Whooping cough and pregnancy
8-minute read
Key facts
- Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial illness.
- It’s very serious in babies under 6 months of age.
- Vaccination can prevent whooping cough.
- Pregnant women should get the whooping cough vaccine between 20 and 32 weeks during every pregnancy.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is also known as pertussis. It’s both serious and highly contagious (easily spread). Common signs of the infection include flu-like symptoms and coughing episodes.
Whooping cough is very serious in young babies. It's a good idea to protect yourself and your baby from whooping cough by getting vaccinated during pregnancy.
Babies under 2 months of age are at a higher risk of getting whooping cough. This is because they are too young to get the vaccine.
What symptoms are related to whooping cough?
Whooping cough usually starts with:
- a runny nose
- sneezing
- a mild cough
This progresses to episodes of coughing that are followed by deep breathing or a 'whooping' sound.
Usually, whooping cough symptoms are milder in adults than in children. However, you may have coughing episodes for weeks after your infection, even with treatment.
Symptoms show 7 to 10 days after you have been in contact with an infected person.
If you have breathing difficulties call triple zero (000) and follow the operator's instructions. Be sure to tell them you are pregnant.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes whooping cough?
Whooping cough is caused by a bacterial infection of the throat. The bacteria are known as Bordetella pertussis.
The bacteria spread through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can also land on surfaces and spread the disease.
Cover your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. This helps prevent the spread of infection.
Make sure you practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands often.
Whooping cough is highly contagious and spreads quickly. Most household contacts (people who live in the same home) who aren't vaccinated will get whooping cough.
When should I see my doctor?
If you think you have been in contact with someone with whooping cough, it's important to see your doctor urgently.
Be sure to call ahead and let the receptionist know of your concerns. Ask about the possibility of a home visit or telehealth appointment. This way, you can protect other people in the waiting room.
Whooping cough is a notifiable disease. If you have whooping cough, the local public health unit are told the result. They will take steps to prevent or control an outbreak.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How is whooping cough treated?
Self-care at home
You can help ease your symptoms by:
- getting plenty of rest
- drinking lots of fluids
- taking simple pain relief medicine — such as paracetamol or anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen
Medicines for whooping cough
Antibiotics are the most effective treatment for whooping cough. Antibiotics:
- help you recover from the symptoms of whooping cough
- reduce the time you are infectious to others
Many people continue to cough for several weeks after treatment. This does not mean the antibiotics have not worked.
Close contacts of people with whooping cough are sometimes given antibiotics. If you're pregnant and live or work with someone with whooping cough, speak with your doctor about whether you should have antibiotics.
What are the complications of whooping cough?
Whooping cough can cause:
In rare cases, in infants it can cause:
- bleeding complications
- encephalopathy (brain damage)
- death
Can whooping cough be prevented?
The best way to protect your baby from whooping cough is through vaccination.
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) recommends that all pregnant women are vaccinated against whooping cough.
This should happen between 20 and 32 weeks during every pregnancy. This vaccination is free of charge for pregnant women.
The whooping cough vaccination is a combination vaccine. This means that it also gives protection against other diseases like tetanus and diphtheria.
When you are vaccinated, your body makes antibodies. While pregnant, these antibodies are passed on to your baby. These antibodies help to protect your baby until they are old enough to get their routine vaccinations. The vaccinations start from 6 weeks of age.
You can still get the vaccine after 32 weeks, but your baby may not be fully protected against whooping cough.
Learn more about vaccinations and pregnancy.
I had the whooping cough vaccination during my last pregnancy, do I need another one?
Yes — you should be vaccinated during every pregnancy. This is because the immunity from the vaccine fades over time.
Should anyone else in my family be vaccinated?
Yes — make sure that your whole family is up to date with their whooping cough vaccination.
Family and friends who will be spending time with your baby, before the age of 6 months, should be vaccinated against whooping cough.
Anyone who hasn't had a whooping cough vaccination in the past 10 years should get one. This should be at least 2 weeks before they see your baby.
The more people who are vaccinated in a community, the harder it is for the infection to spread.
Resources and support
If you have any questions or concerns about whooping cough during pregnancy, speak to your doctor.
Find out more about whooping cough in babies and children.
Languages other than English
Health Translations Victoria has information on pertussis (whooping cough) in many community languages.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: June 2025
