Help! Chickenpox in pregnancy

[MrsDandBaby]

My daughter (21mths) has just come out in spots having been a bit under the weather for past few days.

Problem is I'm 28 wks pregnant and have no immunity to chickenpox (was tested in last pregnancy)

I'm just waiting for the doctor to call me back to let me know what to do next - has anyone else had this experience or know what risks are? Did you get chickenpox?

Thanks

the risks appear to be mainly close to birth and at the beginning of the pregnancy so you should be fine. good that you called the gp, though, s/he will advise you further.

Calling your GP was the right thing to do. I also don't have any immunity against chicken pox so I'm on constant high alert.

Hope the GP gets back to you soon.

Glad you called your GP, please keep calling them and also contact your midwife. I have 'immunity' to chickenpox, but I contracted it from DD and sadly miscarried at 11+1 last year. I am now 26wks pregnant and DD's nursery has a chickenpox outbreak; I had another bloodtest just last week and again I am 'immune'. Because I show immunity, I cannot get additional treatment and I have to wait it out now and hope that I haven't been exposed and contract it. My problem is, I show immunity to chickenpox, but I can still contract it, as I sadly did last year.

Firstly, 28wks is good - anywhere beyond 20wks and before 36wks is the 'safest' time to contract chickenpox. Secondly, the GP should arrange a VZV test for you immediately - it is a simple blood test and the results can take as little as a day (my blood was taken at 11.30 on Thursday and I had the result by Friday evening). The test does two things - firstly it will diagnose whether you have any long-term immunity to chickenpox and, secondly, it will also say whether you have been exposed recently. As you already know that you have no immunity to chickenpox, I believe that the next course of action is they will begin VZIG immunoglobulin treatment - this is to reduce the severity of the attack and to also reduce the risk of chickenpox affecting your baby. The midwife said, had I not shown immunity to chickenpox, that this would have been the course of action they would have taken.

Please try not to worry and I hope your GP is able to reassure you.

Hey

My 4 year old had chicken pox over christmas and i fell ill too. My GP tested me and luckily i was immune. If your not, there is a vaccination you can have to protect you and your unborn baby. I think the risks are that if you have chicken pox there is a good chance your baby inside you can catch them too and can lead to problems in and after the birth. Speak to your GP and midwife as they should treat this as urgent.

Good luck in the rest of your pregnancy! I'm 22 + 4 x

I had chicken pox in pregnancy and had a perfectly normal baby.

The main worries are early pregnancy; and late on. The last thing they want is you to go into labour whilst you have chicken pox.

Also be very wary for complications, so watch out for feeling very unwell (rather than just depressed at being spotty and unable to go anywhere), high temperature (can bring on labour), shortness of breath and so on.

Don't panic, but do take care of yourself (and use bicarbonate of soda baths if you do get it). I'm sure your GP will soon be back to you with specific advice from the hospital.

Thanks everyone - am still feeling fine.

after various calls with the doctor yesterday have ended up having two huge jabs on immunoglobin which should help me not get chickenpox or to get it more mildly.

Fingers crossed i avoid it and will make a mental note to get vaccinated once this baby arrives