Anyone been exposed to Shingles while pregnant?

Eaky77

My husband just called and informed me that my MIL has Shingles.  I was with her at her house for 5-6 hours on Sunday.  I have a call into my ob just in case.  I've had the chickenpox, so I should be ok, right??

LadyNikon

Actually if you had chicken pox.. you are MORE likely to get shingles.  Shingles lay dormant and then flare up at times in our adult lives.  I am not aware that they were contagious though.

tngrl3

You should be ok. The way you contract shingles is by direct contact with the lesions. I work as PA in the hospital and have been around a couple of patients with shingles and have had no worries or symptoms. I just make sure I don't touch the active lesions. Having chicken pox is actually what predisposes you to shingles because it is the latent virus being reactivated. You have to have had chicken pox or the vaccine to get shingles. Try not to stress too much. You OB can confirm this though. 

Eaky77

Thanks Ladies.  I figured I would be ok.  Just thought I would put a call in to be safe, and see if anyone had the same experience!  I've heard shingles are nasty, I feel sorry for her.  Yuck.

Mrs&Dr2b

As pp have said, you can only get shingles if you already had chicken pox yourself. The doctor will probably test your immunity titer (this is the level in your blood of anti-varicella zoster antibodies). As long as you still have a nice high level of titer, they probably won't even worry about it.

pamiva1

I actually HAD shingles when I was pregnant with DD. I was about 20 weeks. My OB said I probably got it easier than I would have because my immunity was weakened. I didn't take any meds for it since I wanted to be safe, but all was fine. It was just annoying.

orgnlmama

I did early on in my pregnancy. I was told by both the ER doctor who treated my father and my midwife that I was not at risk of getting it since I had had them.

HopeNotLost

My best friend got shingles when she was pregnant, and she was miserable.  I hope you don't get it!  I remember talking to her on the phone, and she would just sob because she was in so much pain and there was nothing she could take to help. 

dreemkin84

I just had them about a month ago. You can not catch shingles. If you are stressed or immune compromised you can develop them from your own body (if you've had chicken pox). 

 I am worried i'm developing them again and since i'm preg now, i'm worried about if it will harm baby...anyone know if there is any risks to the baby?? i don't go to my first OB appointment till the 14th.

Eaky77

Just got a phone call back from the OB.  She said not to worry, I should have no issue.  She also said I am protected since I had the chickenpox..... so I guess everyone has a different view on things!  Thanks for all the replies, and easing my mind a bit!!

Mason&Mama

I am a nurse, and I have taken care of shingles patients with both pregnancies. I have had the chicken pox. This is from the Center of Disease Control website. (so 100% legit.) Is Shingles Contagious? Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, a person with shingles can transmit the virus that causes shingles to others. If a person who has never had chickenpox is infected with VZV, he or she will develop chickenpox, not shingles.