grandpa with shingles -i am pregnant told to stay away

[ruva]

Hi grandpa was suppossed to visit this weekend and he has shingles and was told to stay away, as iam 29 weeks pregnant, when is it safe for him to come and visit-( he is spending christmas with us or alone).

Have you had chicken pox?

AFAIK you cannot catch shingles from him, however if you have not had chicken pox you can catch chicken pox from him.

Hula is correct

If you're had chickenpox you should be fine - I had the same worry when I was pg with DS3 - working in a Care Home and an old "dear" had Shingles - spoke to my GP who confirmed that if I'd had chickenpox then I'd be ok.

(mind you it didn't stop be worrying when DS1 and DS2 got chickenpox literaly just before DS3 was born........DS2's last spot crusted over the day before DS3 was born

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=1110 It sounds as if it's okay as long as you don't touch the rash, if you catch it the risks to the baby sound minimal.

...the chickenpox ... virus remains dormant in a nerve root somewhere in the body. At
some stage later in life, the virus may be
reactivated, producng pain and a crop of
blisters. This is called shingles.

Shingles can only affect people who have
previously had chickenpox. The blister fluid,
produced in shingles, contains the
chickenpox virus.

Contact with this fluid
can spread chickenpox to people who have
not yet had this infection.

If you have had chickenpox or shingles in the
past you are immune and there is no risk to
your baby. If you think you have been in
contact with someone who has chickenpox
or shingles, contact your midwife or doctor.
A blood test will show whether you have
antibodies, and are immune, or not.

(If not immune)...Try to keep away from people who have chickenpox or shingles for about a week after the infection first develops.

I have had chicken pox have a a few dents on face to prove it, thanks for advice ladies.