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Original poster

DS has chickenpox and I am 9 months pregnant..................

23 replies

EmMcK · 22/11/2008 23:54

.............I am pretty sure that I had chickenpox as a child, but has anyone got any experience of what I should be doing since I am due to pop any moment? I know that the infectious period is until they scab over, would I have to keep the new baby away from DS if it came now, and is there any danger to the baby while it is still safely (?) in me?

OP posts:
MeMySonAndI · 22/11/2008 23:56

Two weeks incubation period. Chicken pox only infectious in the 2 weeks before it scabs over

MeMySonAndI · 22/11/2008 23:58

If it scabs over before you pop, there's nothing to worry about.

Original poster
EmMcK · 23/11/2008 00:02

Thanks MeMy. I shall avoid all labour inducing activities!! Do you know if the wee unborn one gets my immunity too?

OP posts:
mother3 · 23/11/2008 07:53

yes they do and if you breast feed the little baby will get all the imunities you have.Only trouble is when you have baby at the hospital where other new born babies are.Have a word with midwife see how things work out.Good luck.

guyFAwkesreQuiem · 23/11/2008 07:57

oh I can sympathise greatly with you - approx 6 weeks before my EDD - DS1 got Chickenpox, DS2 waited until DS1 had totally scabbed over before coming out with them too. DS3 was born nearly 3 weeks early - the day after DS2's last spot crusted over!!!!

onehitwonder · 23/11/2008 08:07

I think it would be worth googling this or giving NHS direct a call. I think they can give you an anti viral injection, which might be a good idea if you are not sure if you have had it or not.

Lizzylou · 23/11/2008 08:10

DS1 had chickenpox when I was pg with DS2 (I was about 7/8mths).
I was mortified as we'd been into the antenatal clinic at the hospital a few days before his spots came out and so had obviously been in contact with lots of pg women.
I phoned the clinic and they said not to worry.
I had had CP before, strangely DS2 has never caught it, despite being around lots of other children with CP at one time or another. I wonder if he got some sort of immunity.

So, don't worry, just keep on putting on the calamine lotion!

Weegle · 23/11/2008 08:10

I think you should be ok because the newborn will have your immunity and then if you breastfeed that will continue. However, the hospital are unlikely to let your DS in to the hospital unless they are certain he's not infectious - but give your midwife a ring to reassure yourself. Hope all ok

mackerel · 23/11/2008 08:12

I came home with newborn and DD had chickenpox. No problems if you have had it - they get immunity from your breastmilk apparently. Yr. child won't be allowed in hospital though.

CantSleepWontSleep · 23/11/2008 08:46

To contradict everyone else, the newborn doesn't get your immunity. A friend's ds had chickenpox when he was born, and was very ill.

I'm not sure what you can do except hope that you don't go into labour though.

PortAndLemon · 23/11/2008 08:52

Worth talking to your GP and/or midwife about this now. Advice is to consult GP if a baby under 4 weeks is exposed to chickenpox and it can't hurt for them to be prepared.

cluckyagain · 23/11/2008 09:21

Cantsleep - the baby has immunity IF the mum is immune AND she's fully BF. We had this problem (dd1 on day 3 of cp when dd2 born) and we had the hospital immunologists running about and ringing up 'centres of excellence' to check. There is always the possibility that the mum's immunity has not 'taken' with a bout of CP if course, which is probably what happened to you friend.

belgo · 23/11/2008 09:23

I agree with those who have said ask the advice of your GP. Newborn babies aren't always immune (even if they are breastfed) and it can be very dangerous for a newborn baby.

SquidgyBrain · 23/11/2008 11:13

I came into contact with a DR who had had chickenpox when I was in my 3rd trimester. I was contacted by the hospital as they had checked their recoreds (apparently this is one of the things they test for with your booking bloods) and out of the 1000s of women I was the only one whoe immunity was below where it needed to be (I also remeber having chicken pox as a child)

I was strongly advised to get the immunisation which is a blood product - which I did do.

My DS1 caught chicken pox when our DS2 was only 10 weeks old - he was fully BF and yes he got it - even with my immunity from the immunisation, and the antibodies in the milk. I was told that the 3rd trimester is a very dangerous time for the baby if mum gets chickenpox - mainly for delivery.

If it were me I would be phoning the maternity hospital and not accepting a it will be fine sort of awnser.

good luck!

cluckyagain · 24/11/2008 08:12

Can I just point out that I was only talking about the first month..once that's over, the baby is as non-immune as everybody else unfortunately.

littleducks · 24/11/2008 08:22

can you check with your mum if you had cp? were you planning on ex bfing?

i remember from school about passive immunity and another kind, basically there is a differnce in the type of immunity develpoed from an illness and from a vaccine

it might be worth giving your midwife a call but you should be fine so dont panic (labour inducing!)

littleducks · 24/11/2008 08:28

am surprised that after a month baby is not immune am bfing ds atm (8 months) and dd has cp, so he might have it next week

thegrowlygus · 24/11/2008 08:29

Speak to your midwife/GP - they can arrange a blood test to ensure you have immunity. If DS still infectious when you give birth/you are not immune you may need to have some immunoglobulin to protect baby. Neonatal chicken pox can be horrible.

littleducks · 24/11/2008 08:44

in fact i change my advice according to nhs you should see gp, if you have to take ds (dr may want to confirm it is cp) let them know prior to arriving so they can arrange a side room)

good luck and hope ds feels better soon

kiddiz · 24/11/2008 09:47

My two ds had chicken pox when I was pregnant with dd. I couldn't remember if I'd had it and neither could my Mum. I was about 28 weeks. I went to gp who told me not to worry and that it would be no problem even if I did catch it. I now know that he was absolutely wrong to tell me this. A good friend had cp when she was pregnant. Her baby was born with chicken pox, was extremely unwell at birth and has gone on to have all kinds of health problems as a result including having shingles at 6 months.
I was fine and didn't catch it so was most probably immune. I would check your immunity with your gp/midwife if I were you. Good luck

belgo · 24/11/2008 11:09

little-ducks - my dd1 was 16 months and bfing very very regularly when she caught chicken pox.

belgo · 24/11/2008 11:10

kiddiz - that's very dangerous advice from your GP, and how awful for your friend.

christywhisty · 24/11/2008 11:51

The dangerous time for babies to contract cp is in the first 3 months 5 days before birth and 2 days after.
Immunity given from breastfeeding is very overrated.

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