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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Pregnant and exposed to chicken pox!!!

21 replies

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 00:13

Am just looking for some advise and support, am currently getting blame from OH, so I hope posting here will help get some piece of mind.

I had my brothers kids for a few days from Monday and were meant to go today Thursday. Reason for having them stay with me for a few days was my brother had to urgently travel abroad to see our father who isn't well and hasn't been for a few months now. We were getting frustrated not knowing what was happening and recently got told he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. My brother's partner couldn't get time off work as was very short notice and my sister too couldn't get time off work and since am off work cos of pregnancy and a toddler to look after, they requested if I could look after them for a few days which I was happy to. Unfortunately, on Tuesday I noticed a rash on the youngest who is two years old, we just thought she could be reaction to some bath wash. But then Wednesday, the rash was worse so we took her to get checked and doctor told us she had chicken pox. Now that's when my worries started, I had a test done and looks like I don't have the immunity and what we have read about it is very scary, though professionals I have spoken to have been calm. I have now been prescribed antivirals to start on Monday. But am still so worried and scared for my little one, am soon 26 weeks pregnant. Tonight I have had a heated argument with OH who is blaming my family for the problem we now have. He has been saying my brother's kids go to school and pick up viruses which they have now brought & put me at risk but I told him, it wasn't intentional & was an emergency. While he was busy blaming my family for putting me at risk, I made a reference that we have had his son come every weekend, does that mean he is intentionally putting me risk by having him in our home every weekend while am pregnant? He didn't like that and walked off. Anyway, am now feeling upset, scared and alone.

Has anyone ever been in this situation (exposed to chicken pox) when pregnant and also had no immunity? How helpful is the antiviral medication? Am told the medication isn't harmful to the baby and that baby isn't at risk at the moment unless I get seriously ill. But information out there just makes me so worried.

OP posts:

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 25/02/2022 00:16

I have two friends who had chicken pox whilst pregnant. The babies were fine, though one had slightly yellow milk teeth.

Try not to worry.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 25/02/2022 00:18

Did have chicken pox as a kid? I think your DH could be a bit more supportive as you try and support your family.

Original poster

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 00:55

@LibrariesGiveUsPower thanks for that. I will try not to worry.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 00:59

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy, test shows I am not immune which means I didn't have it. All I want is my OH to at least not blame my family as if they purposely put me at risk.

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NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/02/2022 01:05

I had out at 26/7 weeks before there were antivirals.

I felt horrific and was very unwell - but it's literally the best time to have it for the baby.

DD was absolutely fine.

Ignore your husband, take the antivirals, and remember that even if you do get ill, it's the time least likely yo harm your baby, as the highest risks are in early or very late pregnancy.

W0rdl3 · 25/02/2022 05:25

I had chicken pox as a child and tests showed I had no immunity when pregnant with my twins. I was teaching at the time and it was rife in my class. Didn’t have any meds as 20 years ago but did get signed off work.

W0rdl3 · 25/02/2022 05:26

All was well with pregnancy.

Zoeyclash · 25/02/2022 07:11

Please try not to worry. When I was pregnant a blood test showed that I did not have immunity to chicken pox. I was exposed to tge virus in a similar way that you were - household contact. I was given antiviral medication and my baby was fine thankfully. I was 30+ weeks at the time so it was considered a more risky stage of pregnancy to be exposed.
It's not fair of your DH to blame your family for putting you at risk. It wasn't deliberate on their part. Also, you made a very valid point about DSS also being a potential risk every second weekend. Your DH is either happy for non-resident family children to stay at your house, or he isn't. In this circumstance he can't have one rule for your family and another rule for his.

Zoeyclash · 25/02/2022 07:13

I hope your father is ok by the way

Xmasbaby11 · 25/02/2022 07:16

It sounds scary but good you are getting anti virals.

My dh was exposed when I was second trimester. Unusually neither of us had had chicken pox and blood tests showed we didn't have immunity. He stayed away from the house during the incubation period. In the end we were both fine, and I got vaccinated as soon as I had the baby.

GeneLovesJezebel · 25/02/2022 07:21

It’s good that you are over 24 weeks.
It’s happened so there’s no point in him being angry now, it wasn’t done deliberately , and you’re getting treatment.

CLC22 · 25/02/2022 07:37

I was pregnant with my son when I’d come in contact with my niece who had chicken pox, I’d never had chicken pox at the age of 22 so I had to have an injection administered to give me immunity & then a follow up scan a few weeks after to make sure the contact didn’t effect baby, all was well 🙂 then I got chicken pox on my sons first birthday x

Newmumatlast · 25/02/2022 07:40

@Bug8

Am just looking for some advise and support, am currently getting blame from OH, so I hope posting here will help get some piece of mind.

I am pregnant and been around chicken pox. I dont know if I have immunity- I have had it before as a child and so thought I may have, I messaged my midwife and noted she may need to check my bloods for immunity and she said no its fine..

So hopefully it is.

I understand its first trimester due to risk of miscarriage and third trimester due to risk of baby being born with it that are higher risk. Second trimester not so much so maybe that is why she wasn't concerned?

JS87 · 25/02/2022 07:42

I don’t have any experience but I would recommend vaccination when you can. Your child is likely to get chicken pox at some point and you don’t want to catch it, even if not pregnant. Fingers crossed you won’t catch it.

Newmumatlast · 25/02/2022 07:43

Also I agree it isnt your fault. You didn't purposefully expose yourself to chicken pox. And I agree your point that he is happy to have his son come who could have illnesses so its no different to kids in your family coming who could have. I imagine he walked away as he realised you were right and was frustrated about that! To be fair what would you do if you already had kids... you'd be constantly around potential illnesses brought home from nursery/playgroups etc. Its just one of those things, you're being treated and I'm sure it will be ok xxx

Onlythelonely1 · 25/02/2022 08:21

How many weeks pregnant are you?

You shouldn't need to take Aciclovir (antiviral medication) unless you develop symptoms yourself, such as a rash.

However, if you had no immunity on the blood test then you should be offered the VZIG injection.

I would speak to your surgery again today if this hadn't already been offered. See here:

www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/chickenpox-in-pregnancy

Original poster

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 11:49

@Onlythelonely1, I am 26 weeks today. I doctor I spoke to prescribed antivirals.

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Original poster

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 12:55

Thank you everyone for your kindness and advice. I feel so much better now that I have read your comments. Am going to focus on staying calm and positive. Thank you all for your support.

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Original poster

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 12:57

@Zoeyclash, my father is very unwell and just in the stages of tests and more tests but my brother says he seems to be improving and seems better so am hoping he continues to get better. Thanks for asking.

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FreddieRocks · 25/02/2022 13:02

I was exposed fairly early on in pregnancy and had no immunity. I had an immunoglobulin injection and was completely fine. I think you have to have it within a delivery short window of exposure, like a week or something. I then had the vaccination after I’d finished BFing my daughter.

Original poster

Bug8 · 25/02/2022 20:45

@FreddieRocks, I have been advised to start antivirals a week after exposure so that's what am going to do. Thank you for your response.

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