Thanks to Mom, baby Stanley has COVID antibodies

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera.

You might think the decision to get vaccinated for COVID-19 would be easy for a registered nurse. For Jennifer Stearns, it was not.

Her ultimate decision to get vaccinated while pregnant led to a great outcome.

“The relief to learn that my son Stanley had acquired the antibodies, so we were both protected against COVID-19, it was overwhelming,” said Stearns, an Avera clinical information technology nurse.

As she held her new son in the hospital shortly after his birth, she reflected on her decision to get the shot and its impact.

“When I saw the results, I realized how it was going to help. It will show other moms, doctors – everyone – that receiving the vaccine while pregnant can provide the baby with a level of protection as well,” Stearns said. “It was as if an immense weight came off my shoulders.”

Researching the COVID vaccine and pregnancy

When Stearns was pregnant with her other children, she made big changes in her lifestyle to ensure safe pregnancies.

This pregnancy, she also looked to sites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for information on the COVID vaccine. Her analysis led her to talk with her mom, who is also a registered nurse, with her OB physician, Dr. Gregg Carlson, and, of course, with her husband, who is also a registered nurse.

“As I read about pregnancy and the virus, it became really clear the potential danger we could face. My reasons for worrying were all about the baby,” she said.

Understanding the guidelines for pregnant women

The CDC and the Federal Drug Administration continue to gather information on vaccination during pregnancy.

Some of the recommendations include:

• Vaccination is a personal choice and something pregnant women should discuss with their OB providers.
• If you are pregnant, you may choose to get vaccinated.
• Current COVID-19 vaccines are nonreplicating, so they pose no risk for lactating mothers or their babies.

Stearns encourages any other mom to do the same.

“It was the best decision for me, and since everything with a novel virus is new, there are going to be areas that have not been studied,” she said.

Learn more about vaccination locations near you.

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