Pediatric and Newborn Medical Care - Postpartum

<h2>One shot pregnancy flu vaccine</h2>
In the past, pregnant women were advised to have a two-shot preventative flu shot series. The first shot was given for seasonal flu and the second for the H1N1 strain of flu. H1N1 did not become a major threat until after the year’s supply of seasonal vaccinations were already produced and ready for use.&nbsp;Thus, the two shot requirement. Now, an all-in-one flu shot has been developed so pregnant women can have full protection from both seasonal and H1N1 flu without having to take two shots. The all-in-one flu shot is formulated to protect against H3N2, influenza B and H1N1 from 2009.
<a href="/infections/coronavirus-ncov-COVID-19-and-pregnancy" target="_self">Get the latest news on the Coronavirus!</a>
Dr. Jennifer Howse, the president of the March of Dimes offers this advice to pregnant women, “Based on expert medical opinion, <a href="/pregnancy/pregnant-why-you-need-flu-vaccine" target="_self">we urge all pregnant women, and women who expect to become pregnant, to get their influenza immunization</a> because the flu poses a serious risk of illness and death during pregnancy.” Flu vaccinations are considered safe for use during pregnancy.
<h2>Medical organizations reinforce the importance of flu vaccine</h2>
In order to get the point across to pregnant women and women who expect to become pregnant during the flu season, 10 organizations have gathered together to sign a letter sent to health care providers. The organizations that signed include the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
<a href="/cold-and-flu" target="_self">Learn more about colds and the flu during pregnancy!</a>
In 2009, pregnant women in the United States accounted for only 1% of the total world pregnant population, but 5% of the total deaths due to H1N1 flu. When pregnant women protect themselves from the flu they also protect those around them.

Source: March of Dimes. 16 September, 2010. 
&nbsp;

Last year, pregnant women were advised to have a two-shot preventative flu shot series. The first shot was given for seasonal flu and the second for the H1N1 strain of flu. H1N1 did not become a major threat until after the year's supply of seasonal vaccinations were already produced and ready for use.

Pregnant Women Need Only One Flu Vaccine This Year

Researchers have studied the effect of electronic monitoring on infant mortality, but the studies have included so few participants that the outcome was negligible. In an attempt to make a clear connection between reduced risk of infant death and electronic heart rate monitoring prior to birth, researchers gathered nearly two million birth records collected in the 2004 National Birth Cohort.
The researchers involved in the study aimed to give doctors sufficient proof that electronic heart rate monitoring is an important part of reducing infant mortality. Birth and death records were pulled from the 2004 National Birth Cohort. Doctors and researchers scoured through the information to connect the dots between electronic fetal monitoring and reduced risk of infant death.
The study results revealed that nearly 90% of infants received electronic heart rate monitoring in 2004. Those infants had a significantly lower risk of infant mortality when compared with the 10% of fetuses that were not monitored. Furthermore, low-risk pregnancies resulted in infants being born with high APGAR scores. High-risk pregnancies showed a reduced instance of infant seizures after birth when electronic heart rate monitoring was used.
The final outcome – infants receiving electronic heart rate monitoring during labor have a reduced risk of mortality by 50% over infants not monitored. These results were delivered at The Pregnancy Meeting, an annual event held by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Source: Vicki Bendure. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 14&nbsp;February,&nbsp;2011.

In an attempt to make a clear connection between reduced risk of infant death and electronic heart rate monitoring prior to birth, researchers gathered nearly two million birth records collected in the 2004 National Birth Cohort.

Effects of Electronic Monitoring on Infant Mortality

If a woman has rubella during pregnancy, the rubella virus can induce many different birth defects (known as 'Rubella Syndrome' or 'Congenital Rubella'), some of which are quite severe.
Among the defects doctors have seen in congenital rubella are eye defects (cataracts, glaucoma, "microphthalmia" ), heart problems (defects of the wall between the two sides of the heart, narrowing of the arteries to the lungs, and an open duct bypassing the lungs), ear problems (deafness caused by defects in the nerves and sound-sensing organs), and neurologic problems (including mental retardation) — among others.
For that reason, obstetricians test every pregnant woman to make sure that she is immune to rubella, children are usually immunized with the MMR vaccine against the virus. A single dose of the vaccine usually gives lifelong protection. This helps protect non-immune pregnant women too, by reducing the chance of their being exposed to rubella by sick children.

