Can a baby develop immunity to chickenpox in the womb?

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Just a thought…

When I was approx 20 weeks pregnant with DC2, DC1 caught chickenpox. I had it as a child so obviously didn’t catch it but was exposed to it so presumably my body had an immune response.

Fast forward to a couple of years later and DC2 hasn’t had chickenpox yet. About 6 weeks ago we spent all day with a friend and her 2 year old who developed chickenpox the next day. DC2 was in very close contact for hours, sharing toys etc. so obviously I assumed he would catch it but he hasn’t, and I think it’s too late now.

I was wondering whether it was possible that he could have developed some sort of immunity by being exposed to antibodies via my immune response in utero?

I’m sure I’ll find out in time… just something I’ve been pondering on! I’ve tried googling but all that comes up is information about catching chickenpox while pregnant.

I don’t think so.

He'll have got some temporary immunity that will have lasted while/if you BF but not beyond that. Or he's had a really mild case that you haven't noticed. Or he's going to catch it when he's a bit older when it's most inconvenient. Too soon to tell.

I had the same situation when DC2 was in utero. He did catch it when he was about 6 but fairly mildly.

Thanks. I breastfed him for 15 months and stopped 5 months ago 🤷🏼‍♀️ We were talking about maybe getting him the vaccine just to avoid the inconvenience but now I don’t know whether to bother or not.

I'm 40 and have never had it. Was exposed to it many many times as a child, we did the whole "sleepover parties" etc. When I was pregnant with dc2 I was exposed to it twice, both times had to have jabs.

The doctor was blown away I'd not had it, insisted I had and couldn't remeber or "had it mild" so tested me for immunity and lo, I have never had it. Both my kids have, when very young.

Turns out my dad's never had it either. Maybe some people just can't actually catch it.

I had the same situation with DC2, OP, and also wondered whether he had in utero immunity. He is 6 now and despite being exposed to it on a few occasions, hasn't caught it yet.

Eldest DC had it when I was in the early stages of pregnancy and despite DC2 being exposed to it countless times at nursery and school he didn't contract it until age 6 when DC3 got it. I always wondered if he had some sort of immunity to it that lasted for a while due to early exposure.

I've never had chicken pox and I'm almost 40, my siblings had it when we were children and DD had it as a tot.

I've had cold sores from a young age and it's the same virus so I always assume I got immunity from that, or will die from it when I'm 90. Ofcourse chicken pox vaccination is a thing now and I keep meaning to look into it.

No… but some kids seem to skip Chicken Pox entirely, and think they’re immune. Then they get it as an adult and are really, really ill. My friend caught chicken pox from her 2 y/o and ended up with lesions in her mouth and down her throat, and also all over her other most sensitive areas as well as the visible parts of her body. She was hospitalized and required antiviral medications because she couldn’t swallow and they were concerned that it would spread to her eyes.

DH is 44 & hasn't had it. His DBs had it whilst his mum was pregnant with him; & despite being round lots as a child, never got it.
DC (10 & 6) haven't caught it either - again both been around cases at nursery & school & never caught it. Planning to get them vaccinated soon though.

In the 60s, I couldn't catch German Measles - it was pre-vaccination, and there was good knowledge of the risks of catching it when pregnant so my mother determined I should be exposed at every opportunity eg play dates, sleepovers, spending all day every day with 2 oof my brothers at a time when they got it, sent to cousins etc all to no avail - so when the vaccination came out, I was about 13, and was sent down to the GP for it.
So quite possible he may just not catch it.

I allegedly never had it but my mum was not the most observant parent (!). I don’t have any scars though, not a single one and I generally scar very easily as I have EDS. An antibody test in my 20s proved I had had it and was immune. Ex DP never had it as a child despite being exposed multiple times including from his sister when they were very young. He caught it from our child when child was 12 months old and was not well with it! It’s all a bit mysterious to me how it happens.

Apparently some children can have it so mildly that you don't notice. Perhaps they only have one or two spots so you think it’s an insect bite. At the same time as they have a slight temperature and you put it down to teething.

My toddler had chicken pox really badly, he was covered with spots, all over his face and body, through his hair etc. . And yet my 4 year old ( who was of course playing with him) all the time never caught it.

They develop passive immunity in utero due to your antibodies crossing the placenta, but that will have waned by now. However, they might have had really mild chicken pox at some point since then.

Thanks for all the responses! Since then we’ve had numerous letters home from nursery saying it’s going round and he’s still not caught it as far as we’re aware. A bit annoying really because I’d rather he had it while he was little, we’re going to end up having to get him the vaccine at this rate!

It's not the same virus, they are both members of the herpes virus family so they are related but not the same.