T.J. Samson | Destination Health | June 2021

W e’re still learning about COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. But based on what we do know, experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say there is no reason why moms-to-be should not get the vaccine, if they choose to do so. If you have questions about the safety of the vac- cine for you and your baby, you can always talk with your doctor. In the meantime, check out some facts: 1 Being pregnant raises your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19. This includes a higher risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit and needing a ventilator to help with breath- ing. Having COVID-19 might also raise the risk of pregnancy problems, such as having early labor and birth. Getting vaccinated may help protect you, your loved ones and even your baby. 2 There isn’t much safety data yet. Pregnant women were not enrolled in the first COVID-19 vaccine studies. Some women who enrolled be- came pregnant during the trials, however. So far, experts have not found any safety concerns among those women. More studies specifically for preg- nant women are now being done. 3 The vaccines aren’t likely to pose a risk. This belief is based on how the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines work. For example, they do not contain live viruses or viruses that copy themselves. So they can’t make you sick with COVID-19.They can’t change your DNA. And despite the myth going around, there’s no evidence that mRNA vaccines—or any vac- cines—cause infertility. The vaccines have not been studied on people who breastfeed their babies. But again, because of the way they work, they are not thought to be a risk to breastfeeding babies, according to CDC. START A CONVERSATION Talking with your doctor is a good idea if you need help deciding whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine. But you don’t have to do so in order to get a shot. If you decide to have that chat, you may want to discuss things like: ● How likely you are to be exposed to the virus.This can depend on things like your job, the people who live with you and the spread of the virus in your area. ● The risks of not getting a shot. If you were to get COVID-19, how might it affect you and your baby or the people in your home? ● What is and isn’t known about the safety of the vaccines and how well they work. ● How getting a shot may benefit you. You can also call the MotherToBaby hotline to get answers to your questions, CDC suggests. You can reach them at 866-626-6847 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.They can speak to you in English or Spanish. Breastfeeding is good for moms and babies for many reasons. If you’ve never breastfed before, chances are you want to know a lot more about it. Here are some common questions and an- swers about breastfeeding: Q. What are the benefits of breastfeeding? A. For one thing, breast milk is easier for a baby to digest than formula. Breast milk also has the right amount of protein, sugar, fat and most vitamins your baby needs. It has antibodies to help protect your baby from illnesses like ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and al- lergies. And breastfed babies have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For you, breastfeeding releases a hormone that makes your uterus contract more quickly down to its normal size. It can also lessen your bleeding after giving birth. It can help you more easily get back to your pre-pregnancy weight. And it promotes the bond between you and your baby. Q. What is the best way to get my baby to latch on to my breast? A. Right after birth, you should hold your baby against your bare skin.This causes reflexes that help your baby attach to your breast. Hold your breast in your hand, and stroke your baby’s lower lip with your nipple.This will prompt your baby to open their mouth wide. Pull your baby close, and aim your nipple toward the roof of your baby’s mouth. Q. How will I know when my baby wants to eat? A. Your baby will send signals when they want to be fed.These signals include: ● Turning their head toward anything that touches their cheek or mouth. ● Making sucking movements and sounds. ● Touching their hands to their mouth. Babies also cry when they’re hungry, but this is a late sign. You’ll want to try to breastfeed your baby before they start to cry. Q. Is it OK to have caffeine while breastfeeding? A. You might want to limit caffeine or avoid it entirely the first few days after your baby is born or if your baby is born prematurely. Newborns and preterm infants are more easily affected by caffeine than older babies. Otherwise, your baby should be fine with your drinking caffeine in moderate amounts, or about 200 milligrams a day. (An 8-ounce cup of coffee has around 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine.) Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; March of Dimes: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Pregnancy Breastfeeding Q&A Bringing home baby? T.J. Samson’s Introduction to Parenting Class can help you prepare, with in-depth info on swaddling, bathing, car seats and more. Call 270-651-4105 , or visit tjregionalhealth.org/calendar to find more upcoming classes. Schedule your shot. Call 270-659-1010 to make an appointment at our Glasgow or Columbia vaccine clinics. 3 facts about COVID-19 vaccines for moms-to-be 6 DESTINATION HEALTH