Antenatal guide for pregnant women

Whooping cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a very serious infection, and young babies are most at risk. Most babies with whooping cough will be admitted to hospital.

When you have the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy, your body produces antibodies to protect against whooping cough. These antibodies pass to your baby giving them some protection until they’re able to have their whooping cough vaccination at 8 weeks old.

Whooping cough in pregnancy vaccination is delivered at GP practices and within your local maternity unit. Women should normally receive their whooping cough vaccine around the time of their mid-pregnancy scan (usually 20 weeks) but can receive it from 16 weeks. To help provide optimal protection, the vaccine should be given before 32 weeks, but women who miss out can still have the vaccine later. Please speak with your GP or midwife for more information.

Find out more about whooping cough on the NHS's whooping cough webpage.

RSV bronchiolitis

From 1 September 2024, pregnant women can have a free vaccine in each pregnancy, to protect their babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV is a common virus which can cause a lung infection called bronchiolitis. In small babies, this condition can make it hard to breathe and to feed. Most cases can be managed at home but around 20,000 infants are admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis each year in England. Infants with severe bronchiolitis may need intensive care and the infection can be fatal. RSV is more likely to be serious in very young babies, those born prematurely, and those with conditions that affect their heart, breathing or immune system.

You should be offered it around the time of your 28 week antenatal appointment. If you haven’t heard by this stage, contact your maternity service or GP practice to make an appointment. Having the vaccine in week 28 or within a few weeks of this will help you build a good level of antibodies to pass on to your baby before birth. This will give your baby the best protection, including if they are born early.

You can still have the vaccine later in your pregnancy but it may be less effective. If it wasn’t possible to have your vaccine earlier, it can be given right up until you have the baby. If you have it very late in pregnancy, it may still protect you from infection and reduce the risk of you spreading infection to your newborn baby.

Find out more about on the NHS's RSV vaccine webpage.

Covid-19

If you're pregnant, it's strongly recommended you get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect you and your baby. You’re at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 if you're pregnant. If you get COVID-19 late in your pregnancy, your baby could also be at risk.

It’s safe to have the vaccine during any stage of pregnancy, from the first few weeks up to your expected due date. You do not need to delay vaccination until after you have given birth. The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any live viruses and cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.

The Covid-19 vaccination is available in local pharmacies, and you can book an appointment at your nearest pharmacy here - Book, change, or cancel a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online - NHS. You can also speak to a GP or your maternity team for advice.

Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination on the NHS's Covid webpage.

Flu

During pregnancy, your immune system (the body’s natural defence) is weakened to protect the pregnancy. This can mean you’re less able to fight off infections. As the baby grows, you may be unable to breathe as deeply, increasing the risk of infections such as pneumonia.

These changes can raise the risk of flu: pregnant women are more likely to get flu complications than women who are not pregnant and are more likely to be admitted to hospital. Having the flu vaccine means you’re less likely to get the flu.

The seasonal flu vaccination is available at your local maternity unit, or your GP or by booking at your nearest pharmacy Book, change or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy - NHS. You can get the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time if you book at a local pharmacy. You can also speak to a GP or your maternity team for advice.

Find out more about the flu jab on the NHS's flu webpage.