to worry (chickenpox/ pregnancy related..)

[tholeon]

ok so am nearly 32 weeks and have a 2.5 year old DS, who hasn't had CP. I did as a child, so should be immune, but read on NHS website that apparently up to 13% of people can get it more than once...

Went out to a pizza restaurant for lunch yesterday and after having been there for quite a while noticed that there was a little boy nearby who looked very spotty. Chickenpox spotty. I thought 'well, I'll only worry, so i better ask..' so I asked the lady who was with him (mum or gran?) if he had it and she said no, he is over it. Can you not be infectious any more and still look quite spotty, or was she just being optimistic because she wanted to go out and worry pregnant people??

I know DS has to have it sometime but I'd really like him not to be ill when am near due date, and being monitored as high risk for pre eclampsia as it is. He also has a history of some breathing issues (very ill as a young baby - can't take that again!) which might put him at higher risk of complications. But main worry is if I'm not immune and give it to the new baby, as have read (on 'orrible Doc Google again) that neonatal varicella can have an up to 30% mortality rate.

DH just tells me I am being ridiculus and not to worry, which helps not a jot.

What do you all think?

Its normal to check for immunity in pregnancy. Do you have your blood results in your hand-held notes?

Chicken pox is infectious for around 5 days after the first spot appears, so possible to have crusted spots and not be infectious.

if the spots have scabbed over it isnt contagious. the incubation period is 10 (or is it 11) days before the spots show. you could be in contact with all manner of diseases in everyday life and never know it because there are no obvious symptoms.

Last time I was pregnant I had a wonderful summer holiday planned - totally blown out of the water because my older two had the pox. I didnt catch it that time and I have no immunity to it whatsoever - I've had it 4 times.

Your immune system is functioning at a very high rate when you are pregnant. You might feel like crap most of the time but the body has a wonderful way of prtecting us.

O/T I did however find spotty children were a wonderful way to clear the play park though

As long as the spots have scabbed over you're not infectious but still look spotty. Chicken pox are most contagious before the spots are even out apparently.

YANBU to worry. When i was 30 weeks with DS2 we went to a friend's for the evening who as we were leaving said oh btw DD (9mths, had been playing with DH during the eve) came out in pox today. I've never had it and could easily have throttled them both then and there. I was straight at the GPs the next morning.
However the child in the restaurant is "safe" once the spots have dried over but can still look spotty. I wouldn't worry too much tbh but if you are still worried seek advice. Your GP can test whether you are immune.

Most likely if you've had it, then you are immune. Only a very very small percentage of people get it again.

The time that they worry in pregnancy is when you're not immune to CP, as verified by blood test, like I was, and when you've been exposed and when you're a week before delivery as the anti virals cannot be given at birth.

So, if you're really worried, ask your midwife for a blood test to determine your immunity.

Yes the viral load is very low 5 days after the first spots appear - risk of infection happens before this. You should be immune but could ask to have your antidodies checked. CP immunity isn't routinely screened for in pregnancy unlike rubella.

I knew someone who had cp when pregnant, she & baby were fine. Try not to worry about things so far out of your control.

Try not to worry, It is very unlikely he was still infectionus. Even if he was you are unlikely to get it. Even if you do it is unlikely to do the baby any damage at this stage.

You are quite rightnot to want your DS to catch it. Obviously it is a common disease, and most of us do actually catch it at some stge, however it really is not as trivial as most people think. Once it is in your body it NEVER leaves, and can return as shingles at ANY time, and ANY NUMBER of times. Chickenpox itself can be dangerous, but Shingles can be terrible. Typically it reoccurs more and more often as you get older, so many elderly people suffer teribly with this at the end of their lives.

I truelly cannot understand anyone deliberatly infecting their child ,and setingthem up for so much pain and misery in their old age.

ok thanks guys. I am worrying less. I think it mainly helps to know that you can still look quite spotty but not be infectious. I had read the stuff about being infectious till spots crust over but without having a close look that is hard to tell.