[flyingspaghettimama]

I'm in my second trimester and found out today that I'm not immune to Rubella. My daughter (age 5) is in morngin preschool and not vaccinated. I was immune 5 years ago when pregnant with her - how did this happen? Lame vaccines.

Anyways, is it dangerous to not be immune during pregnancy, if kid brings it home?

 

[Melaniemomto6]

I've had the same problem since I was preg with dd1 - after every child I've received the immunization and it has NEVER taken - after Brent my ob gave me the option of whether or not I wanted it yet again - I said no - what's the point - kwim?

From what I was told it can be very dangerous to the fetus - particularly in the first trimester - but there seems to be a very low risk of ever coming into contact with it as most children have been vaccinated against it. Does the preschool there not require it? They do here.

 

[Spark]

Hey, we have something in common! I'm not either! Somehow my immunity wore off, too.

: I feel so free!!!

It would be MUCH more dangerous to get the Rubella vaccine while pregnant... in fact I don't think that they even would give you one, because it's a live virus.

So... live it up with me

See... it's freeing.

 

[Melaniemomto6]

LOL - Spark, you are right - it is more dangerous and they won't give it to you while pregnant - they do however recc that you receive it as soon as you give birth (mine was given to me at the same time as my RhoGam) esp if you plan on having more children

 

[flyingspaghettimama]

Yeah - ok, I feel better. Just talked with the midwife. She said there's no vax during pregnancy, she doesn't think it's neccessary to vax the kid for it because it is really, really rare, and I should probably just stay away from people with rashes in general. There might be the chance of shedding Rubella if she were to get the vaccine. She said I could get it at 6 weeks PP, but I'm not planning anymore pregnancies, so maybe not. How serious is it?

No, in our state you can have a philosophical exemption for vaccines, or certain vaccines if you want. We selectively vax'd, and this one (MMR) was one we passed on until a later age, we got measles-only.

 

[Full Heart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by loraeileen She said I could get it at 6 weeks PP, but I'm not planning anymore pregnancies, so maybe not. How serious is it?

The Disease itself is mild. Lasts about 3 days. Kids get a fever and cold, a rash can sometimes appear and sometimes swollen glands in the neck. In adults of course the disease can be more severe with achy joints, sore throat and headache. I have never seen a case in person but my mom had it as a kid and was upset she had to stay in the house even though she felt fine.

In pg women it can cause the baby to be born blind, deaf or have heart damage. The most risk is the the first trimester. Congenital Rubella Syndrome is really rare though. Only a few hundred cases of rubella are reported every year in the US and maybe a dozen babies are born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome. (according to the cdc 12 babies were born with CRS between 1994-1997).

There was a thread in vaccines recently about this. I will repeat what I said there in that my first test in my first pg came back inconclusive. I had it redone and it said I wasn't immune. During my next pg (I got pg 5 mos pp) my blood test said I was immune. So either the test is not reliable or I got it at some point and became immune.

Hth. Michelle

 

[stafl]

With both of my pregnancies, I tested negative for rubella antibodies. Doc said it was no big deal.

 

[rareimer]

i'm not sure on this, but i have heard there are studies that have been done showing that breastfeeding mothers should not receive the vaccine either. so even if you don't get it during pregnancy, you may not want to get it after for awhile, either. anyone else have any more info on this?

 

[littleteapot]

You might also want to consider the chances of actually contracting rubella in your area before you get too worried.

According to the CDC charts, there were 18 cases of rubella in the US in 2002. Only two of those cases were in people under 25. Thirteen were in the 25 to 39 range (probably others who lost their immunity?).
The chances of you actually picking up rubella are incredibly slim!

 

[flapjack]

I've never had immunity to rubella- my boys are 6 and 4 and in mainstream schooling. If my body doesn't want to hold the vaccine, it's done so for a reason (I've been vaccinated 4 times in total now- after Isaac was born I refused.) The biggest risk to the foetus is if rubella is conceived whilst the foetus is forming- before about 16 weeks or so- and you're nearly there anyhow, aren't you?

 

[Marlet]

Hey! I just got done with this! lol Upon DISCHARGE they decide to tell me I was Rubella negative. They offered me the shot and I signed a paper saying no. I was reading somewhere on it the other day that your highest risk is in the first trimester and that you can't get the shot for it until after the pregnancy. Here is my thread about this same thing.....maybe someone says something in it that doesn't get mentioned here.

Lizabethian's Rubella

 

[flyingspaghettimama]

Yes, I'm 18 weeks now, so first trimester is over with no rashes! Thank you everyone, this has been a big reassurance. I have also been vaccinated 3 times as an adult (I kept losing my paperwork, and did have to prove immunity when I changed Universities, so I just took the free shot...), and so I'm totally confused as to how I lost the immunity.

I think I'll live it up with Spark!

 

[Melaniemomto6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rareimer i'm not sure on this, but i have heard there are studies that have been done showing that breastfeeding mothers should not receive the vaccine either. so even if you don't get it during pregnancy, you may not want to get it after for awhile, either. anyone else have any more info on this?

WOW, I'd never heard that - I got it after all pregnancies (except the last) & b/f them all - would be interested in more info

 

[Heavenly]

Please don't get it while breastfeeding, especially if you are going to vaccinate the child! Their have been studies showing that when mothers received the vaccination while breastfeeding and then the child was vaccinated against it at 12-18 months they developed autism. A very high rate of them. This is what happened to my neice. They told my sister that there was no risk and gave her the shot 6 weeks postpartum while she was nursing. When my neice received the MMR shot she became autistic. I am always sad wondering who she could have been had she not been abused by doctors. Of course I love her for who she is but still...

 

[Melaniemomto6]

 

[rareimer]

here is some more about the study of Rubella/MMR vaccination while breastfeeding, HTH! http://www.haciendapub.com/yazbak.html