Hand Foot and Mouth?

taylojade57 · October 2014

I am supposed to go to a third birthday party for my friend's son. I just got a text from her saying that he has hand foot and mouth, and that it's contagious, so she completely understands if we (Hand I) won't be there... I just told H (he's not very dear/darling today...) about the text to ask him what he thought about it before I answered, and he said "I know, I just got a text from (her husband). I told him we would still be there." Me: But... It's contagious. And I'm pregnant. "Yea, well. The party is going on, so it can't be too bad." Ugh.
So... WWD14D? Go and be super careful? Or skip it altogether?

NELSMD · October 2014

I'd probably skip it.

amedbery · October 2014

There is no way I would go.

sararhino · October 2014

I actually went on vacation with my neice and nephew while they had it and caught it from them. It really didn't bother me at all except for a few itchy bumps on my wrists and ankles, but those poor kids were miserable.

From what I understand it's typically not all that bad in adults, I even informed my OB when I got back that I had gotten it and she wasn't very concerned. That's not to say that it couldn't affect you differently of course.

Edit after rereading OP- I am pretty surprised that it's a children's party and that they're still hosting it. It would be one thing if it was a group of adults gathering and that maybe one of their children had exposed them to it, but for it to be something where a bunch of kids will be running around seems kind of reckless towards other people's children.

leoandethansmom · October 2014

sararhino said:

I actually went on vacation with my neice and nephew while they had it and caught it from them. It really didn't bother me at all except for a few itchy bumps on my wrists and ankles, but those poor kids were miserable. From what I understand it's typically not all that bad in adults, I even informed my OB when I got back that I had gotten it and she wasn't very concerned. That's not to say that it couldn't affect you differently of course.

This is why I hate when people seek reassurance on the internet. There is someone on this board who has had it during this pregnancy and they said it was awful. What may not be too bad for one person could be completely terrible for another. Personally, I wouldn't go. Why invite illness when it can be avoided?

gmeyer1019 · October 2014

I wouldn't go, a coworker of mine just had it and was out for almost a week. Needless to say we Lysoled the crap outta her station, and I stayed away anyway. I think we also had to take extra precaution and inform all of get clients, but I'm not sure about that.

jray6456 · October 2014

Skip it. I worked at a daycare center a few years back and we had an outbreak. I mean 75% if the kids came down with it and most teachers had reactions ranging from mild to severe. You just don't know how you will react and it's very contagious. I'm surprised the party isn't cancelled.

AllTheTeaInChina · October 2014

I'm really surprised they didn't cancel the party. My DD had it when she was 1. She had a high fever for 4 days then mouth sores. Her gums were so swollen that her teeth disappeared. Her hands and feet were unaffected. No one else got it but she was miserable.

HorseFeathers3 · October 2014

Skip it!!!

momtoE25 · October 2014

I'd skip it. DS had it and a very mild case and was still miserable. I wouldn't risk it.

ginalisa28 · October 2014

My son had it once when he was about 2 bc he picks up everything and puts it in his mouth. We were super close to him and we never got it, but pregnant women have lower immune systems so I would skip it.

ginalisa28 · October 2014

When my son had he only had white spots in his mouth, and he wasn't bothered by it but that goes to show you it can effect everyone different and that would be no fun during pregnancy.

allitor12 · October 2014

Dd2 had hand foot and mouth this summer and she was miserable. I am totally surprised they are still having the party bc it is very contagious.

I would not go.

rshamos · October 2014

I wouldn't go. Tell YH to have a great time and sleep in the car until you are sure he didn't catch it.

Was this around when we were kids? I hadn't heard of it until a few months ago.

mhbieging · October 2014

My toddler had it and both my ped and OB said not to worry as most adults have already been exposed to the virus and cannot contract it again. We still showered her with kisses and we're not infected.

taylojade57 · October 2014

Yea, I'm not feeling up to it... But DH just looked it up and it said it's spread by direct fluid contact (kisses, saliva, etc) so just not to touch him. Ugh, why can't he support my pregnant carefulness??

RaeChay · October 2014

Have you had it when you were younger? You may have immunity (but there are at least a couple subtypes so you would be rolling the dice here).

H and I both had it about 2 years ago and it was NOT mild for either of us. We were both feverish and pretty sick for a week. And that was without pregnancy. Omg and the peeling skin after...gross.

