Before pregnancy
Influenza (flu)
Flu in pregnancy can be serious with an increased risk of premature labour and low birth weight. Flu vaccination during pregnancy is safe and effective and is strongly recommended for all pregnant women. Flu vaccine is free for pregnant women and also provides protection for babies in the womb and up to six months after birth.
Whooping cough (pertussis)
Whooping cough is an infection which causes serious illness, and in some cases death, in babies who are too young to be vaccinated. The whooping cough vaccine protects mothers and their newborn from infection and is recommended before pregnancy or in the last three months of pregnancy if the patient has not had the vaccine in the last five years.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella
If a patient catches measles, mumps or rubella during pregnancy she could have a miscarriage, premature delivery or their baby could be born with serious birth defects. If patients are not yet protected, they should be vaccinated. It is important women do not become pregnant for 28 days after vaccination.
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Chickenpox can cause severe birth defects if caught during pregnancy. If patients are not yet protected, they should be vaccinated. It is important women do not become pregnant for 28 days after vaccination.
Hepatitis B
All pregnant women are tested for hepatitis B infection, as it can pass to their baby during birth. If an expectant mother has the disease, they should be seen by a specialist and their baby will need to be treated with a medication called immunoglobulin and receive hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth.
Following birth
It is safe for new mothers to receive routine vaccinations immediately following birth, even if they are breast feeding. Patients should have the whooping cough vaccine if they have not received it in the last five years or the MMR vaccine if they are not immune to measles or rubella.
A baby’s first vaccination, hepatitis B, is recommended just after birth. The next scheduled vaccinations are due when babies is six to eight weeks old.