Possible slapped cheek at 36 weeks pregnant - what are the risks?

[Kinderella]

Hi, I'm new to MN, 36 weeks pregnant with dc3 and my 3yo has slapped cheek. I'm pretty sure that is what it is, although we haven't had it medically confirmed. Rash appeared today following cold type symptoms for past few days. I am starting to feel slightly under the weather myself, although could be just normal for this stage in pregnancy. Anyone know risks at this stage of pregnancy? Almost everything I've read sseems to imply risks exist in first 20 weeks, but a few have suggested risks to baby beyond this. Also should I phone midwife or try to get doctor's appt? Or both?

I'm booked for a home birth also - anyone know if there are implications for that also?

Thanks

I absolutely do not want to alarm you and I am not a medical person BUT I know someone who recently gave birth to baby 10 weeks early and he is now fighting for his life as she had passed on an infection which MAY have been slapped cheek.

There may have been other circumstances I do not know about but please go to your GP or midwife and get proper advice.

I am sure you will be fine.

Thanks for that newpup.

I have already tried to phone the midwife and I'm now waiting for someone/a midwife to call me back. I've been reading some of the medical studies/journals on this and they are quite frightening so I have worked myself into a state of alarm already!

I'm about to phone doctor. I don't think there is any treatment other than wait and see, but i could at least have it confirmed, although not sure if they will be able to tell if I'm already immune or recently infected.

I have to keep telling myself that the chances of anything bad happening are low in any event, still very worrying though!

Thanks for your reply.

At 36 weeks I'm pretty sure there's very little risk at all. Parvo is much more of a risk in the first 20weeks when it can cause increased risk of miscarriage or growth isuues for the foetus, though both these are still relatively small risks. Ideally you need the blood test for both antibody types to see if you're already immune (around 60% of people are) and whether or not you have an active infection. I had it at 18 weeks and had a series of follow up scans, not being immune and being infected. But all the literature I read suggests that there is little to no risk at delivery. But absolutely do badger your midwife and doctor asap to be sure. Good luck!

very little risk
some hospitals wont even bother testing

i got it at 26 weeks and ds3 is perfect

its is fine
but let midwife know

My DD1 had slapped cheek when I was also 36 weeks pregnant, I took her to the GP and he said that I would be fine, it is in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks) that the risks are higher.

Hope everything is okay Kinderella. Chances are it will be. Hope I did not alarm you but you must get in touch with your midwife/GP.

Sounds like there are mums on here who have been fine but obviously best to get checked out. At the very least they will be able to reassure you.

Thanks everyone.

Have spoken to midwife and I'm getting blood tests first thing in morning.

I had also initially read that risks were only in first 20 weeks, but on checking studies, risks continue throughout pregnancy. Infection is more likely to be passed to baby in 3rd trimester, but less likely to be fatal. The risks are low, but do exist, so if I have it I think they will monitor baby and possibly deliver early(I'm guessing?)if any problems appear. I'm not sure, but at least I'm at a late stage anyway.

Don't know what it means for homebirth though - I mean in the absence of any problems with the baby of course. Obviously I would want to be in hospital if its better for the baby, but not if it makes no difference to outcome, iyswim. I suppose I will have to wait and see what the risks /treatments are.

Thank you all so much for your replies. It means a lot. x

i got it t 26 weeks
never any mention of delivering early
you have regular growth scans to check but that is it
he came 2 weeks early of his own accord at 7lb 6oz and they were not concerned abotu checking nything

Thanks popsycal. I'm glad to hear it all went well.

The midwife said they would check regularly for any signs of complications in baby (if I currently appear to have slapped cheek).

I think, from what I've read that if they find baby is having problems, then they may consider tranfusing blood to baby depending on stage of pregnancy and other factors. I think at my stage though if any problems were indicated and they were thinking of any treatment they might induce as it might be easier but no one seems to really want to say anything at this stage.

I had blood taken this morning. The midwife had said that I might get the results today or tomorrow if they phoned the hospital to get them over the phone. Practice nurse however told me to phone next Wednesday and they might have them by then and not to worry as everyone having tests done needed their results urgently!

I've spoken to doctor though also and he said to keep phoning from Monday to see if results are through.

Thanks popsycal, fannybanjo, newpup and sparkle. Its good to know of so many good outcomes.

