chicken pox and pregnancy

[icklekid]

Hi all,

I work in a school and they have just sent an email out saying confirmed cases of chicken pox and to make all those who are pregnant aware.

I've had chicken pox as a child and reading the nhs guidance here I don't think I need to worry. I only have 3 weeks before maternity leave but those 3 weeks are handover of leadership responsibilities and sending off all ks1 data will be very frustrating if can't do this...but surely I'm worrying over nothing!

You will have immunity if you had chickenpox as a child so no real need to worry

Ditto. I had CP as a child and DC1 got it when I was pregnant with DC2. My doctor asked if I had had it, when i said yes that was the end of the subject.

It's not unheard of to have it a second time as the virus mutates over time. Even I am vaccinated (never had it) but am wondering if I should 'top up' just to be safe. Can't do it now as am pregnant, but will do later.

I would say be safe rather than sorry - if you can then do avoid the children.

A gp/midwife can always do a blood test for you to check whether you have immunity.

This is my opinion (based on research I did for a similar situation).

If you have had cp as a child you are likely to be immune.

But people can get it again.

However since you work in a school there is evidence that people exposed to cp regularly (and I assume you have been over the years whilst working in the school) have their cp immunity 'topped up' whenever they are exposed to it.

So I would say given these above factors (and assuming that your immune system is not in any other way compromised) that you catching cp is a very low risk.