As you follow your baby’s development throughout pregnancy, you also begin to think about life after birth. How will your baby feed and sleep, and how can you protect them from illness? There is a great deal to wonder about, especially for first-time mothers.
Did you know that you can start protecting your baby against some diseases before they are even born?
The RSV vaccine given during pregnancy was developed for precisely this purpose. It helps provide protection against RSV, which can cause serious respiratory illness in babies, particularly in the first months after birth.
What Is RSV, and Why Can It Be Risky for Babies?
RSV is a very common virus that affects the respiratory tract. In adults and older children, it usually causes symptoms such as a runny nose, a cough and a mild cold.
For newborn babies, however, the situation can be somewhat different.
Babies’ airways are still very small, and their immune systems are continuing to develop. RSV can therefore cause wheezing, breathing difficulties and lung infections in some babies, particularly in the first months of life.
Of course, not every baby who catches RSV becomes seriously ill. Most babies recover. Some, however, may need treatment in hospital.
The aim of RSV vaccination during pregnancy is to reduce this risk of severe illness as much as possible.
How Does Vaccinating the Mother Protect the Baby?
Expectant mothers often ask: “If I am the one receiving the vaccine, how does it protect my baby?”
During pregnancy, your body supplies your baby with more than just nutrients and oxygen. Some of the protective antibodies you produce also pass to your baby through the placenta.
When you receive the RSV vaccine, your body starts producing antibodies against the virus. Some of these antibodies also reach your baby.
This means your baby may already have a degree of protection against RSV at birth.
This protection is particularly effective during the first six months after birth. The vaccine does not mean that your baby will never catch RSV, but it can reduce the likelihood of severe illness.
At What Stage of Pregnancy Is the RSV Vaccine Given?
The RSV vaccine is not given at just any stage of pregnancy. Particular weeks are preferred for vaccination.
During pregnancy, RSV vaccination is generally scheduled between weeks 32 and 36 . When deciding on the timing, however, the expected delivery date, the period when RSV is common and the mother’s health are considered together.
You should therefore speak to the doctor overseeing your pregnancy rather than planning the vaccination yourself.
Is RSV Vaccination During Pregnancy Safe?
It is understandable to feel uncertain about any vaccine or medicine during pregnancy. Expectant mothers may have similar questions about the RSV vaccine.
The safety and protective effects of the RSV vaccine approved for use during pregnancy have been studied in clinical trials.
After vaccination, you may experience soreness in the arm where the injection was given, a headache or tiredness. These symptoms generally pass within a short time.
Every expectant mother has a different medical history. It is helpful to discuss any previous allergic reactions, existing health conditions and concerns about vaccination with your doctor.
Will My Baby Be Unprotected If I Do Not Get Vaccinated?
No. If RSV vaccination was not possible during pregnancy, there are also protective antibody options that can be given to the baby after birth.
The preferred approach can vary according to when the baby is born, their health and current recommendations.
Even if you have missed the appropriate weeks for vaccination during pregnancy, you can still speak to your paediatrician about protecting your baby against RSV.
Finding Out More About RSV Vaccination
During antenatal care, we do more than monitor your baby’s growth and development: we also help you prepare for the period after birth.
Dr Tuba Nadide Yılmaz, at her clinic in Başakşehir, Istanbul, provides expectant mothers with information about RSV vaccination during antenatal care. At your appointment, you can discuss whether the vaccine is suitable for you, when it could be scheduled and any other questions you may have.
If you would like to discuss RSV vaccination or arrange an antenatal appointment, you can contact our clinic.
Dr Tuba Nadide Yılmaz
Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Başakşehir / Istanbul
Tel: +90 533 649 09 56
We are here for your questions
Contact our clinic for information and appointment requests.
Contact the clinic
