37 weeks exposed to chicken pox

[Therareotherbooks]

My toddler had a play date on Friday and the other little one has come out with spots this weekend.

I’m 37 weeks pregnant and had them myself as a child. However my toddler isn’t immune and so I understand will bed to be isolated from new baby if they arrive in the next 2 weeks incase he is carrying it.

Problem is my DH doesn’t think he has had it. Meaning my toddler could pass it on to him and then he would be unable to see newborn either incase he passes it on!

Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated! At the minute I’m awake worrying about having to be isolated from my toddler and DH once baby arrives!

I think it's 21 days that it can take to come out, not two weeks.
Contact your midwife tomorrow and ask for their advice.
TBH your dh has probably been exposed to chicken pox plenty of times, it's pretty hard not to as it's contagious before the spots appear, so wouldn't even know if a stranger came down with it a few days later.
Try not to worry too much, my GP explained that's it's rare for a newborn to catch it as they will still have some protection from your immunity to it, and this lasts for a while after birth.

Thank you. Do you think the GP would do a blood test for DH to check for immunity?

I’m going to ask them to do a check for me as although my mum believe I had it as a child I want to make sure!

It's 10-21 days incubation period. My ds had it 15 days after dd.

So technically DS could get it up for 21 days after contact with his friend, and then DH could get it 21 days after that?

So because I will give birth during the next 42 days DH could pass it on to the newborn without having symptoms yet himself?

Although the incubation period is 10-21 days they are only contagious for 1-2 days before spots appear. I would wait and see if your ds gets it first before worrying about your dh getting it.

@dementedpixie ah right thanks! I thought they could be contagious for the whole 21 day incubation period.

Well I mean they are contagious for 1-2 days before spots appear and until they crust over (normally 5-7 days after spots start)

They are contagious until the last spot has crusted over - this myth that they are only contagious before spots appear is what lead to me being seated immediately behind a chickenpoxy toddler for a 4 hour flight whilst pregnant. Fortunately I tested positive for immunity when my midwife checked and I got DS immunised the following day as I had been dithering over it and being faced with him bring exposed decided me.
In fact it might still be somewhat effective if you can get your DS immunised tomorrow. Immunisation after exposure significantly lowers the chance of them developing it and makes it a less severe case if they do - worth looking into if you can afford it. I can’t recall the cut off for how soon you need to get it done. It is a live vaccine so they may dither over letting him have it when you are pregnant and you’ll need to convince them that you know you are immune. You’d also have to keep a newborn away from them for a few days afterwards if you were to have the baby early.

Sorry dementedpixie just seen your clarification!

Look into the jab, it might work in this scenario.

I will see my GP tomorrow and ask if they think the jab is an idea- he would have been exposed Friday the day before his friends sports first appeared.

I realise they are contagious until the last spot crusts, but at least it’s only the 1/2 days before hand. I think I will send DH to get the vaccine this week at least so I don’t have to worry about him!