OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Pregnant women were not part of the initial Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials. So, there was no clear data if the vaccine would be safe for expecting mothers.
As of Feb. 4, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology updated their recommendations, encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated.
Dr. Robin Farias-Eisner, a gynecologic oncologist with CHI Health-Creighton University said it is "absolutely safe in pregnancy and absolutely safe in those trying to become pregnant."
CHI health experts explained that it’s safe for breastfeeding women as well.
"Anytime that the patient's eligible to receive the vaccine, they should receive it, whether it be in the early first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, near delivery,” said Farias-Eisner.
Nebraska Medicine nurse practitioner, Sara Wattier, is eight-and-a-half months pregnant and has been pregnant for the entirety of the pandemic. When it was her turn to get vaccinated in December, she didn't think twice.
"When I weigh out the pros and cons between taking a vaccine that hadn't been tried on pregnant women, my risk was high. So I think that weighed pretty heavily on my decision," said Wattier.
She said she didn't experience any intense side effects and is happy she has protection from COVID for herself and for her child.
"It has been a really rough year and I'm excited to just focus on squishy babies, and my current babies and no timelines, so that's going to be a really good break. I'm looking forward to it," Wattier said.