Chickenpox in Pregnancy

[SamanthaB123]

I am a teacher and I found out today that a child in my class has chickenpox. I am 19 weeks pregnant and have had chickenpox myself on several occasions (odd I know, but there). Does anyone know what the risks are? Should I be at school?

You sound like an unusual case because NHS direct says if you've had it you can't get it again and therefore your baby is not at risk. BUT if you've had it more than once then you should take a doctors advice.I'm 33w have had it before (once!) and both my dc had it over easter and I didn't get it.

I have had chicken pox more than once as a child too. If you have had chicken pox as a child you are unlikely to get it as an adult. You may have only had it mildly the first time. If you are a teacher I doubt this is the first time you have been exposed to an infectious child as you are infectious before the spots come out.

If you are really concerned speak to your midwife and ask for a blood test to check your immunity.

Sam, I have also had cp a few times and haven't managed to make immunity. It is unusual, but not unheard of.
You need to get a blood test to check your immunity status.
If you have no immunity, you need to be given the immunoglobulin.
If you do get cp (which, even if you have been exposed, you might not necessarily get) then you will need to be given acyclovir, an anti-viral drug.
At 19 wks, you are approaching the least bad stage to get it. It takes up to 3 wks to incubate and this would take you well past the 20 wk stage, before which there is a SMALL, SMALL risk, and it is very small.
I know all this because I had cp a few weeks ago and I am in third trimester adn I was shiting myself! In the end it was fine. I had a nasty does of it but have managed to make immunity and I had it far enough away from delivery for the baby to make antibodies so he/she will be fine too.

The risks are tiny so please try not to worry, but do get your immunity checked for peace of mind then you can act accordingly.

My GP wasn't much help to be honest. She said that if I wasn't sure that I was immune I shouldn't go to school until my immunity had been tested. The test takes two weeks to come back. DH and I talked about it a lot and read NHS info and decided it wasn't worth taking any risks. Because I have had chicken pox lots of times I can't be sure that I am immune. I am also asthmatic which seems to make a difference. So I have a very long half term. Bloods are being taken tomorrow.

School have been really good about the whole thing but I feel uncomfortable that I might be over-reacting. It's been a strange day...