NEWS Coronavirus News Vaccine News ACOG Recommends COVID Vaccine While Pregnant or Breastfeeding By Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie Twitter Claire Gillespie is a freelance writer specializing in mental health. She’s written for The Washington Post, Vice, Health, Women’s Health, SELF, The Huffington Post, and many more. Claire is passionate about raising awareness for mental health issues and helping people experiencing them not feel so alone. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 18, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr LinkedIn Twitter Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print SDI Productions/E+/Getty Key Takeaways COVID-19 vaccine trials in people who are pregnant are showing that the vaccine does not increase the risk of preterm birth or low birthweight.Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding.mRNA vaccines, which include the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Spikevax, are recommended over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Pregnant and lactating people were excluded from the early clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines. However, studies and vaccination data collected from these populations in the past year has shown that the vaccine appears to be both safe and effective. Studies conducted in 2021 showed that the chance of severe infection with COVID-19 is higher during pregnancy. This finding, combined with studies demonstrating the vaccine's safety have led the CDC to conclude that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known risks for pregnant and breastfeeding people. Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Harm a Breastfed Baby? While pregnant and lactating people were not included in initial COVID-19 clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine has since been studied in this population. or on the effect of mRNA vaccines on the breastfed infant or on milk production, the CDC states that “mRNA vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant.” Studies have confirmed that antibodies from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines pass into breast milk, potentially giving protection to breastfed infants. Thus, the CDC and ACOG recommend the the vaccine for people who are breastfeeding. Preference is given to the mRNA vaccines, although Johnson & Johnson's vaccine may be considered in certain circumstances. This means making a decision based on very limited information. But some reassurance may come from a practice advisory issued on December 13, 2020, by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). It states that the mRNA vaccines are not live virus vaccines, and don’t use an adjuvant to enhance vaccine efficacy. This means they don’t enter the nucleus, or alter human DNA in the vaccine recipient. As such, they can’t cause any genetic changes. The ACOG believes that “COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to lactating individuals similar to non-lactating individuals when they meet criteria for receipt of the vaccine based on prioritization groups outlined by the ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices].” In other words, they’re on the same page as the CDC—it’s up to the individual whether they get the vaccine or not. Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC, LCCE Parents have to make an informed decision—they have to know if they are at risk for having complications from a vaccine or have risks that make having COVID-19 more serious for them. — Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC, LCCE Obviously, there are still unknowns regarding the vaccine during pregnancy and in lactating people. But the ACOG says “theoretical concerns regarding the safety of vaccinating lactating individuals do not outweigh the potential benefits of receiving the vaccine.” The organization adds that there is no need to avoid starting or continuing with breastfeeding if you get the vaccine. New Parents Don’t Need More Pressure International board certified lactation consultant Leigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, LCCE, says she’s concerned that the lack of data about the safety of the vaccine in breastfeeding people will put additional pressure on them at a time when they’re already physically and mentally exhausted. But O’Connor believes that from the data that’s available, the benefits outweigh the risks. “Little or none of the components of the vaccine will pass into the baby through the mom's milk,” she says. “Plus, there is the suggestion that the baby will gain additional immunity from the breastfeeding parent. Parents have to make an informed decision—they have to know if they are at risk for having complications from a vaccine or have risks that make having COVID-19 more serious for them.” Sherry Ross, MD Even though there is no scientific data available on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant and breastfeeding women, the OB/GYN experts at the ACOG are making some calculated guidelines for this high-risk group. — Sherry Ross, MD It’s new territory, and it’s important to talk through your decision with your midwife, OB/GYN, pediatrician, or family doctor to rule out any risk factors. “If there are no other risks, then the vaccine is likely safe,” O’Connor says. Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN, and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, agrees. “The new COVID-19 vaccine has brought some much-needed light amidst the darkness of the pandemic,” she says. “Even though there is no scientific data available on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant and breastfeeding women, the OB/GYN experts at the ACOG are making some calculated guidelines for this high risk group.” What This Means For You Unless you’re a health care worker, it may be a long while before you’re actually offered the COVID-19 vaccine. But if you do fall into a priority group and you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it may be in your best interest to get the vaccine. The choice is yours—but discuss it with your healthcare provider, who can hopefully help to clarify the situation and alleviate any concerns you may have. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newerinformation may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates onCOVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lipkind HS. Receipt of covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy and preterm or small-for-gestational-age at birth — eight integrated health care organizations, united states, December 15, 2020–July 22, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding. Kelly JC, Carter EB, Raghuraman N, et al. Anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies induced in breast milk after Pfizer-BioNTech/BNT162b2 vaccination. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021;225(1):101-103. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2021.03.031 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. COVID-19 vaccination considerations for obstetric-gynecologic care.