AAarrrgh, chickenpox and newborn babies...due any day now!

[BigmommaD]

Sorry for posting here (also posted in Health) but thought I would in case anyone is in a similar situation.

Went to doctor this morning and he suspects DC1 has chickenpox but I need to leave a few days for proper diagnosis. I know it is highly likely to be cpox, as been told by nursery its doing rounds and spotty rash has increasingly appeared on torso and face this evening.

I've had chickenpox when I was little so hopefully still have immunity but reason for posting is will my newborn be ok and immune? I'm due any day now!

Please help and calm my nerves/ panics! Thanks

I'm sure your immunity will count to start with but also, if you're breastfeeding, it's unlikely (I think) that the baby will get it and if it does, might be extremely mild. I know of someone's DD who had it very mildly as a baby whilst mum was BF and then got it again later on like it is normally.
You could ring a BF helpine/ask midwife to set your mind at ease.
When you get diagnosis from GP, ask them then about the baby.

thanks luciemule, doctor said I need to raise DC Cpox infection when I go into labour. Fingers crossed next one to be doesn't catch it!

you need to get in touch with your midwife tomorrow and explain the situation.

If you HAVE had chickenpox, then you should be ok, but you should have a blood test to ensure immunity.

Chickenpox as you give birth, and in the newborn can be very dangerous, but only if you don;t have antibodies. If you do, then you and baby should be protected.

also, I would think the unit needs to know.

I am not a health professional, but my DD2 came down with chicken pox when I was 38wks pregnant with DD3.

I knew however that I had never had it as a child, and blood tests confirmed this, but I had the blood tests done within 5hrs of DD2 being confirmed with CP (she was in hospital when she cane down with it......she had tonsilitis, bronchiolitis and chicken pox all at the same time, she was really poorly with it).

anyway, within 4hrs of the blood being confirmed that I was not immune, I was being injected with the vaccine.

plus, I was also told that I was not allowed to give birth where I was booked in (a midwife led unit), but was now classed as high risk and had to go to the consultant led hospital with NICU (in case of problems). I was also to be isolated once I had given birth, to protect the other mothers.

The risks are high of probs, but I repeat, only if you have no immunity. I had a friend pregnant and due at the same time as me, her DS also came down with CP, her bloods showed immunity, she was allowed to give birth in the midwife led unit and no jabs needed etc.

as for me and DD3, even with the jabs, she was born with it, I developed it. Bizarrely neither of us have immunity still, even tho we have both been vaccinated again, and every time it goes around, DD3 gets ill.

DD3 has also been left with an immune deficiancy, which altho not proven to be, I feel is connected. Her consultant however has reassured me that had we not had the jabs while I was pregnant, then the story would have been very very different.

I am not wanting to scare you, and the likelyhood of you being fine, seeing as you say you have had it, are very very high, but please please check. As long as they know before labour, then everyone will be calmer and happier IMVHO.

take care tho, whatever happens.......poorly little ones when heavily pregnant is horrid.

Psycho! Sounds like you had quite a time of it . Definitely a good idea to seek advice from midwives on this one BM.

My eldest two came out with the CPox rash when DD3 was newborn - post birth.

I saw a paediatric consultant (had appointments anyway for other reasons) who said that newborns tend to carry immunity from their mother (I had it as a child) through the neonatal period (6 weeks, I think) and beyond, particularly with breastfeeding. She didn't catch it at all

ecomouse, am glad your DD3 was ok

The hospital can check your immunity. They turned around my blood test within hours. Dont bother trying to arrange this via your GP-go to the consultants on the maternity ward ASAP

Oh dear.

My friend's breastfeed DS got CP from his older sister (who was infectious when he was born) when he was 2 weeks old. (My friend had the antibodies though). It was a very mild case and he was totally fine.

Other (immune) friends have had older siblings with CP and the baby has not got it all all.

So probably only cause for concern if you are not immune and breastfeeding apparently does help.