With doctor’s ok, Miamisburg woman gets vaccinated at nearly 37 weeks pregnant

MIAMISBURG — Per her doctor’s recommendation, Sierra Smith, from Miamisburg, got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine while nearly 37 weeks pregnant.

“Contracting the virus and then potentially having to be intubated and dying, and then my child doesn’t have a mom. I think that’s my biggest worry through the whole pandemic,” Smith said.

The state opened up eligibility to pregnant women March 4. Smith waited to get the ok from her physician, Dr. Lacey Wood, before getting the shot.

Dr. Wood, an OB/GYN at Miami Valley Hospital, explained pregnant women who get COVID have a greater chance of having a more severe reaction.

“We know that pregnant women are at a higher risk of ICU admission, needing to be on a ventilator, requiring a heart machine, and even increased risk of mortality,” Wood said.

Overall, she is recommending her pregnant patients get vaccinated. However, she recognizes it is a tough decision.

“They’re balancing and considering the theoretical risks of a new vaccine with the known risks of a COVID-19 infection,” Wood said.

She said patients like Smith, near the end of their pregnancies, are not too late to get vaccinated.

“I think for her it’s great timing,” Wood said.

“Something I get concerned about is when new moms are home with their baby and people want to come visit them and everything. That’s when people kind of let their guard down with COVID in general.”

She explained, initial data suggests getting the shot could offer protection to both mother and baby by allowing the mother to pass antibodies on to the baby.

“I know that there’s a lot of judgement around women that are pregnant that are probably getting a vaccine, and I would just say anybody that has that judgement, these decisions are being made with a doctor and family members to determine if that’s the right thing to do. And it’s ultimately your decision,” Smith said.

She is due date is April 7.

Cox Media Group