Vaccines that are recommended during pregnancy
TDAP
It is important for pregnant women to stay updated with their vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy to ensure that their babies are healthy!! During pregnancy, a Tdap vaccine is recommended to protect the baby from pertussis. Pertussis is another term for whooping cough, which is an upper respiratory infection. This can be deadly for the infant, and it is a contagious illness that is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Severe cases of this coughing spells can lead to pneumonia. It is best for pregnant women to get the tdap vaccine between 27-36 weeks of gestation.
​
Hepatitis B
It is recommended by health professionals that pregnant women should get the hepatitis B vaccine. This is due to the fact that many people are unaware that they are infected with this viral illness. Hepatitis B is a viral illness that causes damage to the liver. It can easily be transferred to a newborn if the mother is affected. In addition, it can be contracted by sharing personal items such as toothbrush and razors with an infected person. In addition, sharing needles with an infected person can cause hepatitis B. It cannot be spread from coughing or sneezing. The vaccine can prevent the baby from developing liver disease.
​
Influenza
The influenza, also known as the flu, can be a serious contagious life-threating illness that is spread from person to person. This vaccine is a great way to protect pregnant women from getting the flu. The flu is harmful for pregnant women because their immune system is affected by the pregnancy. Therefore, the immune system responds slower than usual. This system works to protect the body from illnesses. The dangers of the flu is that it can cause premature birth, which is delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature birth can lead to underdeveloped organs.
Works Cited
"Hepatitis B during Pregnancy." BabyCenter. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.babycenter.com/0_hepatitis-b-during-pregnancy_1506.bc>.
"Hepatitis B Information: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepb-guide/hepatitis-b-topic-overview>.
"Pertussis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001561.htm>.
"Sign in." Influenza and Pregnancy. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/influenza-and-pregnancy.aspx>.
"Td or Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria or Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) Vaccine." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 June 2013. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/tdap.html>.
"Whooping Cough (Pertussis)-Topic Overview." WebMD. WebMD, Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/children/tc/whooping-cough-pertussis-topic-overview>.