Pregnancy and chicken pox.

[DetectivePotato]

I have had chicken pox twice. According to what I have read online, it may mean that I am not quite immune.

On Sunday we went to a birthday party where a child had chicken pox. Yesterday I found out I am pregnant.

Starting to feel a bit worried now. Does anyone have any experience of this? Would I be immune and have I just scared myself by googling it?

I would see your GP asap to get your immunity checked.

My mum (who had previously had chicken pox) was pregnant with me when all three of my syblings had chicken pox (I bet that was a fun couple of weeks!). It didn't affect her or me in any way. I then had chicken pox when I was 8.

I had chicken pox as a child and am now 21 weeks with DD2, DD1 has chicken pox right now and the doctor I saw was unconcerned. As I understand it there is some risk to the baby if you develop chicken pox before 20 weeks or very close to the birth. I think that if you are unsure of your immunity then you should see a GP asap as I have read something about a vaccination you can have within 96 hrs or something like that. Always best to check

Hi, I had a situation with chickenpox last week. I am a teacher and one of the children in my class had it. I went to my doctor and asked for my immunity to be tested - I have had it five times so my immunity was unclear. My blood was taken on Tuesday and I had the result on Wednesday. While I was waiting for the results I didn't go to work in case other children were harbouring it - the incubation period is 16-21 days. There are issues with chickenpox in pregnancy (see NHS website) - at 19 weeks were I am the risk was relatively low. I can't remember all the details but I think that it is more dangerous in early and late pregnancy. If you are not immune there is medication that you can be given but I'm not sure of the risks. My doctor was hopeless, all the info I got I found online.

Good luck!

Hi Samantha I take it you are still waiting for your results to come back then?

I have a doc appointment next week anyway. Was wondering whether to just wait for that app or should I make one sooner?

Just to say also, if the child was at the birthday party, does that mean they might not be contagious anymore? I know that some people like to get invite a child round who has chicken pox so that their children can catch it, but when DS had chicken pox I only arranged to play with other poxy kids until the spots had crusted over, plus he was to ill to see anyone for a few days.

Make an earlier appointment. Tell the doc the circumstances over the phone. Don't wait for the one next week.

I don't think you can assume anything about the child at the party. Some people don't care enough about the welfare of others to think too hard about how contagious chicken pox might affect another guest at a party.

The child came out in spots the day before the party. Was definitely contagious.