shingles

[mum2bejan]

My MIL has just told me she has shingles. Is this something I need to worry about as I'm 30 weeks pregnant? She was round my house last week.

Im not sure to be honest, I know chicken pox is dangerous, but I think that that is only in the first 5 months. Shingles is different though. Sorry , no help whatsoever.

Have you had chicken pox? If you have don't worry. If you haven't give your GP/MW a ring and ask them what to do.

I had chicken pox quite badly as a child . Am due to see Midwife Monday so will double check it with her then. Thanks for the replies ladies.

Wow, so many threads about shingles at the mo (myself included!) I think it's a problem if you haven't had chicken pox, but then you can get chicken pox again so it's probably still risky to have contact. I think it has to be very direct contact though with shingles.

Its only a problem if you have not had chickenpox.

If you get chicken pox during pregnancy there is a small chance it willl affect your baby.

IT could affect baby up until 20wks - buut is most serious in the last 2 weeks before delivery. Apparently there is no effect on baby if you catch it between 20wks and 37weeks.

If you have had it before (particularly if it was a bad dose) you shouldn't be too concerned about getting it again.

I checked this out a few weeks ago as I came into contact with it. Chicken pox is only dangerous up to 20weeks and only if you haven't already had it. Shingles is nothing to worry about as the virus is not catchable from someone with shingles only from some one with chicken pox. Here is a link that explains it better than me.

well you could catch it from shingles but only if you directly touched the weeping sores and only if you hadn't already had chicken pox if you get what I mean where as chicken pox can be pass in the air.

Knew I could rely on you girls here. thanks again. Good excuse to keep away from the MIL anyway and I'm sticking to it!