Do have a search of the archives here on my name - the actions you are thinking of (transfusions etc) are treatments of last resort in extremely serious cases of in utero infection and are only done when it's that or baby dying. There are so many factors that would all have to come together for that to be the type of decision you might be facing, that it is a very, very rare likelihood in deed - you're talking of thousands to one type odds. As to when you get the results, I think it's a 7-10day culture & processing so your midwife was being a bit optimistic. You're 36 weeks already and not likely to get results till nearly 38 weeks - there's really no time for the baby to be seriously affected in utero. I suppose there is a smaller issue about whether or not you might be infectiously active at delivery, but again, from what I've read thats not considered a major risk to baby.

3yo DD has this, I'm pretty sure. Taking her to the doctor this afternoon to confirm. I'm 25 weeks and everything I can find states that 20 weeks is the cut off of the danger zone, however it says it can have an incubation period of 20 days. I'm very confused but will ask my GP this afternoon. Is it the season for parvovirus or something? I'd never heard of it before signs started appearing at nursery.

Yes sparkle that is true, but I can't help but look at all risks. I had looked at a few of your threads previously, which is probably why I didn't fall off my chair in shock when told results might take a week!

I agree its highly unlikely I'd be infectious by the time the baby is born, (if I'm even infected).

I'm going to try not to worry until next week when I get results, as it all could be nothing.

I'm not sure how to do a link, but found this article informative. Many of the more 'summary' type information sites I've looked at haven't mentioned a lot of the info on here.

books.google.co.uk/books?id=8IoNoUHXFawC&pg=PA174&lpg=PA174&dq=erythema+infectiosum+%2Bpr egnancy&source=bl&ots=KhjrXMlQ1&sig=t0W4cmeE-ECCcydJ9pIhmrnMkU4&hl=en&ei=WvwLSoqQNYKhjAev5sG-Bg&sa= X&oi=bookresult&ct=result&resnum=4#PPA177,M1

Although sometimes the more you know, the more worrying it is!

May, yes i think that the risks decrease as the pregnancy progresses. As sparkle says, so many factors need to combine for risks to culminate in anything serious.

The best thing I can do for my baby is to chill and try to relax and enjoy the weekend etc. I don't know how realistic that is but that is what i'm going to try to do. I'm finished work now, so I should try to make the most of that. As you say sparkle, the risks are very small.

Fingers crossed for you too May.

Doctor has confirmed slapped cheek in DD. I have to go to the hospital in the morning for the blood test to see if I've ever had it. Thanks for the finger crossing Kinderella, everything is crossed here too!

I'm 39+1 weeks pregnant and have just been informed that 3 kids in DD2's class have Slapped Cheek.

Bugger!

MW is coming to see me tomorrow so I'll see what she thinks.

I want a Homebirth, I really hope this doesn't impact on it.

I know how you feel Grumpy. Bit concerned about that myself. Still there is a good chance you may already be immune, or that your dd won't get it, therefore you'd be unlikely to.

You are so close now to due date and even in worst case scenario it might take a week or two for dd to get it and another week or so for you to catch it, by which time baby should be out. I don't know what risks are to newborns, couldn't seem to find anything on that, but chances are dd won't catch it or you'll be immune.

Let me know what your midwife says though Grumpy, everyone has been very vague with me, not sure if its cos they aren't sure, or don't want to worry me unnecessarily.

May, I hope you're getting on ok with blood tests.

Hi Kinderella

Good news - My MW rang the clinic and they advised it is not a problem this late on, it's a problem prior to 20 weeks, during the major development time. I don't need to do anything. HB still on.

Phew!

All the best with your pregnancy - I'm still hanging in there fully expecting to go 2 weeks overdue again!

Glad to hear that Grumpy

I hope that works the same way for me too!

Hi ,

Just thought I'd add this link. Seems fairly comprehensive and pretty up to date, with references.

www.motherisk.org/prof/updatesDetail.jsp?content_id=314

I've just been told it could take over 2 weeks for my test results!! I'll be almost 39 weeks by then. Best policy I have decided is to try not to worry. Baby will be here soon!

GP told me to ring a week after blood was taken- i.e. this Friday, however I think 2 weeks might be more accurate Kinderella as all the internet sources seem to state that it takes 10 days to do the blood culture.

I'm 27 weeks tomorrow. I've decided to stop worrying too, the internet is full of horror stories of women past 20 weeks with slapped cheek related problems. However, logically I know the risk is small. Let me know when you find out your results, best wishes.