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Original poster

Has anyone tested positive for Slapped Cheek?

15 replies

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 23/04/2009 14:23

I'm waiting on my test results, looks like I had slapped cheek over the Easter hols after being exposed to it by one of dd's school friends. Has anyone tested positive for it and in that case do you know what procedures were followed? extra scans etc? Fingers crossed that I somehow had some other virus I guess, hopefully results in tomorrow. I'm 19 weeks now and 15-16 weeks when exposed to the virus.

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idobelieveinfairies · 23/04/2009 14:28

I was tested when i was pregnant as ds had slapped cheek and it came back negative-i didn't have it and have never had it. (you can only get it once).

It has something to do with the iron to the baby if i remember correctly and they will keep an eye on your blood count and scans i think.

Good luck.

sammysam · 23/04/2009 16:23

I have. Contracted it when I was 8-9 weeks (now 17+4). It has taken forever to get where I am now as the GP was convinced dd didn't have it (I KNEW she did) so wouldn't test me. I then had 2 days of really hurting all over. I spoke to another GP who agreed to test my blood. That took a week to come back +, but then they have to do another one to find out if it was recent and that took 2 and a half weeks. Then nothing happened, nothing was explained. I phoned up on weds and ranted (another woman on my antinatal thread is + as well and has had much much better treatment etc and I realised what I should be getting) and I now have the consultant scanning me on monday. It should be weekly scans thereafter til around 30wks.

There is nothing they can do at all until 22 wks when if baby has developed fetal hydrops it can be given a blood transfusion (don't want to even think about how the hell they do that ) The problem that can deveop is heart failure cause by severe anemia (you'll be fine-it is the baby) and they can see this as the anemia causes fluid to build up around baby's organs (fetal hydrops).

You should be fine as the placenta will have been fully functional by 15 weeks and then I think the baby is fairly safe as it doesn't cross the placenta.

I think this is all right but I'm yet to see the consultant-this is all info that has been passed to me by Icantbelieveitsnotbitter from her consultant. I'll hopefully get all of this on monday.

I really hope you are ok and it comes back - or + but for an old infection. I know there are more serious things that can happen and the risk is apparently quite small but it is still a risk and is quite worrying

Good luck-let us know how you get on x x x

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 23/04/2009 18:32

Thanks Sammysam, I'm really cross on your behalf that you've been treated so badly, it's doesn't help does it? Fingers crossed that everything is ok with your little one. I know what you mean about the statistics, I've spent ages poring over them and I know the risks are low but of course we still want to know that for sure.

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biggernow · 23/04/2009 19:32

hey- just to also say that fetal hydrops is really very rare and I hope both of you are clear and ok.
i am waiting to see if i have immunity to slapped cheek as we think my son had it......i am only 10 weeks so we shall see. Just another worry for the list.
my midwife said from 15/16 weeks she would not be worried if I had contact IF I wasn't already immune which they say most are as most had it as kids.

Good luck x

sparkle12mar08 · 23/04/2009 20:49

I've been there too - exposed at 18ish weeks, immediate blood test, not immune and also having acive infection. Serious problems from it are really rare, but fortnightly scans for at least 8 weeks seems the usual protocol. Baby was fine and I was discharged back to community midwives as soon as the course of scans finished.

Good luck and fingers crossed for tomorrow, will look out for you.

sammysam · 24/04/2009 09:06

That is really good to hear sparkle! I'm really hoping for a homebirth, I was hoping that as long as all the scans are ok then it would be business as usual so it is good to hear!

Biggernow and hangingbelly-I hope your tests are all ok.

I have my first weekly scan on monday and will be able to ask loads of questions

I know the risks are fairly rare but they still exist and because I was quite early on I think that increases the risk a bit. I'm sure everything will be ok, I'm just that it has taken so long to get to this point.

When I first got my positive I made the big mistake of googling (as I'd had no info from anyone) and came across some really nasty personal stories that scared the life out of me, so I suppose I prob still have that all in the back of my head

I'm sure i'll feel better after I've seen someone .....

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 24/04/2009 21:01

I'm so cross - GP can't trace my blood results at the moment. I've been told they should have been back mid-week and they have no idea why they weren't. They said there was no point doing anything today as it's Friday - meanwhile I have another weekend of not knowing either way.

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sparkle12mar08 · 24/04/2009 22:04

Call them back first thing monday, and call your midwife direct too, get her on it. I had both mine at home, so it shouldn't be a problem at all

A really good site for impartial info is the Health protection Agency website. And check out some of my previous posts on this too - I'ce referenced various things along the way!

biggernow · 25/04/2009 08:54

hangingbelly- i have same problem- they said my results were not yet back either. My son has as of this morning- bright red cheeks. He does get these when teeth are coming through but of course I am now even more worried....

Can anyone tell me- if they see I have had it- how do they know if I had it recently or 20+ years ago?

sammysam- i presume you have been reassured as to how rare a complication could be? how do you feel about it all?

sparkle12mar08 · 25/04/2009 20:02

There are two different types of antibody they test for, one shows if there's been previous infection, one if there's current or v recent infection. So they can tell the time profile of the illness.

Good luck everyone x

Blottedcopybook · 26/04/2009 11:38

I requested the blood test for this at my booking appointment after DD had a positive slapped cheek diagnosis. I am still (at 35w) waiting for the result. The midwife told me that the test would only tell me if I had had it, not when I'd had it or whether the baby was okay and in Scotland you only get one scan at 13 weeks.

So I'm not panicking at all

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 27/04/2009 12:40

Have been told this morning that the tests for parvo virus take 2 weeks - midwife said 3-4 days! oh well, guess I have another week of waiting to go.

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Jemima123 · 28/04/2009 17:44

I was "exposed" to slapped cheek at 16 weeks and bloods from my booking in showed I had no immunity (not had it previously). They then took new blood to check on a Mon and I was told results would be in 2-3 days; had to ring and chase lots, the midwife went down to the lab and made them do it! Good news on the Fri was that I hadn't caught it, but was also still not immune. 19 weeks now, giving those affected a few weeks wide berth so it can get out of their system (3-4 weeks apparently between catching and being infectious to the red cheek symptom and no longer being infectious). Hope this helps, good luck to all.

Taxgirl · 01/05/2009 16:23

I tested positive for slapped cheek, caught it at roughly week 17/18 and have done nothing but worry since. Now 24+4. Hospital have booked me in for a scan next week but have not explained anything about it which seems a bit mad. All my research and info has come from the internet which just fuels the worry I think. I hope everything goes well for you Sammysam and Hangingbelly.

Original poster
Hangingbellyofbabylon · 01/05/2009 17:02

Update! results back today and I'm all clear, great news. I hope everyone else waiting and watching gets some good news soon as well. xx

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