This mother wants to emphasize the importance of the whooping cough vaccine for all expectant mothers. With the ever-evolving guidelines surrounding pregnancy, it can be challenging to stay informed. However, one crucial fact every woman should know is that getting vaccinated against whooping cough is essential. This illness can be life-threatening for infants, but vaccination has made it largely preventable. A new mother, who unintentionally transmitted the illness to her baby, is now sharing her story as a plea for others to get vaccinated.
In a video shared on a health organization’s Facebook page, an Australian mom named Sarah recounts her experience of contracting whooping cough and the impact it had on her family. She describes herself as a “healthy, active individual” who hesitated to receive the pertussis vaccine during her 28th week of pregnancy. Unfortunately, shortly before giving birth, she fell ill and passed the disease on to her newborn.
Sarah and her daughter, Mia, have spent over three weeks in the hospital. Initially, Sarah believed the illness was manageable, but soon Mia’s cough became alarmingly severe. “She was coughing to the point of turning blue, struggling to breathe, and we had to rush her to the hospital,” Sarah recalls. Mia was admitted to the ICU, and Sarah says witnessing her daughter’s painful recovery has been “incredibly difficult.”
More than anything, Sarah hopes to raise awareness about the seriousness of whooping cough and how to safeguard against it. “Even someone like me—who has always been healthy and active—I contracted whooping cough,” she explains. “Mia is now in her fourth week of treatment, and I’m here constantly monitoring her, giving her oxygen, and watching her struggle. If I could go back in time, I would definitely have protected myself.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises all pregnant women to receive the whooping cough vaccine during their third trimester. This recommendation helps the body produce protective antibodies, which are then passed to the unborn baby. These antibodies peak about two weeks after vaccination, making it crucial to get vaccinated later in pregnancy.
Many women may not realize the significance of this recommendation, as it has changed over the years. When I had my first child in 2015, the advice was to get the pertussis vaccine post-delivery. By the time my second child arrived three years later, the guidelines had shifted to include vaccination during pregnancy. I remember questioning whether I really needed it, given my recent vaccination.
The answer is a resounding yes, according to most healthcare providers. The CDC states there’s no blood test available to confirm whether you have sufficient antibodies to protect both yourself and your baby from whooping cough. Hence, even if you’ve previously been vaccinated, you and your baby might still be at risk. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice on your health, but when the whooping cough vaccine is offered, prioritizing your infant’s health is crucial.
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In summary, this mother’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of vaccination against whooping cough for pregnant women. By getting vaccinated, mothers can protect their newborns from potentially life-threatening illnesses.