Chickenpox and Pregnant Friend

[RadioGaGoo]

My LO's nursery has had a case of chicken pox. My LO has been up all night with a high temperature, so I am not going to rule chickenpox out. I don't know if I have had CP as a child. I am due to meet up with heavily pregnant friend (without LO) - I'm thinking I should avoid this now, but not sure if it's direct contact only that's the issue. Advice welcomed!

I would ask your friend if they had chicken pox and explain the situation. Whether you’ve had it or not doesn’t matter as long as your friend has as they’ll be immune. But you may just want to explain it all to her anyway and give her the choice to re-schedule. Some people are anxious about these things anyway and might just want to avoid taking any chances even if there’s no way they could get sick.

It's only an issue if she's never had chicken pox. Actually, if she has, it's beneficial for her to be exposed to chicken pox, as it boosts her own production of antibodies, which cross the placenta.

Rearrange the date. Having had chicken pox in the past is no guarantee of immunity, hence the vaccination not being 100%. You can just let her decide if you want. I have had chicken pox but I was still very grateful to a friend who alerted me to an outbreak at a school we were going to a playgroup at when I was pregnant. I chose not to go to be on the safe side. Your friend may feel the same.

My two eldest kids had chicken pox when I was pregnant with my 3rd. The midwife told me it was fine as long as I'd had it before. If I hadn't ever had chicken pox, I'd have to leave the family home until they weren't contagious!!