How likely would it be to pass on chickenpox to pregnant lady?

[futurity]

DS1 had chickenpox when he was 2 (he now 6). At the time my Mum insisted I had never had it but I didn't come down with it when DS1 had it.

I now have DS2 who is 3. At nursery they are dropping like flies with chickenpox but he hasn't got it...yet! They commented that he was grizzly for a bit today and that could be "a sign!"...but that he has also been fine. He now happily killing his brother!

Right..you still with me! I am meant to be seeing (on my own) my friend on Wednesday who is 38 weeks pregnant. No idea if she has ever had chicken pox. Should I go? DS2 not coming with me but I apparently have never had chicken pox so I suppose in theory if he does come down with it then I could be carrying it as well!?! I am not normally this super careful about things (!) but you can't help but wonder!?! Any thoughts welcome!

Better safe than sorry - it's at it's worst at the beginning and end of pregnancy I think.

Phone her up and ask if she's had it. It can be dangerous if she catches it, or if new born babies catch it.

I'd ask her if she has had it - if she has then I would go. If not then probably better to not go.

I think it should be fine. Incubation period is 11-21 days, and you are infectious for the last couple of days of this and until the spots have blistered over. Say your DS2 develops spots tomorrow. That means that the earliest he could have infected you would be yesterday, which means that the earliest you would break out in spts would be in ten days' time and the earliest you'd be infectious would be in eight days' time.

So provided you don't take DS2 with you you should be fine to see pregnant friend on Wednesday.

It might be easier just to ask her if she's ever had it, though -- I suppose there's an offchance that one of DS2's friends at nursery could have coughed on you last week in a particularly poxy manner.

As Idris says, if she's had it, your fine. If she hasn't I'd avoid her personally - you'd feel awful if she did somehow go & get it (most dangerous early & late in pg, so she's in a dangerous patch)

My mate had chickenpox in early pg. Her ds was fine, but there were lots of things they couldn't test for - so she was on tenterhooks til he was born

thanks for your replies. I think I will just ask her if she has had it and take it from there as you are right..I would feel awful if she got it. I am super excited about her having her first child and don't want anything to happen or even for her to worry about it if she hasn't had it.

update..she's not had it either so not risking it. head is engaged she found out today..does that mean the baby is soon...i can't remember!

absolutely best not to risk it.

The baby's head can engage 4-5 weeks before labour, or during labour itself, so isn't a good indication of when her baby is due.