Chicken Pox for pg women

[outthere]

Hi all,

We have friends due to come over whose son has been recently exposed to chicken pox. They think he may have it as he's been a bit under the weather but won't know for sure as the incubation period is about 2 weeks.

I have had chicken pox as a child but is there still a risk to my health or that of my baby (I'm 23 weeks)?

I've heard that if you've had it before then there's no immediate risk to your baby but surely you can still get shingles - which I don't fancy!

Can anyone shed any light or clarify for me? Thanks x

[dribbleface]

You can have your immunity checked via blood test. I had mine done as work in a nursery and to my mum's knowledge never had it as a child. Takes about 7-10days for result though! You should be immune but not unheard of to not be if you had it mildly.

As for shingles, as far as i know this is not something you get from chicken pox but is due ot the virus laying dormant in your body and flaring up.

[CarrieOakey]

If you have had chicken pox as a child then you are almost certainly immune. Although it is possible to get chicken pox more than once this generally occurs during childhood and you have almost certainly been exposed to chicken pox since childhood and not developed it because of your immunity.

Shingles is something you cannot catch. It is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus linked to changes in your immune system, for instance an infection going on elsewhere in your body. Exposure to chicken pox won't activate it. If you are worried speak to your midwife about having your immunity checked. HTH.

[outthere]

Thanks both, that's really helpful x