Friends baby with chicken pox

[minniecat2406]

Grateful for views. DP is having a big birthday dinner on Friday and one of the friends just let me know their baby has chicken pox. I'm 15 weeks pregnant. Should we ask them not to come?? Thank you!

Should add that I have had CP before but not sure whether baby is at risk if I'm around the parents?

If you’ve had chicken pox, you’re fine. I was 26 weeks pregnant on holiday with in-laws and 4 year old nephew came out with cp.

I was around students with chicken pox at work, my midwife said it was fine as long as it didn't turn into shingles for anyone.

I'm sure when your pregnant and being around someone with chicken pox is really dangerous for your baby ? Maybe google it but I remember being told not to go near anyone with chicken pox when pregnant

It's fine if you've had it already.

It's fine if you've had it. DS1 has it when I was pregnant with DS2, I checked with the midwife and she said it was fine. I've heard other people say they've had to have blood tests to check that they have the immunity, but I was never offered that, just told it was fine if I'd already had it.

It's fine if you're certain that you've had chicken pox yourself. I had a similar situation and my midwife said it was fine, but don't go licking said child.... I tend to refrain from licking kids, so all good 🤣

If you’ve had chicken pox, you should be ok - although I believe, but I’m not 100% sure, that while you’re likely to have immunity it isn’t 100% guaranteed. The one you need to be particularly concerned with is shingles! I’ve had shingles but had to take precautions when we had a case of shingles at my school.

You can't get shingles from chickenpox or shingles.You can get chickenpox from shingles if you've never had chickenpox.
Ie you don't catch shingles from anyone.

It's fine, thousands of pregnant women already have children who get all sorts, including chicken pox!

Just to mention, some people like me have had chicken pox more than once. It’s fairly rare but not unheard of. Has been previous MN threads on it.

So it is possible in theory you could be like me and catch it again.

You should also warn your other guests in case anyone else is pregnant or immuno compromised or hasn’t had CP before. I’m surprised by the answers here, I thought any child with CP should be kept away from other people until the spots have scabbed over so they are no longer contagious.

I would ask then not to come. They shouldn't be going out in public with a poxy child until the pox had scabbed over. You don't get shingles from exposure to chicken pox. You can get chicken pox from shingles but only from direct contact with fluid from the blisters whereas chicken pox itself is airborne. They shouldn't be taking the child anywhere tbh

Or is it just the parents coming and not the baby? If so, you should be ok for the parents to attend without the child

It entirely depends on whether you've had chicken pox before? If not the. Don't let them come. If you have don't worry about it. If you're not sure speak to your GP to get tested

Thanks everyone, the couple didn't come in the end as baby was still poorly so no harm done! Many thanks for all he advice though x