Being around kids with chicken pox

[Bellabelloo]

I just had a message from a friend who is coming to stay saying her kids have chicken pox. I am 8 weeks pregnant but had chicken pox when I was young. Does that mean I will be fine? Thanks.

My 4 year old has chicken pox right now, hospital consultant told me I should be fine as I've had it however there is a slight chance of getting it and I should let them know asap if I show signs.

I'm not sure I would expose myself unless necessary tbh and I think its a bit weird for her to bring sick kids to stay with someone.

Thanks for your reply. She doesn't know I am pregnant. It's an annual thing that we plan for every summer. They live miles away and come and stay for 5 days and we have loads of stuff planned. This has been booked in since last summer! Last year another friend's kids had chickenpox, but that was fine, so think she's assuming the same. I really don't want to tell them that I am pregnant and wasn't sure if it was dangerous.... Hmmmm.... not sure what to do. Maybe I'll speak to my GP.

My midwife told me last week that there is no risk of you have already had chicken pox. I asked because my 3 year old is the only kid in the area that hasn't had them and it seemed likely that she would get them now I'm pregnant.

There's minimum risk if you've had it before, however it is rarely possible to catch it twice.

How soon are they coming to stay? I'd want to tell them to wait until everything is scabbed over, then they won't be contagious anymore. Make up an excuse if you have to!

This info is very helpful www.babycentre.co.uk/a536352/chickenpox-in-pregnancy

I wouldn't risk it personally but I tend to be OTT during pregnancies. Congratulations btw

Thanks. That article seems to suggest it is OK. Agh! What a dilemma. I'll have to fess up if I tell them to stay away but I really, really don't want to tell anyone yet. But will obviously do what is best for my baby. I will check with my clinic (although they are a bit useless!). Thanks everyone.

Whatever about you probably being immune, what kind of a holiday is that for everyone if her kids have to stay cooped up in your house until they are no longer contagious. Unless they are going to be beyond the contagious stage? I assume she won't be taking public transport or taking them anywhere with other people unless they have scabbed over?

No, we are in a house on the beach in Cornwall and they drive down. 2 of the kids last year had chicken pox. They will be playing in the garden (weather permitting!). She's very aware off not taking them out while they're infectious, so we wouldn't go out with the kids, but she obviously doesn't know my situation and that it's different from last year.

That's fair enough. Hope they are better quicker but as relaxed and all as I am about these things, I wouldn't be happy to be in the direct company of poxey kids while early stages pregnant (even though I've had it) except my own kids. If I was you I'd find out when they started breaking out, work out when they'd be no longer contagious and hold off going to Cornwall myself till they were in the safe stages.

I think if you see your GP they can do a test to see if you have immunity which would put your mind at ease potentially?

I honestly wouldn't mind if a pregnant friend asked me not to bring my poxy child. But then maybe that's because I'm the kind of person that doesn't take infectious children anywhere... Old-fashioned, I know.

My DD's spots broke out on the Thursday and she was ok to go nursery the following Friday so just over a week, and she had a really bad case, they started scabbing over quite quickly. So chances are they may not be contagious by the time you see them anyway. One of the nursery workers was Pregnant and it spread around the nursery like wild fire but she was cleared to work because she had had it. I think it depends on how you had it, I had a very mild case so my body didn't build up an immunity which is why I got it a second time.

I work with a lot of children and I was given a blood test when informed that one had chicken pox to check my immunity as my midwife said there is a possibility of getting it again. However she did say there are different strains and so always a small chance of catching it but advised me not to kiss them haha. I tried to explain that would be inappropriate anyway! Blood test came back in 2 days I think.

I was worrying about chicken pox about a fortnight ago after one of the kids in DS1's class came down with chicken pox.

I spoke to my midwife, and she arranged for my immunity to chicken pox to be tested. It took 2 days for the results to return to the GP surgery, but the lab already had my blood there (from the blood taken at my booking in appointment). The test came back showing I was immune, which was a relief.

Not sure how long you've got before your friend's due to arrive, but if there's time for your midwife / GP to arrange a test, would that help put your mind at ease / reach a decision about whether to tell them not to come?

Get your immunity checked - it's a simple blood test and pretty quick to get results. Your midwife or GP can sort it out.

I wasn't immune, caught it and miscarried last year so really it's better to get checked out.

Thanks. Am desperately trying to get hold of my GP to book a blood test!