TT injection during Pregnancy

In India all pregnant mothers are given one or two doses of TT injection, depending upon their immunization status, last dose of TT taken etc. It is to prevent the baby from getting tetanus.
In rural areas they used to apply various harmful things on the newborn baby's umbilical cord hoping to prevent infection. Sometimes they used unclean sharp objects to cut the umbilical cord after delivery. These habits affected the newborn baby with sepsis (infection in the blood) and tetanus through the umbilical cord. In Tamil Tetanus is called Rana janni.
Most of the newborns with tetanus used to die. Giving TT injection to the mother prevents tetnus in the newborn baby (no other fever or serious illness will be prevented by TT). Child gets immunity from the mother through the placenta. This immunity will be there only for few weeks. When the child is 6 weeks old DPT (now Penta vaccine against 5 diseases) is given and again at 10, and 14 weeks, booster at 1 1/2 yrs etc.
In US, UK and Singapore they may not be giving TT for pregnant mothers due to the environmental conditions and immunization status of the mother there. But in India it is advisable to take TT. It will not harm the mother or the fetus.