The National Geographic e-Newsletter Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant? Here's what experts say: Plus, it's been a wicked, stratifying strange year, where the work of the world was all called into question for a few weeks, and essentials only were working, bridging a gap between when utter collective uncertainties about what degree of effect the pandemic would exercise over daily life, while we waited with baited breath, reading stats about China and then Italy, comparing their rate of infection with projections based on blooming cases in our nearby cities. Uncertainty, fear, and then grim but orderly decisions about return to work. For those who could, virtual work was and has been the preferred option, and this was a bright side for some people who maybe suffered fatigue from chemo or lupus or other diseases/conditions, and were relieved when their commute was canceled. Not only were they staying safe, their lives were improved, and social justice advocates questioned whether employers should broaden their perspectives on remote work. Environmentalists questioned whether similar shutdowns will occur when global warming becomes an increased health concern, and praised the reduction of traffic on roads. Little silver linings and a time of hope and industry of thought. Americans banded together and reassessed the structure of society. Priorities reshuffled when pandemic struck and looking for the silver linings after inspirations like the success of zoom, the complete turnaround of my son's school system, I was inspired to think more deeply about living and working conditions in general, and my heart went to mothers. I thought about protective laws as a way to shelter people in interest groups but not limit their free will, and what it means to be a good advocate. It's a Friday night, and I've reached the hour of babysitting where I'm sitting in someone else's quiet house, far away from my home where all those unorganized winter clothes and dead light bulbs and a dog needing a walk await me. I'm catching up on emails and settling into a long update about world health and the COVID-19 vaccine with a warm comforting mug of coffee I don't need. My day started with an (early) annual women's health visit, and I shed a few tears in the parking lot afterwards thinking about my son and the wonderful, awesome day he was born. Becoming a mother has changed my life and my priorities and so many other things. Matters of free will have been fierce in my news feeds because of a controversial presidency, and contentions about mask mandates, shelter-in-place orders and emergency protocols. Then, a topic that has been subject to intense debate for months, very much an issue of free will -- vaccines, suddenly becomes an urgent, do or die, jump moment. Ironic is one thought that strayed through my brain. But another is how motherhood has changed me personally. How I can identify with an interest group, and with that lens, assess societal issues: I've had more sympathy for people who don't feel comfortable with vaccines since I went through parenting an infant, because it is frightening to see a little baby get so many big shots. Some needles were bigger than others, and on days when he got 3-4 shots, I was wondering what percent of his body fluids they were now representing! One even made a big bulge on his thigh for a few seconds before the nurse rubbed it in. It was one thing when I went to get my shots with my mom as a child/ teen, but being a mom watching my baby get the shots, I experienced much more anxiety. Still, I followed the recommendations and just got it over with, but during the blur of business of the first months of motherhood, I barely knew which shots he got. I was glad to leave that part up to the doctors! Besides my memory of those first few months of maternity, this National Geographic topic drew me right in since I have a best friend who is a pregnant healthcare worker. Based on my recently refreshed experiences with vaccines, my first question for her or any pregnant woman eligible for the vaccine would have been whether they were scared, just because it was nice to have someone talk the issue out for me. I was glad that this article elucidated the potential facts behind my vague fears - that a fetus could potentially have side effects (mild fever or discomfort) if the vaccine can cross the placenta. Otherwise, any harmful side effects on the mother would not be good for the fetus either. But on the other hand, a severe illness would also be a scary thing and much more damaging than any side effects of the vaccine0. While the WHO recommends women wait a little if they are not at high risk for COVID-19, the CDC says the vaccine should be available to pregnant women, but the decision should be theirs. Here is a concluding excerpt from the article:
