DP thinks Im being a bit silly..

[starangelk]

We got the vax but the grandparents didn't as they are both 2 hours plus away.

[Erin_25]

It doesn't matter where they live, they are coming to visit shortly after the birth so yes you should ask them. Honestly I can't see it being a big problem, with all the info etc I don't see why they wouldn't want to do it....

[Ahurani]

Well I asked at my appt today. And she said that Ill get the vaccine but DP will have to go to the GP. How stupid.

[Jellyfish]

I don't think it matters where they live either -- one set of DD's Grandparents live in Perth (we are in Brisbane) but because they were coming to visit they would be seeing her for extended periods during that time which is enough to pass on whooping cough so they were asked to get it done and had no problem doing so.

[mummydreamer]

im going to push DH into getting a whopping cough vaccination as well (when he has time out of his busy schedule ) he didn't believe me that it was important until it was on the 7pm project the other night. i think im going to push my parents into getting their jabs as well, cause they'll see the baby alot.....and the season is coming up and we live in a cold area. i think at the end of the day, you do what you think is important and hope DH supports you.

[Just Me]

Honestly, they should consider having the booster for their own health as much as for your baby. They can still get whooping cough and be very sick with it. There are probably also small babies in the community that they live in that they would be helping to protect by being immunised. The booster only costs $40 each if you are not the parent of a new baby (it's free if you are). DH and I both had our booster at the GP when we took DD2 for her 10 day check.

[MrsBexie]

I think it's a great idea!!

[Honeybee]

I am also thinking of doing this. I will ask my parents and sister to do it, as we see them all the time. They should be fine about it. DH's parents we don't see much, and I am worried that they will be offended - his father is a very touchy manchild who takes offence at pretty much everything. I mentioned it to DH and he thought I was overreacting. He's not close to his parents and I would feel awkward about asking them, but at the same time I am very concerned about whooping cough and my newborn. I kind of feel that they'll probably only pop into hospital when the baby is born, then we might not see them a lot after that - do people think it would still be worthwhile asking them to have it done? What have people done about aunts and uncles? I guess all the family will come when we're in hospital or in the few days afterwards at home. Perhaps I'll just breastfeed constantly and not let anyone hold the baby?

[LizLemon]

I think it's a good idea and want to do it with my family and in-laws when this bub comes.

My only problem is that there are some family members that are broke and will not be able to pay for it. I would offer to pay for them but then should I be offering to pay for everyones? Also, DH asked "what if someone has a bad reaction to it?" Now I'm torn.

I guess it's just a matter of saying to people "we are not forcing you to have it done, and will not be offended if you don't as that is your choice, but please then understand that if you don't we will choose to have you not handle the baby".

Isn't it horrible that you have to stress so much at what should be such a happy time?

[Just Me]

My only problem is that there are some family members that are broke and will not be able to pay for it. I would offer to pay for them but then should I be offering to pay for everyones? Also, DH asked "what if someone has a bad reaction to it?" Now I'm torn.

You would probably find most of them have had a whooping cough vaccine sometime in their lives and if they didn't have an adverse reaction to it last time, shouldn't have one this time but talk to your health provider about it because they could give you more info about side effects than what I can.

This is just a booster and I think everyone in the community should be encouraged to have it again for their own protection as much as anyone else's. Adults can contract whooping cough as well. Fair enough as well if people don't agree with vaccination, but there are other precautions that they can take to protect themselves - natural medicines, diet etc and everyone should be thinking about how to best protect themselves against whooping cough.

The reason for this outbreak is that people have had the vaccine and believe that they are immune for life, but the problem is that they need to be vaccinated for it every 15 years (I think). Really, I don't think it is unreasonable to ask anyone to do it - what's the hurt in asking? If they don't agree, then you have to respect their choice but you need to do what you feel necessary to protect your baby if you believe they are at risk. Really though, having the vaccine doesn't have to be just about your baby, it is about them looking after their own health and wellbeing as well. And as I said, if they chose not to vaccinate, there are other precautions that they can take and should be taking. I would hope that commonsense prevails too and anyone who has knowingly come into contact with whooping cough would stay away from you and your baby until the incubation period has passed.

[~TT40~]

The vaccine is actually free to all new mums, dads and grandparents. it includes whooping cough, diptheria and tetnus. new mum can get it at the hosptial, but yea dads and grandparents have to go to the gp.

get it, and get everyone else to get it, bub cant be vaccinated against it for a month or two, and its always everyone and babies can die from it =(

oh and it lasts for 5 years (because of the tetnus, the others last longer)

[Cherished]

Hi hon, gosh not long now! I'll be stalking for a BA soon

Re the vaccination topic both dh and I decided long before even being pregnant that we wouldn't vaccinate our babies. While pregnant we considered asking the grandparents to get a booster or even us get boosters but at the end of the day we wouldn't feel right asking our family to get a shot if they didn't want to and we knew that a couple of them would not want to get it. If they don't have a problem with getting it than that's fine but if anyone doesn't want to have it then I don't think you can press the issue, you can however restrict visits. I guess what I'm saying is that you can't control what others do but you can control who sees your bub and for how long ITMS.

FWIW there are 3 main strains of whooping cough that people get and only 1 of them is covered in the vaccine. I suspect this is why WC is still out there and it has nothing to do with vaccinating or not. IMO good health is the answer and make sure no one visits who is sick.

[Just Me]

The vaccine is actually free to all new mums, dads and grandparents. it includes whooping cough, diptheria and tetnus.

I didn't know that Grandparents could get it free. That's great!

[trishalishous]

I think its a good idea.
everyone who had contact with DD had a booster, except for my younger sister (she is anti vaxx) and my mil (immunocompromised due to cancer treatment)
My sister isolated herself for 3 weeks before visiting DD, my mil also limited her outside trips (which she does anyway) and was careful not to come near DD with any cold like symptoms.

[ellasmummy]

I am making DH, MIL and my parents and sister get it. and I will be getting it as soon as bub is born...i copped a bit of flack from my parents about it, but once i told them they couldn't visit if they didn't have it they came around lol. even though i don't really think i would enforce that rule, but hey it worked!

[sarah85]

I think it's a great idea, and we both had boosters when DD was born. I can't remember if any of the grandparents had it, but I'll be asking them to this time around as I have read some devastating stories on WC lately.
You do what is right for you and your bub hun!