Chicken Pox and Pregnancy

[EeekPreggoAgain]

Hi all,

Just found out from my childminder that another child has come out with chicken pox over the weekend. My daughter was with her on Wednesday so I’m pretty certain she is now going to have it. I’m 12 weeks on Friday and concerned about what this means.

I definitely had it as a child but I’ve read that doesn’t always mean you are immune to it?!

I have a scan booked Wednesday and a consultant appointment the following Tues (5th) do you think it’s ok to wait and ask them about it or should I contact a dr and ask about being tested to see if I am immune before then?
DD hasn’t shown signs of it yet but I’m guessing it’s just a matter of time.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[Ginormoustrawberry]

Incubation period can be up to 3 weeks so it’s unlikely although not impossible that your LO is infectious at the moment

I would check with your midwife / GP ASAP though as you may need bloods doing to check your immunity.

[Bowlofbabelfish]

I would call the scan and consultant, explain you have been exposed to CP butchave had it before and ask if they want you to come in. You are probably immune, but they may want to check and go from there.
Call midwife and ask. Don’t go to surgery or anywhere there are vulnerable people with dd- she could be incubating it.

[SoyDora]

The likelihood is that you are immune to it.

[SoyDora]

(DD1 got chicken pox when I was pregnant with DD2 and I was just told that as I’d had it I’d be immune. They didn’t check).

[Nichola2310]

I spent last Saturday with my nephew, and that night his chicken pox spots started appearing. I couldn’t remember if I’d had them before. I rang the assessment unit and was told to come in for a blood test and got the results a few days later and they said I was immune. Even if I wasn’t it is just one injection. Also they said I could wait and see my GP but as I can’t drive at the moment it suited me better to go to the hospital that night because my DH was Home.

[EeekPreggoAgain]

Thanks all, I’m sure I’ve had it so hopefully it’ll be fine. I’ll ring tomorrow and see what they say. The waiting for it to appear is horrid! She sneezed three times today and I thought “oh god this is it” I was even looking on the monitor in the middle last night to see if I could see spots! How ridiculous! I think my preggo hormones are making me react ridiculously to everything!

[EeekPreggoAgain]

Out of interest , does anyone know, if by some miracle she hasn’t got it, how much time has to pass without her getting it to think “she’s safe” a if you know what I mean? I know it can take a while to show up?

[Pippinfi]

My d d had c p 3 years ago whilst I was 8 months pregnant. I checked with my g p who said as I'd had this as a child I would be fine and I was.

[dementedpixie]

She might be ok as they are only contagious for 1-2 days before the spots appear so they may not have been contagious on Wednesday. Incubation period is 10-21 days so you have a while before you know for sure

[EeekPreggoAgain]

@dementedpixie

Only 1-2 days before!?? 🤞🏼I’m going to be clinging on to that thought for dear life for the next 10-21 days then!
Thanks for the stats, that’s really helpful. X

[Balancingact12]

Even though I’d had it as a child I had to get bloods repeated as you aren’t always immune if you get a mild strain. Thankfully I was but as my bloods were done over a bank holiday I did have to go round at stay at my parents for four whole days waiting on the results and dh took off work to look after. Four whole days not having to cook or clean or look after a 1 year old when in the third trimester was actually quite enjoyable

[dementedpixie]

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2586.aspx says 1-2 days before

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2591.aspx says not to worry if you've had it before

[EeekPreggoAgain]

Arrghh! The spots have landed! She had one at 4.30 and now has 6! 😩 Dreading what she’s going to look like tomorrow. 12 week Scan tomorrow and my emotions are now all over the place.

[Mrsw200]

I came into contact with cp a few weeks ago - I haven't had cp as a child so had to have the immunioglobin injection after a blood test showed I was not immune. If I'd of had cp already I don't think they would have done anything. Any doubts just ring your midwife - they took it seriously and dealt with it really promptly! All the best and hope your little one feels better soon xx

[EeekPreggoAgain]

@Mrsw200

Thank you. Xx

[EeekPreggoAgain]

Ok, so DD bounded our of bed this morning happy as Larry and the spots she’s had yesterday have vanished?!?! What is going on? Anyone experience this? Is it likely she’ll get them again today? Very weird.

[EeekPreggoAgain]

Oh, spoke to Midwife today who just said “oh if you’ve had it you’re fine”. Seems that some of us are told it’s fine and others are sent for checks anyway. Bit inconsistent really. I’ve been around my nephew (pre daughter) when he had it and didn’t get it again myself so I’m assuming that means I’m immune. 🤞🏼

[Rachie1986]

I was told when DD had it recently and I was 8w pregnant that if you've had it before that's fine. They were very blasé about it.

[Stroller15]

Hi OP, I am 24 weeks pregnant, my DS had chicken pox when I was about 12 weeks. The GP somehow had a previous blood sample of mine still stored and checked the titre, I haven't had it - so had to get the IgG (VZIG) and still got chicken pox but a very mild form. Now I'm under foetal medicine and consultant care and had about 4 scans already. All seems fine so far. I'm sure you've had it - the GP said in her 20 yrs in practice she never had a pregnant lady who hasn't had chicken pox before - but please get them to at least check your antibody titres in a blood sample. It's a lot of stress to go through.

[dementedpixie]

Doesn't sound like chicken pox then. They come up into fluid filled blisters that pop and scab over