As a mom of three, I have doctored my share of boo-boos and nursed my children each and every time they’ve been sick. I consider myself extremely lucky to have raised three very healthy babies.
I recently read an article published by MSNBC that I believe will help more women keep their newborns healthy. The ACIP voted in favor of pregnant women receiving the booster Pertussis vaccination while in the late stages of their second trimester or early in their third. The precise provisional recommendations should be available by August of this year. Receiving this vaccine will help prevent what is known as “Whooping Cough.”
Whooping Cough manifests itself as a common cold, but after 1 to 2 weeks can evolve into coughing spells that can last for more than a minute. During these coughing spells, babies may turn red or purple, vomit, or stop breathing for several seconds. A “whooping” sound is often heard when babies gasp for breath.
The illness can be spread through fluids from the nose or mouth and will become airborne during a sneeze or cough that goes uncovered. CDC recommends the “cocoon strategy” as protection against whooping cough for infants less than six months old. A “cocoon” is created by vaccinating family members who will be in close contact with the infant so that the baby is surrounded by people who cannot become infected with whooping cough and spread the infection. The Texas Children’s cocoon strategy program was implemented in 2008 and remains the only cocoon strategy vaccination program of its magnitude in the nation.
It was previously recommended that women be vaccinated immediately after giving birth, however, it is believed that mothers can pass the antibodies to their unborn baby, thus protecting him/her against the illness upon birth. It is important that you check with your doctor before receiving the vaccination.
The number of cases of whooping cough rose from 13,000 in 2008 to nearly 17,000 in 2009. In 2010, there was a whooping cough outbreak in California and 10 babies under 3 months of age died from the disease. I hope that more women find out about this illness and are able to prevent their children from coming into contact with it.
I would love for you to share your experiences with whooping cough. Have you or anyone you know ever come into contact with the virus?
1 comments:
My boss got whooping cough about three years ago. We assume from a customer since we work in retail. I feel that parents who refuse to vaccinate should be held liable for manslaughter when their children get ill.
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