*If it were me* I wouldn't even allow my H to go. Now does that mean it will hurt the baby if you do get it- probably not (though a fever & dehydration is not real great for a fetus).

Agree with PP about it being a bad idea to ask online because one person's experience can be NBD while yours could be much worse. Some coxsackie subtypes are far more severe than others.

abenson3 · October 2014

Skip it. DD and DH recently got over it. I don't know how u didn't get it, but I did end up with shingles, so go figure, avoided one illness got another.

vintagejjane · October 2014

I'd skip it for sure. I wouldn't risk getting it.

Zelda925 · October 2014

It just went around my daughter's preschool. She didn't get it nor did I. I am still doing the integration phase (where i attended preschool with her for the first week and gradually increase her time there by herself- something that is common in Germany). They consulted doctors to make sure it was safe for me to be there.

drpayne · October 2014

It's pretty rare for adults to catch it. Im just surprised they would still expose other kids.

As far as people saying you can't get it if you be already had it- completely false. There are multiple strains and both of my kids have had it more than once.

Sweetsix06 · October 2014

Um, no, don't go. Horrible idea.

acac104 · October 2014

I would not go. My H got hand, foot and month over the summer and my OB told me to stay away from him to the point of suggesting I go stay somewhere else while he is contagious. Needless to say, i was on the next flight to my mom's house. It apparently does not cause birth defects but if you get it fairly close to delivery the baby can come out having it which would be a bad way for them to start out. I don't know all the details, but I would call your OB and see what they have to say also. Apparently they take this very seriously.

BankerBSN · October 2014

Me and my family would not be going.

kirstey728 · October 2014

Not to judge their parenting, but a 3rd bd with other children around a child who is contagious with HFM.... Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.... I am surprised they're not postponing the party. $-)

Cheekers2010 · October 2014

Heck no! Neither I nor my h would be going. My DS had it last year. Totally miserable.

Mikesfan · October 2014

sararhino said:
I actually went on vacation with my neice and nephew while they had it and caught it from them. It really didn't bother me at all except for a few itchy bumps on my wrists and ankles, but those poor kids were miserable. From what I understand it's typically not all that bad in adults, I even informed my OB when I got back that I had gotten it and she wasn't very concerned. That's not to say that it couldn't affect you differently of course.

leosmom:
This is why I hate when people seek reassurance on the internet. There is someone on this board who has had it during this pregnancy and they said it was awful. What may not be too bad for one person could be completely terrible for another. Personally, I wouldn't go. Why invite illness when it can be avoided?

I agree. I had it as an adult and I can tell you it was more painful than anything I have ever experienced in my life...AND I cannot imagine it pregnant! Just because you seemed to have a mild case, this is clearly not the advice to be giving. Granted, the same could be said for me as I had a bad case, but I know several adults who have gotten it from their children and it was very bad for them and one even ended up in the hospital.

Edit: QBF

Kmm1023 · October 2014

I would skip it even if I weren't pregnant! Who wants to hang out at a party were the favors may or may not be an illness? Um no thank you!

Zelda925 · October 2014

Of course I spoke too soon! My daughter now has it. Fml I called my Mom to see if she remembered me having it as a kid and she had no ideal what it was. So.... Yah. Hope I don't get it.

Daneicy80 · October 2014

This is probably too late to impact original poster but I super agree with everyone saying to stay away. This summer when we were on vacation in a house on the OBX my 2 y/o DS got HF&M and so did my husband. DS's symptoms weren't terrible... what looked to be pimples/chicken pox on his hands and feet and they showed up 2 days after he had a fever.

My DH got it and was miserable, open blisters on his hands and feet about 24 hours after having a fever. Straight up couldn't walk, he said it was worst vacation ever.

We called an urgent care place down there to see if there was any reason we should come in and get checked out, she said no but gave us a ton of info in case I got it (at 23 weeks pregnant). She said If you get it in first trimester it could cause miscarriage. If you got it in third tri closer to to delivery it could be passed onto baby (dangerous). Second tri was pretty safe to contract it, but it could still suck dealing with it. Most healthy adults will not contract it but you never know.

This was 10 weeks ago and my DH's nails are still peeling off... gross. Stay the he!! away and shame on those parents for continuing to have the party, selfish SOBs.

