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Planning To Have A Baby. Which Vaccines Should We Take? What Precautions To Take For Trouble-free Pregnancy?
Question: Hi,
Myself and my wife are planning to have a baby in near future.
As advised by some friends, we want to make the necessary preparations
and take vaccinations before conception.
1. Please suggest what vaccines should my wife get before conception.
From my search on internet, I got below list of some possible vaccines that we should take:
Chicken Pox (varicella)
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis)
HPV (human papillomavirus)
Are all of the above vaccines suggested for a prospective Indian mother ?
Are there any other vaccines which should be taken by a prospective Indian mother ?
How long before conception should these vaccines be taken (I heard its not advisable
to take some of these vaccines during or immediately before pregnancy) ?
2. Are there any vaccines that I myself, as a prospective father be getting ?
3. We also came to know that prospective mothers are advised to take Folic Acid supplements
before conception/pregnancy. Is it ok to take over-the-counter Folic Acid supplements ?
What is the dosage (mg,frequency) of Folic Acid supplements that prospective mothers should take ?
3. Other than vaccines, what other preparations should we undertake before conception to ensure
a healthy and trouble-free conception and pregnancy ? (we are trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle and
do exercises)
Thanks
XXXXXXX
Myself and my wife are planning to have a baby in near future.
As advised by some friends, we want to make the necessary preparations
and take vaccinations before conception.
1. Please suggest what vaccines should my wife get before conception.
From my search on internet, I got below list of some possible vaccines that we should take:
Chicken Pox (varicella)
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis)
HPV (human papillomavirus)
Are all of the above vaccines suggested for a prospective Indian mother ?
Are there any other vaccines which should be taken by a prospective Indian mother ?
How long before conception should these vaccines be taken (I heard its not advisable
to take some of these vaccines during or immediately before pregnancy) ?
2. Are there any vaccines that I myself, as a prospective father be getting ?
3. We also came to know that prospective mothers are advised to take Folic Acid supplements
before conception/pregnancy. Is it ok to take over-the-counter Folic Acid supplements ?
What is the dosage (mg,frequency) of Folic Acid supplements that prospective mothers should take ?
3. Other than vaccines, what other preparations should we undertake before conception to ensure
a healthy and trouble-free conception and pregnancy ? (we are trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle and
do exercises)
Thanks
XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
thanks for the query.
1. she has to take chickenpox vaccine and MMR vaccine before pregnancy.
after taking them she has to avoid pregnancy at least for 2 months preferably.
-She can take DPT vaccine before pregnancy and booster doses can be taken during pregnancy.
-sufficient studies on HPV vaccination and pregnancy are lacking, so better she can take this after completion of pregnancy.
-In Indian women normally tetanus toxoid vaccination two doses will be given, in those who took TT before 3 years one booster dose is enough.
-She can take Hepatitis B vaccine, can also take DPT vaccine and chickenpox vaccine.
3.She has to start folic acid supplements preferably one month before pregnancy and continue during pregnancy which will help in neurological development of the baby.
better to take with doctors prescription because she can tell you better choice.
she has to take 1mg of folic acid, 1 tab per day.
4.she has to take good and sufficient nutrition containing fruits, vegetables, milk etc and vitamins and minerals supplements.
She can do yoga which will maintain weight and make pelvic joints easily movable, this can help in normal delivery.
but you have to take all this vaccines only after consulting your gynecologist.
Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer your follow up queries. If you are satisfied with all my answer, please do not forget to accept it.
take care.
thanks for the query.
1. she has to take chickenpox vaccine and MMR vaccine before pregnancy.
after taking them she has to avoid pregnancy at least for 2 months preferably.
-She can take DPT vaccine before pregnancy and booster doses can be taken during pregnancy.
-sufficient studies on HPV vaccination and pregnancy are lacking, so better she can take this after completion of pregnancy.
-In Indian women normally tetanus toxoid vaccination two doses will be given, in those who took TT before 3 years one booster dose is enough.
-She can take Hepatitis B vaccine, can also take DPT vaccine and chickenpox vaccine.
3.She has to start folic acid supplements preferably one month before pregnancy and continue during pregnancy which will help in neurological development of the baby.
better to take with doctors prescription because she can tell you better choice.
she has to take 1mg of folic acid, 1 tab per day.
4.she has to take good and sufficient nutrition containing fruits, vegetables, milk etc and vitamins and minerals supplements.
She can do yoga which will maintain weight and make pelvic joints easily movable, this can help in normal delivery.
but you have to take all this vaccines only after consulting your gynecologist.
Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer your follow up queries. If you are satisfied with all my answer, please do not forget to accept it.
take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr Sree Gouri,
Thanks a lot for answering my query.
We will follow your recommendations.
Two small follow-up questions:
A. Besides vaccination, are there any common diagnostics tests (blood test etc)
which we need to undergo to rule out any risks to pregnancy ?
B. In your reply to my question 2 (vaccines for prospective father), you have
not included MMR vaccine as a suggested vaccine. Is it because it is not
important for our conception goal or due to some other reason ? I didn't
get MMR vaccine in my childhood - should I go for it ? - any possible harm
in taking it as an adult male aged 30 years ?
Thanks
XXXXXXX
Thanks a lot for answering my query.
We will follow your recommendations.
Two small follow-up questions:
A. Besides vaccination, are there any common diagnostics tests (blood test etc)
which we need to undergo to rule out any risks to pregnancy ?
B. In your reply to my question 2 (vaccines for prospective father), you have
not included MMR vaccine as a suggested vaccine. Is it because it is not
important for our conception goal or due to some other reason ? I didn't
get MMR vaccine in my childhood - should I go for it ? - any possible harm
in taking it as an adult male aged 30 years ?
Thanks
XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
A. normally we recommend following tests to all women who are planning for pregnancy,
-blood grouping and typing.
-hemoglobin level
-randam blood sugar
-tests for viral markers- Hbs Ag, HIV.
-urine microscopy.
after examining your doctor may recommend some other investigations.
B. according to some studies it is said that MMR vaccine virus can spread,
So if you are not taken it in childhood, you can take it with the advice of your doctor but at least 2 months before your wife conceives.
Wish you Good Health, If you are satisfied with my response please accept it.
take care.
A. normally we recommend following tests to all women who are planning for pregnancy,
-blood grouping and typing.
-hemoglobin level
-randam blood sugar
-tests for viral markers- Hbs Ag, HIV.
-urine microscopy.
after examining your doctor may recommend some other investigations.
B. according to some studies it is said that MMR vaccine virus can spread,
So if you are not taken it in childhood, you can take it with the advice of your doctor but at least 2 months before your wife conceives.
Wish you Good Health, If you are satisfied with my response please accept it.
take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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