Chicken Pox During Pregnancy

[~Emma~]

On picking DD up from Day Care this afternoon, there was a notice about Chicken Pox for all to see. So far the centre has has one case of chicken pox :thumbsdown:

I've had chicken pox before (have the scar in the middle of my forehead to prove it :D ) but I am concerned that DD will get it. What are the chances of me getting chicken pox again?

I've done a bit of research online and found that:

* If a pregnant woman gets chickenpox during the first half of a pregnancy, there is a small risk that the unborn baby may be affected (less than 2%). Some of the effects include scarring, and birth defects.

* If a woman gets chickenpox from 5 days before delivery to 2 days after delivery, it is estimated that there is up to 30% risk that the baby will develop a severe infection. Many of these babies will die from the infection.

Now I am worried :eek:

[JenNT]

I had chicken pox during my secong pregnancy. I had also had it when i was a kid but they say because the fetus took all my immunity i caught it again. I was 22 weeks. Baby had to have a hearing test at 1 day old to check for deafness but all was ok....he has selective hearing now!:banghead:
Hope you are ok and miss out:fingerscrossed:
cheers jen

[pegasus]

My niece had chicken pox (for her 5th birthday) I checked with my doc about whether I should get in contact with her. I apparently had chicken pox at about 8months.

My doctor said it's better to err on the side of caution and not to see her for her birthday as we don't know how badly I had it when I was a bub. I was about 30weeks. I felt worse for my niece as she had to cancel her birthday party!!!

[ourfirstbubba]

hello

I am a primary school teacher and this is one thing I am concerned about....next week I am having a blood test which tests how immune you are to the virus...check with your OB or midwife...hopefully your little girl has not been exposed to the virus and hopefully all will be okay :fingerscrossed:

[Tisme]

When i was pregnant I came in contact with the chicken pox in a child who was fairly severe and when i asked the doctor he said that when i got the blue book for bubs he could tick off the vaccination as "full immunisation" as opposed to "vaccinated" as actually coming in contact with the live virus is more effective than the 2 in 5 chance of the vacination at stopping the virus. He said out of 5 children vaccinated with the shot 3 of them will STILL get it. But that's just one doctor amongst many.

I'm not getting the needle for my Baby (the only one I didn't come in contact during pregnancy) as I don't see the necessity ..... IMO

[~Emmylou~]

When you first got pregnant they may have tested your chickenpox immunity then as part of your initial bloods.
I think the test is called "varicella" - you could call your GP/OB and ask, and if they tested you they should be able to tell you your immune status.

[middlecm]

My no1 son had chickenpox when I was pregnant with no2 (36weeks). Because I had already had chickenpox as a child there was a very small chance that I would get it again.

The biggest worry was that if i went early with delivering no2, my son and the new babe would have to be seperated until the chickenpox was clear. Luckly no2 arrived on due date.

[sugar n spice]

I had chickenpox somwhere between 12 and 15 wks preg with my first and all was fine with him when he was born. My dr actually said there was nothing to worry about only if it was the end of the preg

[Billy]

I had chickenpox with my first bub (now 2 months old:smiliedance: ) and she is totally fine. I had it really bad too as I had never had chickenpox before... If you did get them it would only be a mild case and you are far enough into your pregnancy for it not to be a worry, and not too close to the end for it to be a problem either... :thumbsup: So don't stress I say!! ;)

[~Emma~]

Okay, I will stop stressing :smiliedance:

Until I see some of those horrid little blistery things on DD or myself :D