Nyquil & MMR Vaccine Safety During Pregnancy: Expert Advice

Question
Dr. Rappaport,

Thank you for your prompt response today.  You've released my concern.  I have another question to ask u.  I also had a bad cold during my first trimester and I took Nyquil for a week.  After that, I found out the syrup has 10% alcohol in it.  Would it be too bad for the fetus?  What is the safe amount for alcohol during pregnancy?  
By the way, you said TD and skin test would not harm the fetus.  How about MMR?  Is it safe to have MMR shot when pregnant?

Thank u again and have a great day!

Phoebe  

Answer
No amount of alcohol is safe for use during pregnancy. However the 10% alcohol in Nyquil will not hurt the baby if you only took it once. I would not advise you to continue taking any medication containing alcohol. We do not know what the safe amount of alcohol is during pregnancy, and even one drink can cause problems. I would not worry about the Nyquil at this point. The Rubella vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy. If tests show that a patient is not immune to Rubella during the pregnancy, we give her the shot after the baby is delivered and we instruct her not to become pregnant for at least 2 months following the shot. Therefore, MMR shot is not advised during pregnancy.