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Humira and pregnant- need info on newborn vaccines

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Posted 10/20/2008 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Basically my GI told me that I'm the first patient he's ever had on Humira and so he doesn't exactly know the answer to my question, but he thinks that any live vaccines should be delayed. He went back and forth between trying to decide if I should quit Humira for the 4 weeks prior to delivery OR if I should just keep taking it and possibly delay baby's vaccines. He decided I should keep taking it and not risk a flare. He said to check with my pediatrician to "make sure" about the vaccines. I spoke with the ped's office and they don't give any vaccines until 2 months and NONE of them are live. So........ I'm still going to do my own research. They give FOUR shots on the first go around. That seems like an awful lot to me. Oh - he also said that I should not have any vaccines either.

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I'm going to see my GI tomorrow. I hope he'll have info, but just in case he doesn't - can you mom's who've taken humira in pregnancy tell me what your docs told you about vaccinating your newborns? I think they get a Hep B shot in the hospital, and I don't know what else - then they start vaxing at 2months. Which vaccines did your doc tell you to avoid for baby and for how long???? I'm 9 weeks away from having this baby and I need to know what to do!!!

Thanks!!!
Stef
Posted 10/20/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stef. I'm not on Humira, but I was told to delay the rotovirus vaccine if I was on any immunosuppressant near the end of the pregnancy b/c it is a live virus and the baby may have a suppressed immune system at first. I think that is the only live vaccine they get in the beginning. We're doing our 2mo shots in a little over a week, so I'll be double checking then.

I actually delayed the HepB too, but just b/c it seemed so early to start it.

hj
Posted 10/22/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply! I'm still waiting to find out if my GI has any info on this. Hopefully I'll find out what I want to know before baby comes.
Posted 10/22/2008 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
I was told to delay all vaxes until 2 months, so my baby didn't get the Hep B vax in the hospital.  She got her regular shots at 2 months and then we made up the Hep B series along the way. 

BTW - we told EVERYONE in the hospital CONSTANTLY not to vax her.  I didn't want it to slip through the cracks and have it done as routine.  I'm sure it was annoying but that's too bad.  :) 

Posted 10/23/2008 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
My GI told me that my daughter (6 weeks) shouldn't get any LIVE vaccinations until 6 months because I had a remicade treatment in the 3rd trimester. Yesterday at my 6 week OB checkup my dr said that applies to ALL immune suppresant drugs, not just remicade. Although 2 different drs in my family practice agreed that none of the vac they get are LIVE these days (remade over and over from a part of an old live vac) but I held off on the HEP B shot at the hospital as well. In 10 days when my daughter goes to get her 2 month shots, I'll talk with our family dr again (I'm sure he's going to get annoyed with my CONSTANT questions about this topic) and make SURE that she's only getting the ones that she is ok to have at this point although I don't think there will be any issues. They don't give the rotovirus vac here to every child..but each state may be different.

Talk with your GI and your Family dr/pediatrician to be sure!!!
GOODLUCk!!
Posted 10/23/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks ladies. I had none of this information when I was on remicade and my kids got their vaccines on time and they were fine. #2 even got the rotovirus vax!!! He never got sick. But I had my last infusion while pregnant around 32 weeks, so maybe there was plenty of time for it to get out of his system. #1 never got the rotovirus one because it wasn't offered.

ANYWAY... Now I have some digging to do. I hope the pediatrician knows - or at least can tell me which vax's are live/not live.

I really appreciate your help on this. I definitely don't want baby to get anything that is going to compromise her health. She's doing GREAT so far. I'd hate for a stupid vaccine to mess it all up. :)
Posted 10/23/2008 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Beth is soooo right! You will need to tell them over and over not to vax, if that's your decision. Me, I am a big proponent of waiting until the child is two years old when the sheathing on the meylin at the base of the brain has fully formed, and then decide on a shot by shot basis which ones to get and which to decline. Just remember, you are the boss!
Posted 10/23/2008 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks EMom - I totally appreciate your in put. Fascinating info on brain developments. I have NO PROBLEM standing up for myself (and baby). I learned a long time ago that people in the hospital do stuff for no reason at all - it's just "protocol". So, I WILL tell them and I know I'm going to have to tell them 1000% because even then they won't listen.
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