Chicken pox and pregnancy

[PracticalCat]

Two children at DS's creche have chicken pox. One of them is in his class. I'm 25 weeks pregnant and haven't had chicken pox.

How cautious do I need to be? The infected children were kept home this week and it doesn't look like anyone else has it. Yet. But it could still be passed on when they return. DS only attends three mornings a week and I could keep him home if really necessary, but do need the time to work.

I've called my gp and am waiting for him to call back. In the meantime, any suggestions? Experiences?

[nickytwotimes]

Have you been checked for antibodies yet? You may have had it and not known or be one of the lucky ones who has natural immunity.

If you have no antibodies and your ds gets it, you will need to get the immunoglobin and /or anti-viral drugs. There are potential probs for the wee one on board, but as you are in the middle of pg, even if you got it, your baby would probably be completely fine. Like most things the probs are in teh first trimester or if you got it just before giving birth. It could be hard on you though so you would need treatment to minimise complications.

Hopefully your wee one will not get it. My ds has been around cp kids (by accident!) and been okay so far.

Btw, I am also pg and don't have the antibodies. I could have had an immunisation before ttc, but chances are it wouldn't have worked as I have had cp several times - just can't make immunity! I am crossing my fingers, but am out of the first rimester now so more relaxed about it.

[nickytwotimes]

Btw, it is quite a long incubation period - 10-14 days. So it could be being incubated by other wee ones. On the other hand, loads of kids get to 9 or 10 before they catch it. Depends how concerned you are really. Personally I woulnd't keep ds off pre-school at this stage of pg becasue once you know there has been an outbreak, your kid may well have been exposed anyway. Earlyier on, I might have though.

Fingers crossed!

[PracticalCat]

Thanks - that's really helpful. I should probably ask my gp to check if I'm immune.

Didn't realise that the incubation period is that long. Keeping him home doesn't really make sense unless I keep him home all month which kind of defeats the purpose of having him in creche. And then some other new germ will come along.

[nickytwotimes]

Yes, it is hard to know what to do for the best.

Hopefully your GP will be able to give you more advice about what it would be best to do in the meantime.

DId you get tested for cp when you had your booking appointment? They do it here as a matter of course, so it might be worth asking your mw. Otherwise they can just give you a wee blood test.

Hope it all comes to nothing.

[PracticalCat]

No, they tested for rubella but not cp. But will ask to go in for a quick blood test in the morning. No point in being worried about it for nothing.

[msrisotto]

My mum had measles or chicken pox (she can't remember!) when pregnant with me. I turned out ok (totally not helpful but thought i'd share!)

[HC1]

Hi

I didn't have the immunity for chicken pox in my last pregnancy and worked in a school where there was an outbreak. It is a tricky one when you don't know if you have been exposed. Then my husband had shingles and you can catch chicken pox from shingles so I was given the injection (can't remember the name) but it isn't a vaccine and lasts for about 3 weeks. I was about 23 week at this point. All was absolutely fine with baby. It is hard to advise when you don't know if you have definitely been exposed.

[sonsmum]

my ds had chicken pox, and i had not had it as a child so was obviously at risk.....I called the dr and asked what we could do....I was told i would need to get a blood test to confirm i had no immunity....which i got that proved i didn't have immunity. Then i was given an immunoglobulin injection before any chicken pox symptoms appeared, the intention was to stop chicken pox developing. I did however still develop chicken pox, coming out in the spots and feeling very sick/ill. Whilst i was ill and off work for 2 weeks, I think i probably had it more mildly that i may have had it, if i had not had the immunoglobulin injection.
You have to have the immunoglobulin within 10 days of exposure for it to be effective....you can't take it once the spots show up etc....so you are against the clock a little as a blood test to confirm your initial immunity may take 3 days to get the results. If i were you, I strongly recommend calling your dr to start the ball rolling with the blood test. However they will assess your risk.....i.e. it isn't your child that has the pox.
My scans have shown the baby has developed normally physically but until birth will not know if skin has scars or if any of the senses have been affected, eg. deafness. the risk of having an adversely affected baby is 0.4% if you have chicken pox in the 1st trimester....while this is a low %, if you are the unlucky 0.4% the effects are quite devastating, so personally would recommend you do all you can to avoid contracting chicken pox. Good luck.

[PracticalCat]

Thanks - I've found this really useful.

I had a blood test this morning and will find out if I have immunity either tomorrow or Monday.

If I don't have immunity and DS develops chicken pox, then they'll give me the immunoglobulin injection.

Sonsmum, that's a bit wretched that you had the injection and still got it. How far along were you when you got it? Hope all well with your baby.

[sonsmum]

practical cat - i was 8 weeks when i came out in the pox, so not ideal as important foetal development was happening.....and i felt so sick/ill but had to eat for the baby!
i had an early anomalie scan and then the 20 weeks scan.....all looks normal, but won't know for 100% until birth and subsequent baby development......fingers crossed though....risk is small, but this risk together with the swine flu palava has made me not enjoy this pregnancy very much when i had loved my last experience.