Rubella in pregnancy - please reassure me

[SmallShortSally]

I'm 5 weeks pregnant. My in laws are about to come and stay, and I've just found out that my nephew who lives with them has "probably" had rubella for the past 6 or so days.

I have no idea what their vaccination status is (they live overseas).

I had a baby a year ago so presumably would have been tested in that pregnancy for immunity (and presumably was fine or is have been told otherwise..?), so can I rest at ease even if they do bring rubella into the house?

I'm panicking! Haven't told anyone I'm pregnant yet.

I'm going to get on the phone to the GP as soon as they open.

Ans I'm totally with you all with all the risks. It terrifies me.

Though I think some of you are misunderstanding. My nephew, who is ill (with possible rubella) isn't the one getting on a plane.

My in laws, who address PROBABLY immune ans therefore PROBABLY not infected are the ones flying.

But I'm a panicker, and so in my mind, a possible case of rubella in someone that I'm not directly coming into contact with, in my mind means I'm basically already infected.

I'm guessing that if my in laws are immune (likely), the chances of them carrying it across here and infecting others is slim? Can you carry rubella af an immune person? I guess that my real fear. Because I know that really, if they're immune and I'm immune, the chances of catching it are slim to none if they can't even be carriers.

But, knowing me, I'll freak out all day and buy detol wipes and hand gels and still go and stay with my parents just in case

Any joy with the immunity results? If not, a telephone call with a GP for advice would be my next step, but I assume you've sorted things by this point.

My favourite actress is Gene Tierney. The tragedy surrounding the birth of her first child was the inspiration for the book and film The Mirror Crack’d.

Gene contracted German measles during her only appearance at a nightclub called the Hollywood Canteen.

She was pregnant at the time, and her daughter was born prematurely, deaf, blind, and with severe mental retardation. She was devastated.

Some time later, Tierney was approached for an autograph by a woman at a tennis party, who, gushing over how big a fan she was of the actress, told Tierney that she had met her once before. She was such a big fan, she explained, that she had snuck out of quarantine, sick with rubella, just so she could see Tierney at the Hollywood Canteen.

Gene allegedly stared hard at the woman and then turned away.

Some success. GP said no record of MMR vaccines and no record of immunity in previous pregnancies... but I have found my old childhood records showing at least 1 MMR jab. The GP recommended a quick blood test to check immunity, which I've had done now, and also we've had confirmation that my in laws both have fully up to date vaccines, so all being well it's not even something to worry about, even if I turn out to be not immune. Though I strongly suspect I am and it just hasn't been recorded for some reason.

It's terrifying quite how devastating it can be to a baby though. I knew it was very serious, but until reading into it properly today i had no idea quite how bad. Apparently 90% of those who are exposed to it in the womb will end up with serious birth defects of one kind or another. 90%! That's huge.

I'm glad you got sorted OP.