" But the risk of severe illness is lower for the expecting than for other high-risk groups, such as the elderly or those with heart disease. So it’s critical to look at individual factors that increase a person’s individual risks—including numbers of daily contacts, access to testing and high-quality PPE, and comorbidities such as asthma or obesity—and whether there’s anything that can be done to reduce them. Timing has to be taken into consideration, too. Swamy says there’s no evidence that a vaccine can cause developmental problems or miscarriage in the first trimester. But women at lower risk of infection may choose not to get vaccinated during that period, which is vital for fetal organ development and is when miscarriages typically occur. (The influenza vaccine is safe at any point during pregnancy.) For pregnant women who are at high risk of exposure and who don’t have the option of reducing that risk, it may make sense to consider getting the vaccine as soon as they’re eligible. But to find out for sure, Chambers says, “the urgency is to get the data on people who are getting vaccinated.” " The article goes on to suggest that children invitro will absorb their mothers' protective antibodies whether they have been exposed and infected by coronavirus or vaccinated against it, which is a positive thing, though it's not lasting protection from disease. Here's a little bit about the first trimester:
My most prominent memories of my first trimester were of the all-importance of breakfast and my glorious, glorious mid-afternoon naps. Every person is different, but for me, if I didn't start the day off with a healthy, balanced breakfast, I would be puking by 11 AM. When I didn't have enough to eat, that's when I became nauseous. And really, my memories of the first trimester are some of my most prominent memories of pregnancy, because there was, for me, the several weeks of waiting, wondering whether I was feeling any changes, and then suddenly feeling pronounced and drastic changes - the overnight development of an aversion to coffee, and the sudden, fierce dependence on breakfast. (Side note: going into labor was kind of similar. I wondered, wondered, wondered at every flutter if it was beginning for days, and then in a matter of minutes, one day, I truly knew when it had begun.) So I would go to my classes every day from 8 or 9 am to 2 pm with a big snack for emergency waves of hunger, and as soon as I got home, I'd sit down in a big basket chair to do my homework, and one day I dozed off for what I was expecting to be a one of my normal but uncharacteristic pre-pregnancy cat naps. I woke up hours later, in fright, from a deep, deep doze. My new student dwelling was still unfamiliar, and suddenly dusk was advancing. A powerful urge to nap persisted for several weeks, and after the initial shock I embraced the nap on days it seized me, and would wake up feeling full to the brim with happiness and contentment. I was already bonding with my baby. And before long, the nap urge went away. I felt so lucky to be able to indulge in my nap while I had the time. Looking back, I'm sure all the biking I was doing to and from school was great for me and the baby, too. That was steadily replaced by daily dog walks, but I still biked occasionally. When I got to be pretty gigantic, the expecting grandmother requested I ask about the safety of my favorite types of exercise at my next visit. The doctor told me that exercise is great, and since I was a confident biker, as long as I was being safe, she was happy for me. She told me that women who run marathons can run marathon distances while pregnant because that's what their muscles are used to doing, so I am full of amazement for women! Especially because after our conversation, (I was about 8 mos. along, and beginning to make quite an entrance everywhere I went,) I tried running a short distance across an open field, and immediately strained some stiff and probably temporarily contorted muscle in my groin. My sisters found this incident very hilarious and impersonated my run lots of times, and my leg was sore for a couple of days! And I am sure that women who are used to their careers and what their jobs demand are prepared when their first pregnancies happen. The beautiful thing about pregnancy, well, I loved how all the women in my life, and so many new women I met every day, would share their experiences with me. Some would say, "Oh my sister went through that, or oh, just you wait! When I was at that stage..." It was so nice hearing almost any person I spoke to ask how I was feeling. And I was so thankful for the attention, partly because I did not know what to expect, and even for those who have known a pregnant women closely, like a sister or best friend, before they became pregnant themselves, might agree that it's one thing to hear about what something is like, and another to go through it yourself, and on top of that, every woman is different. Circumstances and stress can play a big part. Preexisting conditions... I was not planning and everyone tended to say to me, tons of women don't plan and planning can't prepare you for everything so don't worry. I got a different version of the story than every other woman who has been through the same experience of their first pregnancy. But what I wonder, is that for women like me who weren't prepared or planning, or women who are taken unawares by the reality of the first trimester, who feel the overwhelming effects like I did, of mid-afternoon fatigue, or women with health concerns, should be protected by our laws to have the option of reducing their daily working hours during the first trimester if they feel so inclined. I generally find that people are super supportive of pregnant women, and I'm sure that as I become older, my awareness of all kinds of issues will only increase! But this is just my feeling/ suggestion for a positive change in the world!
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AuthorWe are Kieran and Michelle, two 32-year-old William & Mary grads living in Virginia. Archives
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