catching chicken pox in pregnancy from your child

[guddy]

Hi every one
Read the chicken pox thread and was a bit alarmed coz iam 33 weeks pregnant.my son has caught chicken pox and i would appreciate advise on any precaution to be taken.
i did speak to the some one from the surgery and was told there is nothing to worry.Would like to add that i had chicken pox when i was 15.

My son had chicken pox when I was c. 30 weeks pregnant and I had the same worries. However I was told that so long you had it as a child not to worry as you will have immunity, also it is better to get it over with in the family before you have a newborn, as it can be quite nasty for them (and miserable to have 2 kids with CP at the same time!)
Be prepared for a couple of grizzly days from your son, and about 7-10 days for the spots to clear up. To be honest, we found it looked a lot worse that it appeared to affect our son. Good luck!

If you've had it already, it's unlikely to get it again. Also, I thought that it is really during the 1st trimester that chicken pox could be a problem.

NCT sell a leaflet on Chickenpox, detailing the problems during first trimester and also the problems that can arise if the woman has CP when she gives birth but as you've already had it I wouldn't worry at all. Good luck with the pg.

Guddy, I had chickenpox as a young child, but when it was going round our toddler group whilst I was pg with dd I had a blood test to check my immunity (because my mum couldn't remember if I had had it or not). My immunty was fine, so I think yours should be too. So don't worry!

SofiaAmes, CP is also a problem if the mother is infectious at delivery as it caneasily be passed to the newborn baby.

Guddy, I think getting your immunity checked is a good idea. At least you'll definitely know whether or not you need to worry about getting it. It is possible to get CP more than once if you've only had a mild infection first time round as it may not have given you immunity.

You can definitely get CP more than once - all depends on strength of infection versus strength of immunity. My immunity must be crap cos at the age of 35 I have so far had it 7 times (including during 1st trimester of 2nd pregnancy). My GP tells me I am a rarity tho - hmmm, don?t think he meant that as a compliment.

DS2 luckily was totally unaffected although we have been told to have his eyesight checked thoroughly (apparently it is often the development of the eyes that is damaged if CP is contracted during 1st trimester).

CP is most dangerous for newborns. I used to work for Public Health and often had to rush supplies of the relevant drugs/blood products to the maternity wards because of it.

thanks everyone for the prompt reply.will call up my gp for an immunity check.

My brother had them 1 week before me when he was 10 yrs. He had an awful case and was home for about 10 days of school. He then got them again at the age of 22. They say if you do get them again depending on how bad the first was its a lot less.

Hi am 30 weeks pregnant and HAVE been in contact with chicken pox as i work at a school. I had a bllod test and it came back that i was not immune to Chicken Pox. I was called to my surgery the following day to go and have a vaccine to protect me. Very painfull one in each buttock, My concerns now are did i do the right thing and will my unborn baby be ok. They assure me everything will be fine but it is always in the back of your mind. Has anyone else been in this situatiuon and was their baby fine when born?