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Pregnancy

NOT immune to chicken pox and 27 weeks

14 replies

missfitz23 · 07/07/2015 13:17

So me and my son have been around chicken pox on holiday I mentioned it to my mw so she took some blood to check for immunity as I wasn't sure if I had it before . Also my son is at preschool currently and they seem to have outbreaks a lot.

Got a call today and I'm not immune :( so now I'm worried that I'm bound to get it as my son is at preschool and it's a common virus . Does anybody know anything about this ? If I catch it would my baby be badly affected :( I've read about birth defects online :( . Anyone else not immune and pregnant ?

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bluishskies · 07/07/2015 18:09

My mum had chicken pox when she was 36 weeks pregnant with my youngest sister. It was a hot summer too so she laid in bed in her underwear with a fan blowing cold wind directly at her. Both she and my sister were fine in the end. My sister is now 18 and still hasn't had chicken pox.

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capercaillie · 07/07/2015 18:14

I had it when I was about 30 weeks pregnant. Both DD and I were fine. It's a 'better' time in pregnancy to get it as baby is formed etc. I didn't have a severe case but did feel VERY tired for at least 2 weeks. There are antivirals you can take to lessen impact but in the end I didn't as by the time I got hold of them, I was already feeling better (coming down with chicken pox on Friday evening wasn't the best time to try and get medical advice).

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Twowrongsdontmakearight · 07/07/2015 18:24

I got chicken pox as I went into labour so had to stay in hospital a couple of weeks after the birth for DS's sake. I had an injection of antibodies a couple of weeks earlier but it wasn't enough. I'm fairly sure I was told it was more of a problem very early or very late in pregnancy (like for me) that in the mid stage like you are. Why don't you ask your GP to put your mind at rest?

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ShootTheMoon · 07/07/2015 18:26

If you're not certain you're exposed, you could consider asking your GP to inoculate your toddler against CP. it's usually only available privately, though.

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capercaillie · 07/07/2015 18:27

I'd recommend talking to midwifery team about it. I found GPs less than helpful when I realised I had it. Most of them looked up 'pregnancy' and 'chickenpox' and then it says medical emergency. One recommended going to A&E (I didn't ...not in North London at 9pm on a Friday night). The most helpful people were the midwives/obstetricians - they'd seen cases before and were more informed.

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soloula · 07/07/2015 19:04

DD was ill about 10 weeks ago when I was 18 weeks and the dr was concerned it might have been cp coming on even though she's no rash at that point. Dr said that their main concern would be earlier in pregnancy when baby is still quite underdeveloped.

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BadgerFace · 07/07/2015 21:14

Can you look into getting immunised? I think it can help reduce the symptoms even after you've been exposed.

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missfitz23 · 07/07/2015 21:27

Thanks all . If you catch it between 26-36 it says online 'it may pass but won't cause any symptoms but may cause shingles in first few years of life ' ... Does that mean it's not an issue in this time period ? If it'll pass won't that cause issues.

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capercaillie · 07/07/2015 21:37

Not sure what that means. DD had chickenpox when she was 2 so obviously didn't develop her own immunity from me having it. Apparently, you create antibodies which then protect the baby.

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Preminstreltension · 07/07/2015 21:49

I had this although it turns out I was immune. I think it's much better than getting it early in pg - or very late where it might be passed to the newborn which is dangerous. Can you request an appointment with the obstetrician? I don't think this is GP territory.

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Artistic · 07/07/2015 21:54

Have your DC vaccinated asap. It's very effective and takes effect in a few days/weeks. Best way to stay safe. I've been vaccinated & so has DH & now DD1. Can't afford for any of us to get it as none of the others have had it before!!

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missfitz23 · 10/07/2015 13:08

Can you catch pox from the vaccine though?

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AmberLav · 10/07/2015 13:29

I would stress that if a newborn catches chicken pox, it is more of a case that it can be dangerous, but it isn't always.

My sister came down with spots when I was 2 days old, and rather than staying in the maternity hospital as planned, my mother took me home to the pox house. I then got spots at 3 or 5 weeks (depending on who you speak to), but only a few. I never had chicken pox again as a child, and I took the blood test before I got pregnant, and it showed antibodies, which has been confirmed in practise by both my children getting a bad dose last year, and I was fine.

When I was 32 weeks pregnant with DD, DS came home from nursery with a rash that the staff were comvinced was chicken pox, and from research, it looked like 32 weeks was a good time to catch chicken pox (I didn't entirely trust the blood test results, as the receptionist who gave me the results just said "Oh, it just says to file them" which I assumed to be "no action required" but I was never certain till I was properly exposed) as I'd be fine by the time baby arrived, and I was past the danger stage for developing baby... But it was just heat rash...

As you are not immune, I would definitely think about getting your DS vaccinated now. Then you can get the vaccine once you have given birth.