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Original poster

What would you do- chicken pox edition

26 replies

becomingfall · 04/02/2025 12:43

So I’m 37 weeks pregnant and due to have an elective c section in 2 weeks at 39 weeks.

Weve just had a notification from our 16 month old’s nursery to say they have a few confirmed chicken pox cases. None of them are in the baby room where my son is, currently just the older kids, they’ve said they’ll keep me updated but he’s due in on Thurs.

We don’t think my partner has ever had chickenpox (although his mum doesn’t half talk rubbish 95% of the time so I couldn’t say for certain whether I believe he’s never had them).

He goes 2 full days a week, obviously it’s expensive & paid for in advance, plus he gets 2 fun days of activities that he’s just not really getting at home currently with me being so pregnant and having such horrendous PGP.

Do I send him in and pray to the chicken pox gods he doesn’t catch them or just suck it up and keep him home for 2 weeks? Thinking it would need to be this week and next due to the potential 14 day incubation period. He’s a super healthy, energetic toddler whose generally got over nursery illness pretty quickly so I’m more concerned about him giving it to his dad and him getting really unwell/being unable to be present for our c section. I’ve definitely had them as a child and will breastfeed so feel confident newborn will have a level of immunity.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Pixilicious1 · 04/02/2025 12:57

Keep him home

Onlyvisiting · 04/02/2025 13:01

becomingfall · 04/02/2025 12:43

So I’m 37 weeks pregnant and due to have an elective c section in 2 weeks at 39 weeks.

Weve just had a notification from our 16 month old’s nursery to say they have a few confirmed chicken pox cases. None of them are in the baby room where my son is, currently just the older kids, they’ve said they’ll keep me updated but he’s due in on Thurs.

We don’t think my partner has ever had chickenpox (although his mum doesn’t half talk rubbish 95% of the time so I couldn’t say for certain whether I believe he’s never had them).

He goes 2 full days a week, obviously it’s expensive & paid for in advance, plus he gets 2 fun days of activities that he’s just not really getting at home currently with me being so pregnant and having such horrendous PGP.

Do I send him in and pray to the chicken pox gods he doesn’t catch them or just suck it up and keep him home for 2 weeks? Thinking it would need to be this week and next due to the potential 14 day incubation period. He’s a super healthy, energetic toddler whose generally got over nursery illness pretty quickly so I’m more concerned about him giving it to his dad and him getting really unwell/being unable to be present for our c section. I’ve definitely had them as a child and will breastfeed so feel confident newborn will have a level of immunity.

What would you do?

Don't send him. Ask your dr/midwife but my understanding is that chicken pox can be quite dangerous to pregnant women, and don't rely on not being able to catch it twice. It might be uncommon but my sister has had it twice, once as a small child then again from my neices in her 20s and it was pretty nasty

TickingAlongNicely · 04/02/2025 13:04

Is he old enough for a vaccination? They aren't the cheapest, but CP can rumble on in a nursery for weeks

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boulevardofbrokendreamss · 04/02/2025 13:05

I'd keep him at home

CarefulN0w · 04/02/2025 13:08

Would your partner consider vaccination privately? It could reduce the risk of him being ill when you need him most?

MummytoE · 04/02/2025 13:08

keep him at home with you . Will be nice to spend some time just the two of you before baby arrives. If he ends up getting it then you end up getting it it could be really dangerous and not sure how that would work with going in to maternity ward etc

user1491396110 · 04/02/2025 13:40

Definately keep him home. My 2 (nearly 6 and nearly 1) were so ill with them. I couldn't have managed with a newborn.

remaininghopeful23 · 04/02/2025 16:01

I'd keep him home purely to keep your husband from being exposed. If your husband gets it he won't be allowed in the hospital with you.
Your booking bloods will confirm if you are immune, and if you are your baby will be very unlikely to catch it due to inherited immunity. So weirdly enough it would probably be better for your toddler to get it when the baby is a newborn, before their inherited immunity wears off, as it only lasts a couple of months at most.

