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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Slapped cheek and pregnancy? Bit worried now...

12 replies

AlphaBeta82 · 19/10/2012 08:49

A colleague in my office is developing signs of slapped cheek after spending time with her grandson who is confirmed to have the disease. I didn't realise this was a problem until she told us how worying it is for her daughter as she is pregnant 7-8 weeks (same as me) and has traces of the disease in her blood, which apparently put you at a high risk of abnormalities in the baby?
I haven't really told anyone at work and not sure what to do?
I haven't had this virus. Am I at risk??

OP posts:
usernamegoeshere · 19/10/2012 08:56

I believe most people are immune to slapped cheek as get it as a child, visit your doctor & get a blood test to check your immunity. As far as I know if you were working at a school you would be sent home straight away until your immunity was proven or they knew the outbreak was contained...

You should really tell your manager that you are pregnant & concerned and leave for the day (yes... at 8.49am!) if you phone your GP & explain I am sure they fit you in this morning to have a test.

Nicknamenotavailableeither · 19/10/2012 08:59

Ooh, not to try to worry you but I have had huge problems with this during this pregnancy...

I am a teacher and was off work for 4ish weeks from school due to outbreak in my year group. I had to have an initial blood test to see if I already had immunity (apparently about 60% of adults do). Had to wait 2 weeeks for the results. Results came back saying I had no immunity. Had second lot of blood tests. After waiting another 2 weeks they came back saying I had caught parvovirus (proper term for slap cheek).

Cue the nightmare! I have had scans and appointments with consultant every 2 weeks during pregnancy (from about 22 weeks). Slap cheek is a problem as it can cause anemia in the baby, which can cause big problems. I'm sure you've googled it...

Lots of stuff I found said, oh don't worry, most people immune. Problems start if you are not immune. Basically you NEED to find out if you are immune or not. Go to go today. The possible problems are horrid.

If you have any questions, just ask.

Nicknamenotavailableeither · 19/10/2012 09:02

Ooh, not to try to worry you but I have had huge problems with this during this pregnancy...

I am a teacher and was off work for 4ish weeks from school due to outbreak in my year group. I had to have an initial blood test to see if I already had immunity (apparently about 60% of adults do). Had to wait 2 weeeks for the results. Results came back saying I had no immunity. Had second lot of blood tests. After waiting another 2 weeks they came back saying I had caught parvovirus (proper term for slap cheek).

Cue the nightmare! I have had scans and appointments with consultant every 2 weeks during pregnancy (from about 22 weeks). Slap cheek is a problem as it can cause anemia in the baby, which can cause big problems. I'm sure you've googled it...

Lots of stuff I found said, oh don't worry, most people immune. Problems start if you are not immune. Basically you NEED to find out if you are immune or not. Go to gp today. The possible problems are horrid.

If you have any questions, just ask.

AlphaBeta82 · 19/10/2012 09:47

Thank you. I have come to 'work from home' for the day and have spoken to my GP who wants to run a blood test today. Will just have to wait and see I suppose.

OP posts:
Sproglet · 19/10/2012 10:19

On a postitive note, I caught slapp cheek at 9 weeks pregnant, had to have weekly scans for 12 weeks after first contact with infection, now 33 weeks with a healthy baby, have to go for a growth scan next week due to catching the virus but I am confident everything is fine Smile.

Nicknamenotavailableeither · 19/10/2012 10:22

Yep, I would ditto Sproglet too. I am currently 35+5 and although it has been a nightmare, the scans haven't shown up any probs so far. You just need to be aware of the risks I think!

AlphaBeta82 · 19/10/2012 12:23

the Dr didn't even know what slapped cheek was or why it would be a risk and tried to send me away. Luckily bumped into midwife at surgery who said there has been an outbreak in this area and wanted me to be screened straight away. She also gave Dr a good lecture about pregnant women knowing their own bodies and what risks were and he should listen to them! Smile

OP posts:
Clarella · 19/10/2012 13:02

Similar issues for me as a teacher of sen - wasn't immune but ended up being off work from 9 till 21 weeks as it was strangely prevalent this year (never come across it in 11 years teaching, not immune, but thankfully didn't catch it - ended up having 5 tests in total) as it is notoriously difficult to both know who has it plus the infectious period is before the rash occurs. Lots of good info/ advice on the health protection agency website.

