Chickenpox

lbmamanz

Hi everyone,
My nephew has chickenpox, and I have been around him just as it all started. I'm 10weeks pregnant, and have read and been told that if I have had chicken pox that I'll be fine. I have had it, thanks to my best friend in primary school

Kristin712

lyndieleebrown said:

Hi everyone, My nephew has chickenpox, and I have been around him just as it all started. I'm 10weeks pregnant, and have read and been told that if I have had chicken pox that I'll be fine. I have had it, thanks to my best friend in primary school

Do you have a question?

goldie987

Give your doctor a call, they'll be able to tell you more than we can. In theory if you have immunity you should be okay but a simple call won't hurt.

meggyme

You can also get a vaccine against the chicken pox if you're worried. It also protects against shingles.

lbmamanz

Ah!! There was more to that post.
My question is - have any of you experienced complications with your baby or yourself after being exposed to someone with chicken pox even if you have been vaccinated and had chicken pox before? Am trying to reach my doc but it's after hours so no luck yet.
Thanks for any advice!

DeePaddy24

A coworker of mine was 6mo pregnant when a child at school got the chickenpox. She had to leave work the day we were informed to go for blood work to ensure she was still immune. It turns out she was since she had chickenpox as a child...but it took nearly 5 days to get the results (which meant she wasn't allowed to be at work during the waiting time). 

I'm sure you're fine since you've also had them, but definitely double check that with your Dr! 

gorgeousariel

Just because you had them doesn't mean you are immune. I recently had BW done and I need to get the booster shot because I am not immune, even though I had them as a baby. 

goldie987

meggyme said:

You can also get a vaccine against the chicken pox if you're worried. It also protects against shingles.

It only protects against shingles if you never had chicken pox to begin with which OP has. Shingles is the chicken pox virus going dormant and then reactivating in your nervous system during a time where you are immunocompromised. The chicken pox vaccine gives you immunity to cp without being infected strongly enough to get into your nervous system and go dormant. That being said, there is a vaccine for shingles if you were exposed to chicken pox as a kid.

Jyoung327

So this isn't about chicken pox per say but same idea- my nieces just got that hand/foot/mouth disease at school which is similar because it's a wild virus that is very contagious, but generally only in kids- most adults do not get it, plus its one of those thats only by body fluid (blister pus, poop, or saliva contact).  I asked my RE about it and he said to avoid it anyway even if I didnt have physical contact with them, saying its "better safe than sorry" and to just reduce risk of any viral infection.  It was disappointing to hear but oh well. 

For yours, since you already had contact, I agree about checking with your doctor about a booster vaccine if needed. I never had chicken pox so I've had to be tested a few times for my health care jobs to make sure I still have the antibodies from booster shots. 

anj27

Just FYI, you cannot get the chickenpox vaccine while pregnant.