Ask The Doctor: Vaccinations During Pregnancy

When women get pregnant, one of their greatest hopes is often a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Many women have questions about vaccinations – the flu shot, in particular – during pregnancy.

The following is the first in our "Ask The Doctor" series with Dr. Deb Krahl, an OB-GYN at Clinic Sofia, a women’s clinic that focuses on providing full-circle healthcare in a supportive environment.

Is the flu vaccine safe during pregnancy?

At Clinic Sofia, we have heard from many of our patients with questions about recent reports in the news linking the flu vaccination with early miscarriage. We shared with our patients that this is only one study and there have been multiple studies showing the flu vaccine is safe in all trimesters.

Clinic Sofia still recommends getting a flu shot for all pregnant women. If you are pregnant and concerned about getting the flu shot in the first trimester, then you can wait until after 12 weeks. We are also happy to talk with women one on one about their needs and concerns.

Also, it is very important that pregnant women get the flu shot and not the nasal spray as the nasal vaccine has a live virus and is not as effective as the shot.

Is it OK to wait until after women deliver to get the vaccine?

Studies show that flu vaccinations during pregnancy are beneficial to both mother and baby, so you are protecting two people from a serious infection with the vaccine.

Pregnant women are also vulnerable to the flu. When we saw H1N1 influenza in our clinics in 2009, we learned pregnant women were four times more likely than the general population to be hospitalized with this flu.

That is why we encourage women to get vaccinated at some point during their pregnancy if they haven’t done so that flu season.

What other vaccines, if any, should women receive while pregnant?

In addition to the flu vaccine, we recommend women get the Tdap (which stands for tetanus-diptheria- acellular pertussis) vaccine to help prevent whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for newborns.

Women planning international travel should also talk with their doctors about any particular precautions or vaccines that may be relevant.

Are there vaccines women need to get before getting pregnant? Or after?

Yes, we recommend that every woman be up to date on her MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine at least one month prior to becoming pregnant. Depending on the particular case, we may also recommend some vaccines after delivery, to help prevent moms from getting sick and passing antibodies on to babies via breastmilk.

If you have further questions about vaccines and pregnancy, you can contact Clinic Sofia at (952) 922-7600.

About Dr. Deb Krahl

Dr. Krahl has been an OB-GYN for the past 20 years. She sees patients at Clinic Sofia, which has offices in Edina and Maple Grove. Founded in 2004, Clinic Sofia serves thousands of women across the metro.

Photo via Clinic Sofia, used with permission