The waiting for results is a little frustrating, but remember you could be immune (some children and most adults show no symptoms or are unaware they'd had it) and if you are not but have caught it (the second test will show if you have or not) there will be careful monitoring of baby. I think there's only a 1 in 4 chance of it passing to baby if not immune and if you've caught it - however, for me probably the constant unknowns and ifs and waiting - and every single medical person having a completely different view about how seriously to take it at any point in pregnancy - was excruciatingly stressful.

Get the test NOW, wait to see what the result is and take it from there - post again on this thread in a few weeks if you find out you're not immune. If your collegue has a rash and been feeling ill, she may have already passed germs on, when rash shows they are no longer infectious.

This was why it was so hard at school - the kids aren't that poorly sometimes so are at school with a sniffle but may not get rash till about a 4-7 days later, and there was exactly 31 days between a couple of known confirmed cases in one class (rash) and then a couple more in the same class. It's a similar level of infectious rate as chicken pox, but must be taken seriously as the rash is similar to rubella and they need to rule it out (though should have had rubella immunity test at booking in).

Slapped cheek disease is not supposed to cause abnormalities (unlike rubella and measles) but there's a slightly increased risk of miscarriage if virus is passed to baby before 20 weeks (remember though it incubates for a while) or makes baby aneamic, worst case would fetal hydrops hence the scans, and I believe they would give a little blood transfusion in utero. In essence its just a matter of starting from the test and many women find they are immune.

Hope this helps - I found knowledge was power esp with different medical opinions and awareness (even my gps had to do their research about it, one was even a professor and found all the ins and outs a muddle!)

Take care xx

milkyjo · 19/10/2012 13:02

Glad its getting sorted and you have a good proactive midwife! I had a GP question me at 8 weeks pregnant why I was taking folic acid supplements! I mean FFS some of these doctors need to do extra training considering they are working as 'family' doctors in the community! I work in the NHS and am lucky to work with some pretty good doctors so I don't want to generalise but surely this sort of thing could be quite damaging to those people who just accept what a GP tells them?! Sorry for hijack and rant xx

Clarella · 19/10/2012 13:23

Milkyjo - in my case all the mixed opinions from everyone around me including work collegues, friends, mum (mega cautious!) Hpa, union resulted in enough stress to tip me into severe anxiety and depression (admittedly along with very a unstable thyroid - at 35 wks only just got it to a good level and now feel well, of which symptons are anxiety and low mood anyway, plus was worrying re baby for a while).

I'm fine now but looking back it was the confusion and points of view rather than facts that were damaging. I'm not even going that far as a test 6 weeks ago came back confusing - they couldn't work out if I was immune or not, even though I knew I wasn't- gp said get it again in 4 weeks, nurse called immunologist who just said do it, hospital consultant said no need, they've just messed up the test, you're clear for recent infection (as I thought) but lovely mw at routine appt said to just get it done. I haven't bothered finding out if ok actually as went through the motions to 'tick that box' and also had a 'reassurance' growth scan for thyroid stuff anyway which was all good.

I feel a bit cross though that due to all this and an inability to deal with the anxiety they won't let me go to the lovely midwife led unit - my thyroid is now ok, as is my anxiety but they're worried about me emotionally after the birth - tbh the birth is the bit I feel most confident about and always have done! I know it is gonna hurt, I know I may have to resort to plans b and c, I know there could be any sort of issue etc - almost bloody looking forward to it simply cos at least I know it will be happening at some point!

(sorry double thread hijack!)

themammy73 · 19/10/2012 15:37

My school-aged children caught this back in early April (luckily probably just days before I became pregnant) and I did catch it off them, as did my poor Mum who was on a visit, and in adults it presents as more joint pain and stiffness in the extremities (mine was mostly in my wrists and hands) rather than getting the traditional rash that children get. Just in case you are keeping an eye out for symptoms. This was about 10-14 days after the rash had appeared on the children's cheeks. Hope you don't get it and everything goes smoothly for you.

debsKirby58 · 18/05/2014 20:27

we are all so upset my daughter has just miscarried for the fourth time her first pregnancy lasted for 24 weeks she got an infection and the baby died she then had another one at seven weeks ,she then had a molar pregnancy and the needed laser treatment for abnormal cells she has been trying for a baby for 10 years then early this year to every ones amazement discovered she had become pregnant with no fertility help everything was going well baby was due October until things changed on wed 14th may 2014 she went into premature labour at 16 weeks the doctors feel that she may have miscarried due to being in contact with a child with slapped cheek please please if you know your child has this inform schools play groups family and anyone who comes into contact with your child my daughter is a hairdresser and comes into contact with children having their hair cut every day as a family this has left us all totally shocked and my poor daughter a broken woman once more please speak up many thanks debs

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