Resources for New Moms
- Baby’s Development
- Tips & Resources
- Feeding Baby
- Health & Safety
- Well-Child Visits & Vaccines
- Well-Child Visit Guides
- Vaccines
- Finding Free Vaccines
- Making Shots Less Stressful
- Protect Baby from Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Vaccine Information for Babies
- Vaccines: DTaP
- Vaccines: MMRV
- Vaccines: Hepatitis A
- Vaccines: Hepatitis B
- Vaccines: Hib
- Vaccines: Rotavirus
- Vaccines: PCV
- Vaccines: Polio (IPV)
- Vaccines: Seasonal Flu
- Vaccines: Varicella
- Parenting
Protecting Baby from Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is an infectious disease that begins like a cold. Someone with pertussis usually has a runny nose and cough. As the cough gets worse, it can last up to six weeks or more. Often parents don’t realize they are carrying the disease, so they unknowingly pass it on to their infant. Most babies who get pertussis get it from a family member who has it. It can make them very sick, and could potentially may cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated with either the Tdap (for older children and adults) or DTaP (for infants and children) vaccines.
Protecting mom is protecting baby
A Tdap vaccine is very safe for pregnant women. You cannot get whooping cough from a Tdap vaccine. Getting the vaccine during pregnancy will not increase your risk for pregnancy complications and will protect your baby once born from getting pertussis spread from his or her family member(s).