Over chicken pox and pregnancy?

[Sweetcharlotterose]

I may be overreacting as it's taken 3 years and a load of fertility treatment to achieve this pregnancy and I am generally quite anxious.

I am a TA and unfortunately I've never had chicken pox. I guess it was inevitable that at some point id come across it whilst pregnant. Two of the children in the class below mine have come down with it. Their classroom is next door and they share a playground / lunch hall / toilets with my class so I suspect it may well only be a matter of time before someone in my class gets it. I also come across some of the children in the class below through groups / assembly etc.
I know I'm definitely not immune as I've had tests previously and in addition to this I have an autoimmune condition which makes me more vulnerable to the effects of any illness.

I'm so so worried about it. I can't bear the thought that anything might happen to my baby and I feel like I'm putting myself in the line of fire. I'm considering not going in tomorrow until I've spoken to my midwife to talk about the risks. I do appreciate I could pick up the virus anywhere but I think I stand a greater chance by going into the classroom and it's transmitted very easily through coughs / sneezes.

Aibu? Is it a total overreaction?

But what are you meant to do if you have been exposed to it? What did all those ladies do? Just sit it out and hope for the best?
My nephew caught chickenpox when I was in the last few weeks of pregnancy. DH had spent the day with him and DH wasn't immune. Basically, I just had to sit and hope. And, depending on when I had given birth, DH wouldn't have been allowed in the hospital.

So there were lots of conversations with the midwife, the consultant, etc, and then relief that DH didn't develop chickenpox, that I didn't develop chickenpox and that DS appeared at the point when DH was still allowed in the hospital.

I know it's worrying but your GP and midwife will be able to give you the best advice. It's not that uncommon a situation so they are well prepared.

To be honest, like a previous poster, I am amazed that you haven't been vaccinated. Whoever provided your fertility treatment should have encouraged you to get it/organised it for you. That is the whole point of testing the immunity in the first place!

Anyway, as it goes, you work in a school and are bound to have come into contact with CP countless times, yet still have not contracted the virus yourself. Hopefully this will continue to be the case. Definitely stay off, but try and not become too anxious about this. The risk is very low really, at this stage of pregnancy. Do not feel bad about staying off!

I had immunity tested about six years ago when I first started working in schools. I spoke to my GP about having the vaccine and they were really negative about it saying it doesn't provide as reliable immunity as having had chicken pox and that because you are having a live vaccine you can then go on to develop shingles at a later date.
At the time I found it difficult to locate anywhere that offered it and ended up not having it.

I don't think the fertility consultant ever asked about my chicken pox immunity, however as I said the fertility treatment failed anyway.