent Harris survey showed that there's as much bad, misinformation online as there is good, accurate information about health.
I, personally, won't view information on sites not affiliated with major medical associations, respected health organizations or hospitals. The internet and all the stories I found while battling cancer just about drove me crazy.
An infection, including tetanus, can be extremely harmful to your child because it will travel through the lymphatic system throughout your body.
The following pamphlet through the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that it's safe to receive a tetanus shot during pregnancy:
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/ab012.cfm
You will almost always see more worst case scenarios then good. Having gotten the shot is much safer then risking getting tetanus. I just recently got my dtap booster shot two days after delivering because I haven't had one in a LONG time. If I were to have cut myself I would have gotten one while pregnant. I am not a shots person but I have seen first hand what can happen to someone who doesn't have current Tetanus shots.
I had a tetanus shot while I was pregnant with my daughter and we are both completely healthy. I'm a seamstress and accidentally sewed through my thumbnail with a sewing machine. I was almost exactly 10 years past my tetanus booster and since it was a puncture wound, it was important that I get the shot. I was so freaked out about it that I called the CDC in Atlanta and they assured me that it was safe to have the vaccine while pregnant. I was also in my second trimester when this happened. I don't recall having a specific reaction to that vaccine, but I often feel achy and like I'm coming down with something after having a vaccine. It passes in a day or two and I'm fine. Also, your child will be a living reminder of when you need to get your booster! I'll get my next one around my daughter's 10th birthday! I hope this gives you some peace. My best wishes to you and your precious baby!
Trust your ob. I had to have a tetanus shot with my last pregnancy at 5 months because my dog bit me. I have also had to use Vicodin during pregnancy due to an ovarian cyst. Both of my boys turned out fine. Don't read much into anything online, trust your ob.
M
I think if you googled anything, you would find a horror story. I was about 26 weeks pregnant with triplets when I had to have a booster because I fell outside and cut my hand. My kids were born at 34 weeks, doing very well, and did not have any problems even for being preemies.
You need to trust your OB/GYN. I had shingles during my pregnancy and was very hesitant about taking Valtrex. But they decided that it was more beneficial to take the pills rather than prolong the shingles.
Your OB would never just let you take anything without telling you about the consequences. I'm sure everything is fine - the OB doesn't seem to be worried and it's her liability on the line. I try to remember that if they think they could be sued, they will certainly give you details and be concerned.
Feel better and rest this weeknd if you can! And stay away from the internet. Remember, there is lots of great info but even more wrong info. How do you tell which is good/bad? You can't. Take everything with a grain of salt. Especially those holistic sites!!
I know of moms in my childbirth classes who had babies who were fine even though they were vaccinated during pregnancy. I also know of other outcomes, especially very early in pregnancy. All you can do now is take good care of you and your baby. Worry and stress can be just as damaging as other things.
No drug or vaccine, or food coloring or additive has ever been proven safe during pregnancy. Knowing this is the best way to keep your baby safe from now on. Think about it, no mom would ever volunteer for testing to see if a drug or proceedure was safe during pregnancy, therefore there is no research other than moms like yourself being given things and then the Docs seeing how it turned out.
Diet is huge in keeping you and baby healthy. I suggest the website www.blueribbonbaby.org for information about diet. Also, your instincts are the best for keeping your baby safe, clearly you have them listen and likely baby will be fine.
You would not have been given the tetanus shot if there was any predictable harm to your baby. With that said, if you had not received the shot and had contracted tetanus, the chances that you would have survived are questionable, not to mention your baby's survivability.
You can always find extreme cases for the most benign of treatments, we are all different. There are dangers to almost everything we do on a daily basis, but the risk is so minute that it's not worth mentioning. Your ob/gyn is right to be concerned about infection of the site. Take good care of the injury. Take a deep breath and enjoy this time. You are going to have a very happy healthy baby. Enjoy each moment of your pregnancy, the anticipation of this new life, full of promise, full of fun, full of wonder. I'm very glad that your injury wasn't more serious. The good news is that your tetanus shot is good for 10 years!!! So when your child is getting their second tetanus shot, you can get another one to be up to date with your vaccinations.
No experience, but a bit of support! You have chosen your OB for reasons. You trust your OB to care for you and your baby. You were right to check with your OB before getting the shot and they gave the okay. You're already looking out for your baby which is great! Here's hoping everything is okay!!
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Calm down. We used to give shots in the clinic where I worked if you had not had one in three years. Never noticed whether the woman was pregnant or not. It was irrelevant. Many had reactions. Their babies looked fine and developed normally.
Now they say you need tetanus shots every ten years. I was in Denmark on a horse farm late last month. Another mother had brought her unvaccinated child. The 8 year old cut herself in the horse barn on a sharp rusty object.
Three weeks of homeopathic Hypericum 30c was the preventative remedy another homeopath and I told her to give the child. It worked just fine. Please note that if you do not vaccinate.
You should be fine and baby too. To be honest, I am surprised that you escaped your very first pre-natal check-up w/o getting encouraged to get your Tetanus booster. They really should be done every 10 yrs. I distinctly remember my OB suggesting I get one done (mine had expired just mere months before) at my first check-up at 8 weeks.
I'm a midwife and have practiced extensively in the Philippines, where tetanus is a very real threat because many people are not vaccinated. At the clinic where I worked we followed the local protocol and routinely gave one or two tetanus immunization to any patients who had had fewer than five tetanus immunizations in their lifetime. So, most of our pregnant women had up to two immunizations per pregnancy--without complications or damage to their babies. (And this is based upon experience with thousands of women.) So, I don't think you need to worry about having hurt your baby. On the other hand, if you contracted tetanus (due to not being immunized), the risk to both you and your baby would be far, far greater! So be reassured that you made a good decision.
