mums with toddlers, how do you cope with toddler illness in pregnancy?

[LornaLouisa]

I suffered from anxiety with my first pregnancy and I'm fairly relaxed right now however there's a worry that I'm hoping you can reassure me on and I'll manage to stop my brain obsessing over it for the next 6 months till no2 arrives.

My DS is due to start nursery soon, and I will still be pregnant when he does, currently he rarely gets sick and even if he does then he recovers really fast but nursery I'm expecting he'll be surrounded by lots of new bugs and be bringing them home, what about stuff like chicken pox? is it dangerous? I don't want to vaccinate him against CP as I'd like him to have it at some point, but what if it's while I'm pregnant? or that other one the slapped cheek one?

What do you do? I didn't even get sick once while I was pg with my first...terrified of getting sick with 2nd, or not being able to be around my toddler when he's sick

I'm pregnant with my second and having similar worries at the moment. My DD (3) has just started preschool and I've been worrying about her catching illnesses that are dangerous in pregnancy.

I don't think chicken pox is considered dangerous provided you've had it yourself. Slapped cheek is dangerous in the second trimester IIRC.

I honestly don't know what the answer is, other than to hope that our children don't catch these illnesses until later. Then, of course, you'll have the worry of your newborn catching something when they're small and vulnerable

I really sympathise.

I have had CP myself so that's a big relief if that's the case.

I guess I could speak to nursery staff and ask to be informed if any kids have slapped cheek? Then I could pull him out while it's going around? Would they think I'm mad? Is this OTT? Is it responsible or just anxiety talking?

Thanks! so nice to know I'm not alone in this worry, at least it's not an irrational one by that measure, which in some ways is reassuring as it means I'm not back to square one with anxiety.

Id have a word with the nursery. They should be very well up on which illnesses pregnant women shouldn't get for staff protection purposes. I've not heard anyone in my area having had Slapped Cheek, maybe they can let you know if that's likely at all. You just need to figure out a plan; it's not knowing the danger + not knowing what to do that makes people anxious.

Speaking to the nursery is the best you can do really. It's not fun, so far this pregnancy I have had a vomiting virus, hand foot and mouth and a chest infection, thanks to nursery bugs, combined with pregnancy induced reduced immunity and sleep deprivation from being up all night when dd is sick. Last pregnancy I didn't really get any bugs, and had as much sleep as I wanted. I'm struggling. Just want it to be over.

Most adults should be immune to slapped cheek surely? All 3 of mine have had it & not passed on to me.

I was exposed to CP while pregnant with ds1 having never had it myself, but I was immune anyway.

Our nursery generally do an email or sign up on the notice board if the kiddies have anything dangerous to pregnant women (eg chicken pox - though if you've had it, you'll be immune anyway). Hope that's reassuring (a bit!)
My Ds caught cp just days after our bfp. My mum said I had had cp in childhood but as she'd said it was very mild, and I was aware there are some viruses that imitate cp, I popped to the gp for a blood test and it revealed I wasn't immune. It was no problem, they arranged immunoglobulins for me and I had them that afternoon, didn't catch chicken pox and we were all fine!
Really hope you can stop worrying and enjoy your pregnancy! Obviously watch out for the things that can be harmful and seek medical help if needed, but remember when it comes to coughs and colds etc, you are building up your immunity and therefore baby's when it comes out(especially f you are breastfeeding) - if you think of it as every cold you catch now is one your newborn won't, that might cheer you up!

Chicken pox is ok as long as you have had. I was about 3 months pregnant when DD got it. My MW said you can get your immunity checked by your GP if you are worried (I didn't but you might want to put your mind at rest). Nursery should alert you if there are contagious illnesses going round. Ours puts up a sign saying there have been x number of cases of chicken pox in this room. My DD has been going to nursery for over 2yrs so we are used to these germs by now, so I am more worried about the germs she will bring home and give our newborn in a few weeks.

If you had chicken pox its fine, same as if your around someone with shingles, as seems to be alot at the moment you will be fine and baby.

With slap cheek Pregnant women without immunity. Parvovirus B19 infection can increase the risk of a miscarriage because the virus can cause severe anaemia in the unborn child. The overall risk of miscarriage after infection during pregnancy is thought to be less than 5%

Also Slap cheek is most common in 6 to 20 year old children.

So stop worrying enjoy your pregnancy and let your little one enjoy nursery :)

that was ment to be 10 not 20 lol

I had my immunity for chicken pox checked when in early pregnancy, they just need a blood sample so nothing too difficult-it came back that I was immune, which was lucky as my toddler caught CP when I was about 5 months pregnant. It was nice to have the reassurance that I was immune as not everyone is just because they've had CP before and also because I was exposed to it quite a lot, just because I hang out with toddlers a lot more now!

Could you ask your GP for the same test?