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

[trees146]

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?

I would get him vaccinated as soon as possible and then keep him off until it kicks in (not sure how long it takes to provide protection).

I'd go and get him vaccinated, today. Even if he's been exposed it will reduce the amount of spots and symptoms if it does develop.

You may need to keep him away from baby for x amount of days after the vaccine, but the alternative is too nervewracking in my opinion

I would! My eldest caught chicken pox at 7 months and was in hospital on IV antibiotics for a week. I'd get the vaccine for your eldest kid.

The other side of it is not just the illness, but that I found it really hard to get the doctors to see a baby with chicken pox... They just heard chicken pox and were like "calamine lotion lol", but she was quite seriously unwell. It's been 8 years and I'm still not quite over the stress!!

Yes, keep him off and get him vaccinated asap.

Have you had it? Be very cautious if you haven't, I caught it as an adult and it was horrific, I was so ill!
I'd keep him,off too, you can't avoid it forever with children generally but this isn't a great time to be dealing with an ill toddler and potentially a newborn.

Get vaccinated, I thought I was likely to be immune until I caught it last year for the first time and I was very ill with it not to mention it's marked my face now too 😢

I don’t think there’s any point in keeping him off - he’s already been exposed and he will miss all his Christmas stuff. Have you had it? If so the baby will be born with passive immunity which if you breastfeed will continue. If your son does get it don’t let him touch the baby until his spots are crusted over and be vigilant about hand washing. If you haven’t had it this is a much bigger issue and probably worth discussing with your midwife. It’s too late to vaccinate him now as he’s already been exposed.

Thanks everyone. I'm going to keep him off. Looked at boots and Superdrug for the vaccine and says might not help but it might do... it's also £150 for the course and with Christmas I literally haven't the spare money- and no one I can ask. On SMP and this doesn't leave anything spare, in fact we're already in a deficit. Have consulted doctors but doubt they will give it him.

I feel so guilty like an awful parent. What a time to get it, I wouldn't be bothered any other time if it wasn't for the baby ☹️ so worried he may not even get spots until after baby's here and then my newborn may get it and be seriously ill. Feel so depressed about the whole thing 😭

I've asked my mum and she said we definitely all had it as children. I hope that's the case or that's a whole other world of problems. My anxiety is the through the roof. Thanks everyone for replies x

Why isn't toddler vaccinated ?

@Bogginsthe3rd we've never ever been offered it😭 he's almost 3 if that makes any difference. None of the children I know have been offered it either- is it routine? I'd have let him have it if we were offered it believe me!!

No you have to get it privately but well worth it (imho)

Because it’s not part of the vaccination schedule in the uk and costs £150 to have done privately. Most Uk kids are not vaccinated against it.

Yes but it's really something everyone should get.

I'd absolutely keep him off.
I got my little boy vaccinated for this very reason.

His baby sister was born in Nov, and we were getting constant notices about chicken pox, I really didn't want to A) have a really irritable itchy toddler and a baby,
And B) a newborn catch it.

Have you had chickenpox yourself as a child? If so the best thing you can do is breast feed as immunity is partially passed across - it's not a guarantee but it really does help to at a minimum reduce the symptoms.

Chickenpox has a 21 day incubation period from before you know someone is infectious, if you have options, i would suggest thinking about if there is someone who could have your elder child for a week or so if spots appear as you are giving birth.

Probably already too late - children can be infectious before spots come out.
If you have had it then baby will be getting your antibodies and topped up if you bf.

How old is he? My dd would have been devastated to miss her nursery nativity and Christmas party at age 3 or 4 so if that age I wouldn’t keep him off for those events, but if you do don’t mention it’s because of baby as he may resent them. If it’s going round his class he will already have been exposed but may not show yet as it has quite a long lead time. Definitely look into getting the vaccination, you have to pay but it’s so worth it. My dd is vaccinated and we’ll be getting my DS vaccinated as soon as he turns 1.

I'm pretty sure that Chicken Pox vaccine (Varicella) is available if your child is 18 months of age. Ask your Dr or Pharmacist about it. I would keep your kid home and have them vaccinated if it is advised.
You should be keeping away from Chicken Pox.

Oh course keep him off. Who cares what others think. It’s your family and their health that matters. It’s only nursery too. Hardly going to affect him being at home with his family. Good luck op. Hope it passes you all by.

I got both of mine vaccinated privately at 9 months so never had to worry about chickenpox going around Gave me peace of mind as well for booking holidays or days out as it would cost a lot to cancel. It's too late now once you're pregnant though, it's a live virus so you don't want to be exposed to it when pregnant. Peobably best to keep the toddler off, but it's a shame for him to miss out on the fun Christmas things they'll be doing, and it'll be hard work for you at 38 weeks.

The incubation period if your little one catches it is quite long (2 weeks I think?) so likely could start to be symptomatic around your induction date. So for that reason, I'd be keeping them off.

Mine had chicken pox when I was 38weeks pregnant. My MW said to me that chicken pox is a risk in early pregnancy but fine in late pregnancy. I can't imagine it would be great for a newborn to be around chicken pox though.

Sounds eminently sensible @trees146 in your situation I would definitely consider keeping him off. Best of luck, very exciting times ahead.

My toddler DC1 got chickenpox from nursery when I was pregnant with DC2. It was mid-pregnancy so the doctor and midwife advised that as long as I had had chickenpox myself (verified with a blood test) we were fine. Interestingly, in line with your experience, DC2 is now six and has survived numerous rounds of chickenpox at nursery and school unscathed. I am convinced that she has some kind of super immunity developed from exposure to the antibodies in the womb.

Am probably going to get her vaccinated if she doesn’t catch it soon though in case my theory is wrong as I don’t want her to get it as an adult.

I'd keep him off and try to do lovely Christmas activities with him at home. My child is 8 and he wouldn't even remember now if he'd missed a Christmas party in nursery. There will be Christmas activities and shows every year through primary school.

Keep asking the GP and your midwife for advice, they should hopefully get back to you soon!x

Thanks everyone. So bloody stressed. There is nobody who my toddler could go to if he does get it. I would have no choice to have him around my newborn which is worrying me sick. He is also my baby so if he gets it- I can't imagine being away from him and not being able to comfort him whilst he's poorly 😢x