Any midwives/hospital staff able to tell me about newborn around chicken pox/staying in hospital?

[FoghornLeghorn]

DD1has chicken pox, has had the spots for nearly a week, scabbing over now, I think they'll be gone in the next 2 days. DD2 hasn't come out in any spots as yet but I'm guessing it's highly likely she will get them from DD1.
DC is due on Monday and at midwife apt today she told me I have to tell the hospital when I go into labour, baby and I wont be allowed home straight away and DD wont be able to visit.

Can anyone tell me how long baby and I will be expected to stay in for ? If DD1's spots have all scabbed over and gone will she be allowed to the hospital ? Will DD2 be allowed to the hospital if she hasn't yet come out in any spots ?

[NorthernLurker]

Hav you had chicken pox?

[FoghornLeghorn]

I've had chicken pox so midwife has said as long as I stay pregnant, all is well .... it's when the baby decides to put in an appearance its going to cause problems

[KazzaL]

I got shingles (it is the same virus) the day I came home from hosp with DS1 (he was 4 days old) and the doc was happy that as long as I was bf him, he would get my antibodies and would have some that I had given him anyway. I phoned the labour/post natal suite to let them know at the hosp and they seemed completely unbothered as well.

Obviously you & DD are a potential threat to other mums & abies who may have a weaker immune system - what an excuse to demand a private room.

Shouldn't be any longer than normal for you and new Dc in hosp - if spots are scabbed over DS1 would no longer be contagious, DS2 not sure - thought only contagious while spotty

[PetitFilou1]

Oh fhlh you poor thing. dd2 will be contagious before the spots come out (if she's caught it). It incubates for between 10-21 days before the spots come out and is an airborne virus. dd1 should be fine to visit you if her spots are scabbed over but dd2 not as most of all she's a risk to other mums and babies I should think. Hope you get some confirmation from someone medically qualified soon - as you know I'm not but I'm pretty sure that's right.

[FoghornLeghorn]

Thanks guys
Brief bmp for someone medically inclined, was jst told on another thread it could be a 30 day cycle and that's just with one DD having it

[NorthernLurker]

Surely your antibodies will protect baby though so even if they does catch it it wuld not be of significance? I thought that chicken pox was only a problem if the mother wasn't immune and that therefore the baby caught it from her shortly before or after birth?

[PetitFilou1]

NL They are worried about other mums and babies on the same ward in the hospital I think

[NorthernLurker]

oh yes I get why they won't allow the little girl in to visit - but why can't foghorn and baby just go home asap all being well? Obviously a c section would preclude that but how long are you planning on staying in for?

[elizabethbob]

Chicken pox is infectious from 1 to 2 days before the rash appears and until the spots/vesicles have all dried up and scabbed. The incubation period is 2 - 3 weeks. So your DD2 could still get it in a couple of weeks.

The key thing is whether you have had chicken pox. If you are certain that you have had it, then you will have antibodies and therefore you will not get chickenpox again. Your unborn baby will be getting your antibodies. Therefore there is no risk to your unborn baby regardless of whether it comes into contact with your other children while they are infectious.

Chickenpox is only an issue if the mother to be has not had the illness and is therefore not immune as no antibodies will be passed onto the newborn. When this happens, if the newborn is exposed in the 1st 7 days of life, or if the mum has chickenpox 7 days before delivery or 7 days after, then they are given an injection of antibody (VZIg). There are other occasions such as preterm less than 28 weeks etc but they are not relevant for you.

The reason your daughters would not be allowed to see you in hospital is that they might still be infectious and some mums on the ward might not have had chickenpox and therefore might be susceptible with their newborn infants.

However, it is definitely worth mentioning to the paediatrician who does the newborn check as the precise protocol varies from hospital to hospital.

Hope that helps and doesn't just confuse!!

[FoghornLeghorn]

Thanks all.
Spoke to midwife on post natal ward who had no idea what my midwife was on about.
Baby & I will be fine to come home as per usual providing there are no problems with the delivery etc, DD1 will be fine to visit as she's scabbed over now but it will be unlikely DD2 will be able to visit as they go by 21 day incubation period before the spots are scabbed, therefore she could have the virus just no spots yet.

[NorthernLurker]

oh that's good. Like I said I could see why they wouldn't let dd2 in - but not why she said you couldn't go home! Here's hoping for a speedy and uncomplicated delivery so you get home fast to your spotty children