Avoiding chicken pox over Christmas

[Toastytoes1]

I’m 27 weeks pregnant (28 on Tuesday) and just been told my niece has chicken pox. I’m hosting the family on Boxing Day though I haven’t actually heard back from my sister-in-law if they’re coming so I might not be seeing my niece anyway. My Mum is concerned though that my other brother’s young children will be spending lots of time with my niece between now and Boxing Day and they are definitely coming over to mine. They live in America and I’ve never actually met the 1 year old so I’m really reluctant to not see them just on the off chance that they might have caught chicken pox. I have had chicken pox myself as a child so I’m not especially worried though of course you are suppose to avoid coming into contact with it if possible. What do other people think? I see my niece a lot anyway so I’m not that averse to asking them to not come just this once unless they’ve cleared up by then but I really don’t want to not see my other niece and nephew.

The American kids should have been vaccinated if they’re at least 12 months old as it’s part of the standard immunisation schedule. You’re also very unlikely to get it again if you’ve had it but I think it’s fine to ask them to stay home unless she’s better and it’s all scabbed over so no longer contagious. If she’s still in the thick of it then I doubt they’ll want to go anywhere anyway; chickenpox is miserable. But by Boxing Day hopefully she’ll be recovered and everyone can get together!

Americans have the chicken pox vaccine usually. Check with your family if the one year old has.

If you’ve had it before you’ll be fine.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/what-should-i-do-if-pregnant-and-been-near-someone-with-chickenpox/
You don't need to avoid them.

If you've had chicken pox then there's nothing to worry about.

If you’ve had chicken pox then no need to worry. Both of my children had it when I was pregnant with my third. I had it as a child so no concerns.

My daughter had chicken pox about 5 weeks ago.. I was 24 weeks pregnant. I certainly couldn’t avoid her! I spoke to my midwife & she said absolutely nothing to worry about if you’ve had it already. All was well

See your family & don’t worry. It lasts about 5-7 days.. so she’ll be over the worst by Boxing Day! The vaccinate against chicken pox as standard in the US, so you have nothing to worry about there either. But the obvious option seems to be to let them know & find out if they have been! If they haven’t & they are unhappy, I think it’s reasonable to ask the pox family not to attend. But most people aren’t so fussed by pox, it’s a minor illness in children in the grand scheme!

if you’ve had it already your fine and you don’t need to avoid them. I’m 31 weeks and my three year old has just had it. I did ring my midwife for reassurance and she said it’s fine. So glad she’s had it now and not with a newborn in the house

I haven't had chicken pox and my doctor said it's only a problem for pregnant women in the 1st trimester and the last few weeks before delivery anyway. But seeing as you've had it then it's definitely not an issue for you. If your other brother is also aware and still having his kids mix with niece then he's either not bothered or they've been vaccinated