OT vax ?**pg and worried**

[healthnutmama]

Here's the situation, I never received boosters for any of my childhood vaccinations.

I'm 34.5w pg and last week while doing some window scraping, I stepped on my razor blade (long story, stupid mistake ). I sliced the tip of my 2nd toe off. Sorry if that's tmi. We got the bleeding under control pretty quickly. Since there was nothing to stitch, I didn't see a need to go the Dr over it. I'm now in a mini-panic about the possibility of contracting tetanus. My midwife doesn't seem too concerned about it, but I can't stop thinking about it. What will happen if I get it? I guess I don't really know what to look for or how serious the repercussions of not going and getting vaccinated could be.

Just looking for some insight/reassurance from my non-vaxing crowd.

TIA!

[2+twins]

Just speaking out my a** here, but isn't the concern with tetanus infection - typically from something dirty such as a rusty nail, animal germs (like I had to have a tetanus shot before working with seals), etc? I don't know what type of razor you're talking about (shaving style?) but I'm thinking it's probably not *that* dirty (germs, sure - but tetanus variety, I dunno). I think the main thing you'd look out for were signs of infection - just as you would with any cut. I seriously wouldn't be any more concerned about this cut than if I sliced my finger preparing dinner. But I didn't research tetanus before posting this so you might feel more comfortable googling it a bit.

[healthnutmama]

I was scraping paint off windows with a 4" scraper razor--an older one that has been used several times and stored in a garage. I set it on the floor (big mistake), and proceeded to step right onto it shortly there after. It wasn't rusty, but definitely was not clean either.

Yes, the concern is with infection, which at this point, there seems to be none. I guess my question should have been more clear. Would it be *wisest* of me to go get the vax since I've been cut, or should I wait to see if infection develops? I really hate the idea of getting a vax while pg, but if the benefits outweigh the risks...

AHHGG, the timing of such incidents!!

[MamaTaraX]

To put your mind as some ease, tetanus is most wicked because it comes on quickly as a general rule. If you don't have symptoms already, chances are high that you don't have it and won't have it. That's whty the tetanus booster is given within 12-24 (??) hrs of an injury. To answer something said above, you can get tetanus from all kinds of places. The most common being from dirt, but you can get tetanus from manydifferent sources. That's what makes it particularly funky, because it's not always cut and dried in regards to where it comes from.
Namaste, Tara

[applejuice]

Please post this on the vaccine forum as there are lots of informed mamas there - I like to entertain the thought that I am one of them.

Anyway, the fact that you actually bled alot is a very good sign.

One would worry about tetanus when there is no bleeding and a deep puncture wound is involved.

[healthnutmama]

Thanks! As you can tell, I'm pretty new around here. I'll post over there...

[saritabeth]

well, Im not sure if this is helpful, but...

I got into a bit of a scooter crash before I knew I was pregnant. I bashed my face up pretty good and got a tetanus shot. I found out two weeks later I was pregnant...I FREAKED out a)becuase I crashed a scooter while pregnant and b) I had xrays and a tetauns shot.

All this to say, my babe is one, she is fine, I am fine. If I had a choice, I would probably research the heck out of it before doing that again. Since I didn't know, I couldn't undo it.

Either way, if your midwife isn't too concerned and you aren't showing any signs of infection, I would skip it...but that is just me.

Good luck, and sorry about your toe

[Music-mommy]

You'll no doubt get this answer on the Vax board, however, tetanus is only an issue if you have a puncture wound that does not bleed, the problem is if no oxygen gets to the wound to clean it out. If you cut the tip of your toe off, there is no risk of tetanus, since I'm sure it bled alot. Even if the blade was dirty, the blood would have washed off the dirt, and also since the cut is exposed you probably cleaned the wound....

Make sure you keep it clean, some hydrogen peroxide is good (oxygen). I would definitely not be getting a vaccine when pregnant....

I cut off the tip of my finger last pregnancy. It's tough because the last thing you want when pregnant is a cut, I remember being shakey for an hour or so.

I've never had a vaccine since the age of 6 either.