Groundhogday2025 · 04/02/2025 16:12

I would keep him off and get DH and toddler vaccinated. It’s expensive but at a minimum then DH should be vaccinated as chicken pox is potentially far more dangerous for him than the toddler.
After a bout of HFM from nursery that barely raised my toddler’s temperature but disturbed our sleep and absolutely FLOORED my DH I “noped” the hell out of Chicken Pox and got toddler vaccinated. Me and DH have both had chicken pox but I couldn’t cope with chicken pox that was making the rounds at nursery off the back of HFM.

Am805463 · 04/02/2025 16:15

I’d keep him home but I’d get him and your dh vaccinated asap. I got my son done at Boots.

SarahLHs · 04/02/2025 16:17

Your partner should get vaccinated asap. My DH didn't have chicken pox as a child but his mum didn't tell him. When our children caught it last year he got it too and was very unwell, couldn't leave the house for 3 weeks and ended up in hospital with stomach issues at one point.

PotaytoPotahhto · 04/02/2025 16:18

Chicken pox vaccine asap. It can prevent the severity of the infection if he’s already been exposed.

confusedlots · 04/02/2025 16:20

I wouldn't send him in. And I'd also look at getting him vaccinated, although could be too late for this time.

itsmeits · 04/02/2025 16:28

Keep him home - hate to say it he may already have the virus.
I had to have a blood test in 3rd pregnancy as my 2nd caught them. Test showed my immunity had kicked in.
3rd still hasn't had them and we have had a few break outs in the area over the years

Vinvertebrate · 04/02/2025 16:34

Keep him home. CP has taken out DS’ entire class before (not at same time) and is an extremely infectious bastard. If not too late, get both DH and DC vaccinated. I’m another one who got it twice as a kid.

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 04/02/2025 16:37

If there have been a few cases over the last couple of weeks then it’s probably too late. Incubation period is up 1 - 3 weeks so if the kids in the other room have siblings in your kid’s room …

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 04/02/2025 16:41

I would keep him home and arrange to get him vaccinated.

jimbort · 04/02/2025 16:48

I got tested when I was pregnant with my 3rd as I'd never had chicken pox and was found to be immune to it. Not sure if your midwife would be willing to test your husband to put your mind at ease. I was really worried when I had been exposed to it but it set my mind at rest. I'd still probably not put your child to nursery if I was you. Hope all goes well and he's immune.

OtterMummy2024 · 04/02/2025 18:47

Single dose of chicken pox vaccine is very effective in adults, even if your DH has had chicken pox as a child, it will boost his antibody levels and reduce his chance of shingles as an older adult.

I would also get your 16 month old vaccinated PDQ. One dose is 94% protective after 15 months. Two doses 98-99%.

Overthebow · 04/02/2025 18:48

Get your DS and your DH vaccinated.

Thewholeplaceglitters · 04/02/2025 18:52

My 8 week old ebf baby got very, very ill with CP when he caught it from his older sibling - we were in hospital for over a week and he still has long term / lifelong health complications from it (he’s 11 now). So I really wouldn’t rely on residual immunity.

I’d keep your dc home and arrange vaccination for him & your DH asap. If you’re not going to do vaccination though, you might as well just keep sending him in as he’ll have to catch it at some point.

ohfook · 04/02/2025 22:10

If you can stretch to it, get your partner and kid vaccinated.
If you can't, just keep him home.

JollyGreenSnake · 04/02/2025 23:16

Get DH and DS vaccinated.

CantStopBuyingSeeds · 04/02/2025 23:27

Not worth the risk with you being pregnant. Apparently to I had CP as a very new newborn and it was hell for all involved and I was by all accounts, very sick.

CantStopBuyingSeeds · 04/02/2025 23:27

TickingAlongNicely · 04/02/2025 13:04

Is he old enough for a vaccination? They aren't the cheapest, but CP can rumble on in a nursery for weeks

The vaccination doesn't stop you from carrying it and passing it on though. CP can be deadly in newborns - I know from personal experience as I nearly died from it as a newborn myself