If a woman has rubella during pregnancy, the rubella virus can induce many different birth defects (known as 'Rubella Syndrome' or 'Congenital Rubella'), some of which are quite severe.

Congenital Rubella

After a rubella vaccination it's recommended to not get pregnant for 28 days. On October 18, 2001, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviewed data from several sources indicating that no cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) had been identified among infants born to women who were vaccinated inadvertently against rubella within 3 months or early in pregnancy. On the basis of these data, ACIP shortened its recommended period to avoid pregnancy after receipt of rubella-containing vaccine from 3 months to 28 days. It's suggested not to get pregnant for 28 days after the rubella vaccine.

After a rubella vaccination it's recommended to not get pregnant for 28 days.

Rubella Vaccination

<h2>Q: My husband received the anthrax vaccine several years ago while in the army. Could that affect our chances of having a healthy baby?</h2>
A: No, this won't affect your chances of having a healthy baby. The Anthrax vaccine has been around for over 30 years. No adverse effects on the reproductive system in either men or women are known. And there is no known increase in problems in babies born to women or men who have received the vaccine.

My husband received the anthrax vaccine several years ago while in the army. Could that affect our chances of having a healthy baby?

Anthrax Vaccine and Male Fertility

Q: At what point is it safe to get pregnant after the MMR vaccination and is there a problem if I get MMR vaccination during pregnancy?
A: Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine should not be administered to women known to be pregnant. Because a risk to the fetus from administration of these live virus vaccines cannot be excluded for theoretical reasons, women should be counseled to avoid becoming pregnant for 28 days after vaccination with measles or mumps vaccines or MMR or other rubella-containing vaccines.

When is it safe to get pregnant after the Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination?

MMR Vaccine and TTC

Q: How long after I have the rubella vaccine should I wait to get pregnant?
A:&nbsp; It's suggested not to get pregnant for 28 days after the rubella vaccine. On October 18, 2001, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviewed data from several sources indicating that no cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) had been identified among infants born to women who were vaccinated inadvertently against rubella within 3 months or early in pregnancy. On the basis of these data, ACIP shortened its recommended period to avoid pregnancy after receipt of rubella-containing vaccine from 3 months to 28 days.

How long after I have the rubella vaccine should I wait to get pregnant?

Rubella Vaccination - When Is it Safe to Get Pregnant?

Q: Which vaccinations are safe during pregnancy and which are not?
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Hepatitis B: Recommended for pregnant women at risk of infection.</li>
<li>Influenza (flu shot made with an inactivated virus): Recommended for women who will be pregnant during the flu season.</li>
<li>Tetanus/Diphtheria: Routinely recommended for pregnant women.</li>
<li>Meningococcal: Recommended for pregnant women at risk of infection.</li>
<li>Rabies: Recommended for those exposed to infection. May be recommended for those at a high risk of exposure.</li>
</ol>
Vaccinations You Should Avoid According to the CDC, the following live-virus vaccines are&nbsp;NOT recommended during pregnancy:
<ol>
<li>Measles*</li>
<li>Mumps</li>
<li>Rubella (German measles)*&nbsp;</li>
<li>Varicella (chickenpox) *</li>
<li>BCG (tuberculosis) *</li>
<li>LAIV (live, attenuated influenza vaccine) flu shot: Women who are pregnant during flu season should be inoculated with the inactivated version of the vaccine instead.</li>
<li>Special Cases</li>
</ol>
Experts know little about how the following vaccinations may affect your baby:
<ol>
<li>Hepatitis A</li>
<li>Pneumococcal vaccine</li>
<li>Polio (IPV)</li>
<li>Anthrax</li>
<li>Japanese encephalitis</li>
<li>Typhoid</li>
<li>Vaccinia (smallpox)</li>
<li>Yellow fever</li>
</ol>
You and your doctor should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of using these vaccines during your pregnancy.
*If possible, women should avoid becoming pregnant for one month after vaccination. If you are not vaccinated because you are currently pregnancy, talk with your health care provider about the possible risks.