Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To keep my toddler off with chickenpox going round nursery- 38 weeks pregnant

104 replies

trees146 · 03/12/2024 11:10

I'm 38 weeks pregnant. Due to be induced in 12 days. Been informed that chicken pox is going round my toddlers nursery who's never had it before. 5 children in his class. I just don't know what to do for the best. People are looking at me like I have 2 heads at the mere mention of keeping him off. I get he might have already been exposed to it and get it regardless. But when you google chicken pox newborn baby the most awful stuff comes up. Basically if baby catches it as a newborn it sounds horrifically dangerous. I'm so upset and don't know what to do for the best. Filled with guilt as toddler will also be so upset he'll miss his Christmas nativity, pantomime and party etc...

God I genuinely feel like I can't cope anymore I am worried sick. My midwife is rubbish and won't even get back to me, she never does. What would you do in my situation?

OP posts:

EvilMama · 03/12/2024 11:11

I'd keep him off.

romdowa · 03/12/2024 11:12

In your case I'd keep him off. Not worth the risk of him being in the height of it with your new born baby.

ParkAndRider · 03/12/2024 11:12

Keep him off and get him vaccinated at boots.

Ifitistobesaid · 03/12/2024 11:13

Thing is it can take a long time for the symptoms to appear if they’ve caught it. It can take up to three weeks from exposure for the spots to appear so that’s a long time to keep them home. Can you get them vaccinated? Might not be too late for that?

DifficultBloodyWoman · 03/12/2024 11:13

I’d keep my toddler off. It just isn’t worth it.

I’d also look into the chicken pox vaccine.

I didn’t get chicken pox as a child (despite my mother’s best efforts) but caught it as an adult instead. I would give anything to have been able to avoid that experience!

GreenTeaLikesMe · 03/12/2024 11:13

YY to the above.

Keep him off, get the vaccine as soon as you are able to.

No idea why people put their kids through this revolting crusty nightmare.

BarbaraHoward · 03/12/2024 11:14

Keep him off and see if you can get him vaccinated (may not be worth it with you being pregnant as I think there's a small risk to you from the vaccine if memory serves). I think there's an age under which chickenpox is automatic hospitalisation for newborns.

(And I never ever say to keep DC off nursery. )

SJM1988 · 03/12/2024 11:15

I'd keep him off just to reduce your stress.
But the incubation time for chicken pox is up to 21 days. If they already have children off with it its likely he has already caught it. You wont be able to get the vaccine while you are within 21 days of being in contact with someone that has chicken pox.

We had chicken pox go around a few months ago and my DD managed not to catch it despite being full time and literally all over some of the kids that where then sent home. They don't always get it.

MariaDingbat · 03/12/2024 11:15

Would it be possible for him to get a chickenpox vaccine? I know it's not ideal as your pregnant but I think it's okay if you've already had chickenpox. It might mean that if he does get chickenpox it is much milder and less transmissible.

toomuchfaff · 03/12/2024 11:15

Keep him off. If someone looks at you weird, sit safely in the knowledge you don't give a crap what they think, you're doing the best for your family in your circumstances. No explanation is needed, don't feel you need to justify anything to anyone. Keep him off.

GreenTeaLikesMe · 03/12/2024 11:17

Ifitistobesaid · 03/12/2024 11:13

When my eldest (who had been vaccinated) developed one or two very small blisters consistent with the "ultra-mild" variety of chickenpox that sometimes develops in vaccinated kids, I took her and my 11mo straight to the doctor to confirm.

The doctor diagnosed "vaccinated" chickenpox, and vaccinated my 11mo slightly ahead of schedule, because given that she had been exposed already, this was less risky than letting her develop actual chickenpox (we are not in the UK, the rules are different here). Doctor said that even if a child was exposed, vaccinating promptly can prevent or greatly reduce the resultant infection. As it was, my 11mo got a few very small chickenpox blisters like my eldest, but both were otherwise very well.

I'd suggest the OP does the vaccination straight away if this is at all practical.

nightmarepickle2025 · 03/12/2024 11:19

If you get him vaccinated now he'll be able to go back in 2 weeks so before Christmas

TeenGreenBottles · 03/12/2024 11:20

ParkAndRider · 03/12/2024 11:12

Keep him off and get him vaccinated at boots.

This. Possibly too late now but better later than never.

MamaWeasel · 03/12/2024 11:21

It's only nursery, and there will be other parties. Keeping your family unit safe is your priority this year.

Tdcp · 03/12/2024 11:22

My brother caught chickenpox when he was 6 weeks old, he was fine and no complications but it was awful non the less. I'd keep him off.

skinnyoptionsonly · 03/12/2024 11:22

Keep him off but chances are he is already incubating it.... give it two weeks.

Fingers crossed for you

emilybrontosaurus · 03/12/2024 11:24

We got ours vaccinated when this happened. I think it would be best to send him in to be honest. It can be unsettling having a heavily pregnant mum then a newborn and keeping routines going is probably best. It also gives you a rest which I am sure is much needed!

Crunchyqueen · 03/12/2024 11:24

Keep him off, look at home long the incubation is, add a few days and bool the vaccination for the last day of that time frame if he doesn't come down with it.

My cousin brought her five year old to my Grandmas funeral with it when I had an 8 week old breastfed baby. DH had to stay in car with a screaming baby whilst I nipped in couldn't go to the wake or anything. So selfish he DC was fine if spotty, could have stayed with their in-laws for a few hrs. They look after them all the time.

Hoplittlebunnyonrepeat · 03/12/2024 11:27

My mother got chicken pox whilst she was heavily pregnant with me. I'm now on my 30s and have never had it, despite being exposed a lot of times throughout the years (huge family). I've been advised I'm likely a carrier /immune. I've no idea how common this is though. Wishing you all the best and congratulations.

lola006 · 03/12/2024 11:30

Keep him off. My youngest caught chicken pox off my middle DC when she was a newborn. Midwives were sure that because I’d had it and was nursing that DD wouldn’t catch it. Her first spot appeared at 3 weeks old and she then spent 12 days in the hospital getting IV acyclovir every 8 hours. (At the time that was the NHS guideline for infants under 4 weeks catching it.)

We didn’t know it was going around until middle DC had it and we certainly kept them apart but it was too late.

youngoldthing · 03/12/2024 11:31

Keep them off but the likelihood is that it’s probably a bit late and they’ve already been exposed.

TipsyKoala · 03/12/2024 11:35

I would keep him off too as I wouldn't want to deal with a new born at the same time as caring for a child with chicken pox, plus the risk of baby getting it so young. He may already have it though.

ARichtGoodDram · 03/12/2024 11:36

I'd keep him off.

Yes, he might have been exposed already and be incubating, but he also may not be. If it was as simple as being guaranteed to get it when you know he's been exposed it would be less stressful!

It's not worth the extra risk in your situation imo.

apricot9 · 03/12/2024 11:37

I don't think you will be able to get him vaccinated now, boots wouldn't do it for my eldest when I was 35 weeks pregnant as id have a newborn when the second dose was due and it's a live virus. In the end I waited until little one was one and got them done together thankfully neither caught it before then.

I would deffo keep him off op!

Sparklyhat · 03/12/2024 11:37

Because you're so stressed worrying about it if keep him off, if he's never had it there's a big chance he'll catch it, that's how my DS got chicken pox after 10 children in nursery had it and his baby brother had it 2 weeks later

Flip

1 2 3 4 5