Beevol · October 2014

I'm surprised that the mom didn't cancel the party; you wouldn't send your kid to school with HF&M so why in the world would you have them attend, let alone throw, a birthday party?

I'm guessing this is one of those Keeping Up with The Jones' parties that cost an arm and a leg to throw. This is why cake and hot dogs at your house with some balloons or something is the only way to go. :P

Daneicy80 · October 2014

MissChristineMarie said:

ETA QFP

Daneicy80 said:

This is probably too late to impact original poster but I super agree with everyone saying to stay away. This summer when we were on vacation in a house on the OBX my 2 y/o DS got HF&M and so did my husband. DS's symptoms weren't terrible... what looked to be pimples/chicken pox on his hands and feet and they showed up 2 days after he had a fever.

My DH got it and was miserable, open blisters on his hands and feet about 24 hours after having a fever. Straight up couldn't walk, he said it was worst vacation ever.

We called an urgent care place down there to see if there was any reason we should come in and get checked out, she said no but gave us a ton of info in case I got it (at 23 weeks pregnant). She said If you get it in first trimester it could cause miscarriage. If you got it in third tri closer to to delivery it could be passed onto baby (dangerous). Second tri was pretty safe to contract it, but it could still suck dealing with it. Most healthy adults will not contract it but you never know.

This was 10 weeks ago and my DH's nails are still peeling off... gross. Stay the he!! away and shame on those parents for continuing to have the party, selfish SOBs.

While those things in her third paragraph COULD happen while pregnant, they are super rare. HFM doesn't really affect a pregnancy other than making you feel lousy and you could have a low grade fever. If you got it, chances are, you'd be okay.

Of course... I don't want to scare anyone but the doc did say that those things COULD happen. Scared the $hit outta me enough to quarantine my DH and not change my DS's dipes for the 7-10 days they recommended.

SeahorseMama · October 2014

Just chiming in to agree with the PP's about NOT going or letting your H go. DD1 has had HFM twice, and I got it once from her. It was awful. And it meant I missed out on a week of work between her illness and my own. Do yourself a favor and avoid germs when possible!

mlee116 · October 2014

OMG, we just dealt with this allll weekend and yesterday with DS. Why would they still have the party? SO irresponsible, IMO.

DS had a very mild reaction compared to other kids at his DC, but he was still in a lot of pain and it sucked ass for 3 days. Somehow DH and I didn't catch it. I would not willingly subject myself, my child or anyone else to it.

RicKeyBaby · October 2014

Clearly the mother of said kid says she understands if you dont go...she gets it, just dont go. Don't be lead astray by DH, men don't always make the smartest decisions when it comes to health.....there's a reason women live longer.

ahbEsq · October 2014

I am amazed at all of these responses. My DS had HFM a few months ago (fortunately a mild case) and I was told that it is extremely rare for adults to get HFM and I didn't need to worry despite being pregnant so I didn't take extra precautions. I see now that it isn't all that rare and am pretty mad about the bad medical advice I was given! Thank goodness I didn't get it!

MmsHughes4 · October 2014

Absolutely do not go. You'll know why when your child has it. DS has had it twice now. I have never felt so helpless because there is nothing they can give them. Just have to wait it out.

drpayne · October 2014

ahbEsq said:
I am amazed at all of these responses. My DS had HFM a few months ago (fortunately a mild case) and I was told that it is extremely rare for adults to get HFM and I didn't need to worry despite being pregnant so I didn't take extra precautions. I see now that it isn't all that rare and am pretty mad about the bad medical advice I was given! Thank goodness I didn't get it!

I still think it's relatively rare. My kids have had it multiple times and I haven't gotten it. Doesn't mean you should take a chance though.

RaeChay · October 2014

I think this whole party thing was from last weekend, y'all.

Not that you can't keep discussing HFM if you'd like...but I think OP hasn't been back for a few days.

Wanting to chime in on the "extremely rare" thing....Not Extremely Rare. Where ever this rare rumor is coming from I do not understand. Probably from the assumption that if you had it as a child that you would have immunity, which is often not the case as previously discussed.

Carry on.

RaeChay · October 2014

Reading back through...Uh what? Was @NandaB‌ banned??

rshamos · October 2014

When did this happen?

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