Chickenpox and pregnancy

[typhoonsmum]

DD( 4 years old) isn't well. She has a temp of 38.7. Her eyes look heavy and she says she feels sick. (She hasn't been)she has a sore throat and a stuffy nose. Maybe it is just a bad cold but her best friend in school has chickenpox - according to her (but everyone who is sick had chicknpox to DD) She has no spots but what if she does have it. Chickenpox is bad if you are prg isn't it.(am 14 weeks pg) I had it when I was younger but I didn't have antibodies when I had a blood test done 10 years later (Weird I know)
What do I do if she is coming down with chickenpox.

Phone NHS Direct, ask them to advise.

I know the actual chances of the CP causing damage in pregnancy are really small (maybe ?1 in 50? women who actually do get CP while pregnant). Also depends how far along you are in pregnancy when you get it. I think you might be out of the riskiest time.

Good luck.

Typhoon - I had CP when pg with ds1, I was 26 weeks. I know it's a risk if you have it close to delivery and at the very beginning too but I'm not sure at what point it's considered safe. Have a word with your midwife.

If you are unlucky and do get it you can get anti-virals from your GP but you need to take them as soon as you know you have it. I was given an anti-body injection (19 years ago now), I don't think the anti-virals were available then. I had a really bad case but ds was fine.

Your DD will be infectious 4-5 days before spots show. As other posters have said, very early on in 1st trimester is dangerous to foetal development, but thankfully you're past that. Also around time of delivery is also dodgy as baby could be born with chicken pox. So if you're gonna get it, now is the time, whilst you're in the middle trimester. Definately call midwife on Monday though. Good luck xxxx

nhs direct link here its about half way down the page.

you can have a vacination against chicken pox if your at risk i think

calpol seems to be working on the temp. but only lasts about 4 hrs b4 it is up again. (39.1 twenty minutes ago)

This happened to my sil. There is no problem if you act quickly and have an injection against CP, but it can be life threatening for you and your baby if you catch it without immunity and you're at a certain stage of pregnancy. I think it's the 1st tremester but I'm not sure.
Stay safe - phone NHS Direct and get their advice.

Hi
I would definitely phone NHS Direct if I were you.
I have always found them really helpful.
You probably have nothing to worry about, but at least they are qualified health professionals who can put your mind at rest if you are worried.
Christine

It may not be chickenpox. there is no rash just the word of a four year old.

I had this scare a few weeks ago. I think the facts are that it is most damaging between 8 and 20 weeks. (unlike rubella, which is up until 12 weeks). BUT that if a woman does get chicken pox, the chances of the foetuc being affected are between 1 and 2 % - so very very small. As people have said, you can get an injection, so I would get advice immediately, just in case.

Just did the self help check on the NHS Direct website. It says she may just have a cold or flu.
She hasn't lost her appetite, has no real symptoms apart from the temp and sore throat cold like symptoms. She said she had a sore tummy but I've starved her all day. (She is now tucking into jam and toast with strawberry milk)and looks a lot better.
I think I am just panicking.I'll watch her and any sign of a rash then I'm taking both of us to the Dr's
Thanks for all your advice.