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Granny has shingles & I'm pregnant.. any risks ?

9 replies

mojomummy · 30/04/2006 09:24

although I haven't seen my granny, my mum was in the hospital with her yesterday & she has been told she has shingles. My mum was due to visit today & has rung & cancelled because she doesn't want to risk me/unborn baby health - particulary as we are on hols next week - flying to Spain.

I've looked on the NHS website & as myslef, Dd & Dh have had chickenpox, it states we aren't at risk. Also read that you can't catch shingles as it's non-viral.

Want to see my mum today - but don't want to take any chances...

Can anyone advise please ?

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mojomummy · 30/04/2006 11:59

thanks ladies

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SaintGeorge · 30/04/2006 11:58

And as Soupy says - you'll be fine.

The main concern of cp in pregnancy is in the first half of the first trimester and at delivery.

Rare multiple sufferers do exist (hello, that's me ) but the chances are you would be aware by now if you were one of them.

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SaintGeorge · 30/04/2006 11:56

Shingles is non-viral in that you can't 'catch' it. As Soupy said, it is when you have had cp in the past and the dormant virus is reactivated in your nerve cells - normally by trauma or shock.

As for 3rd party transfer - only if the 3rd party has not previously had cp and therefore they might be in the early stages of infection themselves.

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SoupDragon · 30/04/2006 11:52

You've had chicken pox. You will be fine :)

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mojomummy · 30/04/2006 11:51

Hi, it's a little confusing isn't it ? From reading the NHS info, I concluded as shingles is non-viral we'll be ok as we've all had chicken pox.

My mum is coming up & won't be kissing me, Dd or DH !

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SoupDragon · 30/04/2006 10:11

Cece, shingles is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus The virus lays dormant in your body when yopu've had CP and can flare up as shingles later.

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SoupDragon · 30/04/2006 10:10

As the NHS website says "If a woman comes into contact with chickenpox or shingles when pregnant, there’s no problem if she’s had it before, because this gives your body immunity to it (re-infection is rare). This means the baby is not at risk of chicken pox even of the mother develops shingles during pregnancy."

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cece · 30/04/2006 10:09

I was told that a third party cannot pass on chicken pox. Not sure about shingles but imagine it would be the same as it is the smae virus isn't it?

If you have had chicken pox you should have immunity.

I phoned NHS direct and they were very helpful.