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Original poster

I want your opinion please ladies before I go ballistic....

74 replies

jmg1 · 01/05/2004 13:16

My son of 5 has come down with C Pox today, he is not feeling well and is at the very contagious stage.
I just nipped out for half an hour and my late partner's Witch of a Mother has taken him into the busy town centre for Lunch. Am I over reacting or is she totally oblivious to his welfare and any kids or adults around who haven't had C pox.

OP posts:
lou33 · 01/05/2004 13:17

She's oblivious Jmg, it's not you.

WideWebWitch · 01/05/2004 13:19

agree

Janh · 01/05/2004 13:19

Agree. Oblivious is putting it politely.

Angeliz · 01/05/2004 13:23

Totally oblivious!

(Also agree with Janh, that is putting it politely! though maybe she doesn't realise??!! )

essbee · 01/05/2004 13:24

Message withdrawn

BadHair · 01/05/2004 13:25

When ds2 had chicken pox he was getting soooo fed up being stuck in the house that I smuggled him to the swings. My reasoning was that if he was on a swing he would not be in close enough contact to spread his germs, and he would be in the open air anyway.
I guess this is not quite the same thing as your mil taking him out when he clearly felt unwell, or to an enclosed environment where there were lots of other children nearby, though.

Original poster
jmg1 · 01/05/2004 13:26

I have sent her a text saying 'are you out of your fg mind get my son back here now'.
My neighbour has just told me that C Pox can be very bad for pregnant women is this true?
I heard of a man who had it recently and apparently he was very ill for four months and nearly died. I am sure this is rare but still, a bit of consideration for other people wouldn't go a miss!

OP posts:
Angeliz · 01/05/2004 13:29

That'll tell her then

I think it's dangerous in very early and very late pregnancy. I'm sure someone will know a bit more but yes it is risky at some stages of pregnancy. Hope it doesn't get too heated!

gothicmama · 01/05/2004 13:37

Tell her off it's not fair on your child or you

Batters · 01/05/2004 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BadHair · 01/05/2004 13:38

When my dses had C Pox last month my mum asked one of the Paediatricians (she works in a hospital) if it was dangerous to pregnant women, as she works with a woman who is about 5 months pregnant and she'd been in contact with my dses. Paediatrician said no.

wobblyknicks · 01/05/2004 13:39

That's totally unbelieveable - you're not overreacting at all!! What a stupid thing to do - she should know much better than that!!!

essbee · 01/05/2004 13:39

Message withdrawn

gingernut · 01/05/2004 13:40

Yes, CP can be dangerous in pregnancy. I'm afraid she has been very irresponsible taking him out quite apart from the fact that he is probably feeling very unwell at this stage .

hmb · 01/05/2004 13:44

Found this on chicken pox and pregnancy

'Chicken Pox can caus serious problems during pregnancy, especially when infection occurs early in the pregnancy or at the time of delivery. If it occurs early in pregnancy, several types of fetal abnormalities, including limb abnormalities, scarring of internal organs and neurological damage can occur. Pregnant women who suspect exposure to the disease should immediately contact their healthcare provider. '

So your MIL has been very silly, let alone the fact that your ds is feeling ill

fairyfly · 01/05/2004 13:44

here
I wouldn't worry too much about pregnancy, but i would be furious as she should have asked

tamum · 01/05/2004 13:44

The Paediatrician was wrong, BadHair, and should have known better. It can be very dangerous for a pregnant woman to catch chickenpox before 20 weeks and from 36 weeks on.

jmg1, you are right to be appalled. Your poor ds.

Jimjams · 01/05/2004 13:50

I think she was wrong to do this, but it may be generational. I can remember very clearly being off school with measles (I was feeling fine but still in the quarantine period) and a frined's mum took me into town (along with her dd who had whooping cough). I can remember putting my hands on the deli counter and her saying "oh for goodness sake get your hands off the counter you've got measles"- and then looking at the woman behind the counter and raising her eyes to her - and the woman laughing. I don't think people worried so much about childhood illnesses then.

Re pregnancy- my GP was very unconcerned when I was exposed. The main danger is in late pregnancy (which I was) as the newborn can catch it. It generally isn't thought to be a huge problem as the majority of adults are immune. Not all are though obviously.

I would be cross but it may just be a generational thing so she won't understand why you are cross iyswim.

wobblyknicks · 01/05/2004 13:57

But correct me if I'm wrong but if you just nipped out for half an hour, it sounds to me like she waited till you'd gone and then went and took ds out because she knew you'd say no. That doesn't sound like generational differences - that just sounds OTT.

libb · 01/05/2004 13:58

GorginaA is the expert on chicken pox and pregnancy at the moment - she has had a horrible time of it!

I hope, as JimJams says, it just a generation thing and she doesn't realise . . .

essbee · 01/05/2004 14:00

Message withdrawn

coppertop · 01/05/2004 14:00

I'm sorry but I would have gone mad too. I haven't had chicken pox yet and I understand that the effects are far worse in adults than children. Then of course there are all the pregnant women out there, some of whom may not even realise that they ARE pregnant yet.

How does she expect him to be out eating lunch (and no doubt she'll expect him to be on his best behaviour) when he no doubt feels like sh*te??

twiglett · 01/05/2004 14:02

message withdrawn

wobblyknicks · 01/05/2004 14:02

My parents (and IL's) are about 40 years older than me so there's huge generational differences and they think I'm crazy about some of my views on what should and shouldn't be done with dd but they still know better than to go against what I want for her.

wobblyknicks · 01/05/2004 14:07

....on things that I feel strongly about or that are important like this is anyway - on minor things they do what they like!!!