Chicken Pox during pregnancy

[Isadora]

I'm starting to stress, as a lady at work has just mentioned that her son has contracted the chicken pox. She says she has had them before, and is therefore immune, so there is no possible way she could pass them to me. I've never had chicken pox before and as far as I know, i'm not immunised against it. I know it can have serious consequences if contracted during pregnancy. Is there any way she can carry the illness and potentially pass it to me? I'm worrying about this, to the point where im thinking about leaving work. Is this necessary??

Hayley

[LadyRaven]

I thought there was 3 different strands of the chicken pox virus? I'd say go have a talk to your doctor if you are really worried

[~Raven~]

I was exposed to chickenpox when I was PG with Mason and my Dr told me it's the high temperature that can cause damage moreso than the virus.
Best if you chat to your Dr about it though to find out for sure, though there isn't much you can do if you've already been exposed to it.

that you will be fine.

[Alan]

Hi Hayley
It would be very unlikely that you will get chicken pox from that woman. A past infection with it does not make you immune but it does mean that your next infection is a lot milder. If she shows any sign of being infected then she should stay away from work. If she won't then perhaps you should.

[Shanti]

Yes i've heard that once you've had chicken pox, you can get it again, and you aren't necessarily immune to it for life... lots of people do get it a 2nd time (not common) but they can... talk to your doc for sure... in the meantime can you move to a different area to where she works perhaps?

[Willow]

Yep, I had this conversation with my ob and you can definately get it more than once. Often in adults it will appear as shingles rather than chicken pox, but it's the same virus. I had it as a kid but we also checked my immunity in my prenatal blood work and I am still immune, but only just (ie I think they explained it as I do have the antibodies but in low numbers). If I decide to fall prg again, I will be having a top up vaccine for next time, isn't worth the stress this causes.

If I were you, I'd talk to you Dr, see what they say and then perhaps talk to your employer about your concerns. You have the right to feel safe at work and free from the risk of illness.

[Michelle71]

Getting chicken pox in pregnancy is mostly an issue in the first trimester when the baby is forming and in the third trimester - mainly because of the risk of the baby contracting it shortly after birth. It is a high risk disease for a newborn to contract.

If you can, see your doctor who can do a blood test to check your immunity. I have never had chicken pox but I have immunity so I must have had exposure at some time They can also explain the potential risks if you were to be exposed at your specific time of pregnancy.

[~Kim~]

My DH got shingles (same virus) when I was 6 weeks preg. He had had CP before and this one was WAY worse. It can effect the development of bub in the 1st tri and so I panicked. Your GP should be able to organise an urgent immunity test and give you a booster if need be. That's what I had to have.