exposure to measles

[NanBullen]

ok so a child has come down with measles at ds's nursery despite having had the mmr jab.

ds has had the mmr jab. I'm 30 weeks pregnant and had the rubella jab at school and i'm pretty sure i had measles as a kid.

So, is my baby at risk at all or will she be ok because i should have immunity? And does rubella protect against measles or german measles or are they the same thing

Thanks!

[rudbekia]

german measles = rubella. different and much milder illness to actual measles. if you had measles as a child then you have 100% immunity and the rubella jab should cover you for german measles which is the one to avoid in pregnancy (although i think you're too far along for it to have a major impact...but don't quote me on that one). phone your GP/MW tomorrow if still worried.

[thisisyesterday]

having the rubella jab does not actually mean you will still be immune... however, it is part of the standard tests at beginning of pregnancy to test for immunity, so if you weren't told you don't have immunity i would assume you do

confused yet? lol it should be in your notes anyway so you will know for sure

[Kittykatzen]

Hi - I would contact your midwife/GP to get your immunity to measles confirmed (simple blood test). If you had it as a child, you are very likely to be immune. Even if you are not immune you are unlikely to run into problems especially as it's a contact through your son (who should be immune) and not direct contact between the affected child and yourself, but it's better safe than sorry.

Rubella is also known as "german measles", but is a different illness to measles.

Have linked to the NHS website about measles and pregnancy

Hope this helps

Kitty

[cyberjules]

When I was six weeks Rubella case was reported at the nursery my ds goes to.
I called the DOc and they said the same as what redbekia said it was confirmed that I'd had the rubella jab so had immunity to Rubella which I was sooooo releived about!
I dont think that normal case of measles is anything to worry about!
But to put ur mind at rest speak to ur mw :-)

[NanBullen]

Thanks i'll call the mw tomorrow.

[lucy101]

If you look in your handheld notes you should find a page with blood tests on and it should show whether you have immunity. It doesn't always follow that are still immune after having the jab at all. If you can't find it in your notes then ring your midwife. They can't immunise you in pregnancy anyway but if you aren't immune you know to get immunised again before you get pregnant next.

The worst danger is in the first trimester apparently so I wouldn't worry too much at 30 weeks.

[Sparklies]

Do you mean measles or german measles? You get routinely tested for rubella antibodies (german measles) in pregnancy, but not regular measles.

I had the jab as a child, and had measles as a child, but I still caught it a few years ago from DC1 (about a 1 in 100 chance, bleh) who was literally weeks away from getting her MMR. I was 10 weeks pregnant.

I did a lot of research at the time, to find there wasn't a lot of research out there. I can only remember the first trimester stuff which indicated anywhere between a 1 in 3 and a 1 in 6 chance of miscarriage, but no congenital issues. Sadly I can't remember if it's an issue during the third trimester, I don't think it was.. at most it might cause preterm labour but don't quote me on that.

In the interests of trying to contribute back to science I did get DC2 (who was fine!) tested for measles antibodies, and she had none which means she never caught it off me - so in my case it never crossed the placenta.