Vaccines help protect you and your baby against serious diseases. You probably know that when you are pregnant, you share everything with your baby. That means when you get vaccines, you aren’t just protecting yourself—you are giving your baby some early protection too. CDC recommends you get a whooping cough and flu vaccine during each pregnancy to help protect yourself and your baby.
CDC has guidelines for the vaccines you need before, during, and after pregnancy. Some vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, should be given a month or more before pregnancy. You should get the Tdap vaccine (to help protect against whooping cough), during your pregnancy. Other vaccines, like the flu shot, can be given before or during pregnancy, depending on whether or not it is flu season when you’re pregnant. CDC also recommends COVID-19 vaccination for people who are pregnant. It is safe for you to receive vaccines right after giving birth, even while you are breastfeeding. Be sure to discuss each vaccine with your healthcare professional before getting vaccinated.1
Vaccination is one pregnancy milestone among many. Find out how flu and whooping cough vaccines fit into the journey of motherhood.
Vaccines are recommended for adults based on age, health conditions, job, lifestyle, travel and other factors. Take the quiz!
Sources:
1. CDC, Maternal Vaccines: Part of Healthy Pregnancy
2. CDC, Resources for Pregnant Women