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Original poster

If DS has chicken pox, will it effect me? I am 36+ weeks pregnant, and have never had chicken pox before.

15 replies

NatalieJane · 03/11/2006 09:11

I don't even know if he does have it, he was complaining of belly ache yesterday I gave him some calpol which did the trick, and he seemed fine no temp or anything, so I sent him to school, he was fine for the rest of yesterday, but he has woken up this morning with a group of spots on his belly/chest, and the odd one up his neck and on his chin. Again he isn't ill as such, he feels well, and so I have sent him to school, but firstly, how do I know if it is chicken pox for sure, and should I be worried about the baby?

Thanks

OP posts:

LadyTophamHatt · 03/11/2006 09:16

if you haven't had it then it can be passed to the baby, theres a 2-3 week incubation period before the spots come out and your ds would have been contagious the whole time and up until the spots have crusted over.

Not sure what can be done to stop it being passed to the baby TBH.

Are youabsolultey sure you haven't had it?

LadyTophamHatt · 03/11/2006 09:17

I think it's quite unusual to find aadult who hasn't had it....IMO anyway.

Original poster

NatalieJane · 03/11/2006 09:18

I am absolutely sure I haven't had it, but I'm not absolutley sure DS has it. It is only a few spots, and I don't even know what chicken spot spots are supposed to look like, but I remember hearing/reading something about chicken pox and pregnancy a while ago, and so obviously felt I should find out for sure really.

OP posts:

Mum2FunkyDude · 03/11/2006 09:20

You must inform your GP asap if you think you have been exposed and have not have it!

Original poster

NatalieJane · 03/11/2006 09:20

LOL Chicken spot spots...?!?!?

OP posts:

JuA · 03/11/2006 09:26

I would take him to the GP and they need to check if you are immune - if not they can give you something - its a sort of vaccine I think. E The chances are you are immune and just don't remember having it or had it very mildly.
link here The relevant bit is on page 13

Peridot30 · 03/11/2006 09:29

I would speak to your GP as mum2funkydude said. my ds and ddhad 'the pox' while my friend was pregnant and im sure doctor says its ok as long as not in 1st trimester or couple of weeks b4 delivery. Speak to your gp to be sure.

LadyTophamHatt · 03/11/2006 09:30

they are red/yellowy blister type spots.
I'd contact your MW and speak to her about it.

Ds1+2 had when i was pg with ds3 and they did a blood test to see if I was immune(which I knew I was).
It was a rather pointless exercise though as the clinic wasn't open for few days and then the results took 10 days to come back so if I hadn't been ammune I would have had the spots by the time they could have done anything about it because of the incubation period and time taken to getthe result IYSWIM.
Stupid bloody people!!

ludaloudbang · 03/11/2006 09:34

My three kids have recently had chicken pox...they all started off with cold type symptoms...only one of them had a temp.
The spots come very quickly...start off as small red spots but quickly blister...the blisters pop and then they scab over.
With regards to you being pregnant...I had to check this out as my dd1 teacher is pregnant (poor her the whole school is slowly going down with it)
If you get it I think it is fine unless it is the very early stages of pregnancy...which you are not in...and the last few weeks before birth (apparently the baby can be born with them!)

I would ask your gp if you are not sure...I don't think they can harm your baby in anyway though its just not very pleasant..
If you have had them..then your immunity should protect the baby.

staceym11 · 03/11/2006 09:38

NJ - as far as i know it doesnt create any real problems but i think the baby can get them, which i dont acctually think is a problem healthwise.

my bros x gfs mum (if that makes sense) had the chicken pox when she was pg with my bros x gf we had convos about it a few times and i think that the only problem they had was working out wether my bros x gf had acctually had the chicken pox or not! it certainly didnt do her any harm, i think she was about 7 months pg.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 03/11/2006 09:48

NJ - if ds does have it, go to your GP. It is more risky if baby is delivered whilst you have it and they can give you anti-virals to lessen the effects on you (and I assume on baby too)but it's best to have them as early as possible.

I had CP whilst pg with ds1. I was 26 weeks so probably at the safest time. It was many moons ago and I was given anti-bodies (not sure if the anti-virals were available then). Having Cp as adult was dire - I do hope you don't get it.

Original poster

NatalieJane · 03/11/2006 09:53

Well, I rang the labour ward (only way I have of contacting the midwife) and someone actually picked up the phone - that is the first time it hasn't gone to an answer machine!! But then she said she would put me through to somewhere and it cut off, so I rang my doctors, the receptionist had obviously had a personality transplant and has very helpfully taken my phone number and has said she will ring me back after she has spoken to a doctor about it, so am now just waiting for the call.

I have four sisters who all had it when they were younger, so I think if I was going to get it I'd have had it by now, so I'm not too worried.

The spots he has look a bit like heat lumps, a small white flat blister (I know, how can you have a flat blister, but that is the only way I can descrie it!!) and then the area all around them is red. My mum says it sounds like them, but she hasn't seen them.

OP posts:

staceym11 · 03/11/2006 10:01

someone picker up the phone on your labour ward NJ?!?!?! hope you get some answers, maybe the receptionist was just having a bad day the other week?!

Original poster

NatalieJane · 03/11/2006 10:11

LOL Stacey, no she is normally a right old cowbag, but she has just rang back, the doctor wants me to go for a blood test to check imunity at 11.30, they said the results should be back by Monday.

I am sure it will be fine, like I said I think if I was going to get it, I'd have had it by now, and if not, then it doesn't seem to be a major concern for the baby anyway.

Thanks though everyone

OP posts:

23balloons · 03/11/2006 10:12

I had never had it and was worried about exposure when pregnant with ds2 so I asked if they could do an immunity check when having routine blood tests. I wasn't immune. Luckily I didn't get it while pregnant but got it when ds1 was 2.5 and ds2 was 6 months. It is a really horrible and exhausting disease in adults. I think it took me 3 months to recover my energy (looking after 2 young children didn't help). It can be serious if you have it during delivery. You should certainly speak to your Doctor.

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