potential exposure to chicken pox & pregnant

By californiadreams Oct 1, 2015

and i am not vaccinated against chicken pox and never had it in my life. How worried should i be?

I went to pick up LO from preschool today and the teacher handed me a sheet on chicken pox info and said there was a kid in the class who had it. It was chaotic pick up time so i didn't ask questions and i wasn't even worried since I know LO is up to date on his vaccines. I figured i can ask more questions in the morning at drop off.

I got home and was telling DH maybe this is not even a big deal, all the kids got chicken pox when i was growing up....then it hit me: except for me, and i never got the vaccine, and i am pregnant.

So DH will do drop off tomorrow and talk to the teachers to get more info and I plan to call my midwife. But i am wondering how high my chances are of exposure if LO doesn't get it and all i did was pick him up today? Anything else I need to think of or do? How worried would you be?

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14 comments

catomd00
grapefruit / 4418 posts

Oct 1, 2015

I wouldn't be concerned about getting it from being at daycare today. I'd be More concerned about getting it from your LO if they happen to get it...not sure what the incubation period is and if it's contagious before the blisters show up, but I'd give my doc a call for peace of mind.
ladybee
grapefruit / 4079 posts

Oct 1, 2015

I'm not sure but I know my mother in law had it when she was pregnant with DH. He's healthy and normal, she was just miserable.
matador84
papaya / 10560 posts

Oct 1, 2015

DS got CP when he was 14 months old and I was almost 7 months pregnant at the time. THe first thing our pedi asked me was if I had been vax'ed against it and/or had it before. I wouldn't be extremely alarmed, but probably call your ob in the AM to get their insight.
MusicaV
clementine / 773 posts

Oct 1, 2015

I just went through this a few weeks ago when my LO developed shingles (same virus). I never had chicken pox and wasn't vaccinated. They can do a blood test that will see if you are immune to varicella. It turned out that I was immune.

If your LO has gotten the vaccine, you should be fine. It is very unlikely that your LO will contract it. I'm pretty sure you need direct contact with an infected person to contract it. Also, the highest risk to the baby is in the first trimester of pregnancy. Based on everything you've said, I wouldn't be too concerned, but you might want to get the blood test so you know if you are immune. You can't get the vaccine while pregnant, but you can get it after if you want/need.
oliviaoblivia
pineapple / 12793 posts

Oct 1, 2015

My mom was exposed through my daycare when she was pregnant with my sister.... This was 30ish years ago so I'm foggy.... but it was a big deal. Call your midwife in the morning. Or maybe even telehealth tonight.

I don't want to scare you, but it's really dangerous if you contract it while pregnant.
JoyfulKiwi
nectarine / 2667 posts

Oct 1, 2015

I don't think right now your exposure was too risky, but DEFINITELY call your midwife first thing tomorrow! Getting chicken pox while pregnant has the potential for major complications, so you'll want to have some professional medical input.
I teach pre-k & a child was suspected of having chicken pox (thankfully she didn't!). I had it as a child, but that's not a guarantee of immunity, so my midwife had me take a blood test to be sure. I'm immune, but she said if I hadn't been & someone did have chicken pox at school that she would have recommended I not go to work until it was all gone!
Truth Bombs
grapefruit / 4321 posts

Oct 1, 2015

Exposure in pregnancy can definitely be a big deal. Get your titers tested ASAP to see if you have immunity. If you don't, they can't give you the vaccine but they can give you a shot of immune globulin to help protect you.
californiadreams
pomegranate / 3411 posts

Oct 1, 2015

@MusicaV: i've been meaning to get the vaccine for so long. i was tested and found not immune when i started my job 3 years ago. i was also pregnant back then and could not get the vaccine. then i was off on mat leave for a year and didn't think about it. I meant to get it, i think once i asked LOs ped and he couldn't safely advise me to get it while breastfeeding i think. then i ended up switching jobs when LO was almost 2 and that job also tested me and said i needed the vaccine but couldn't give it themselves. by the time i went to see my doctor, i was TTC and was told not to get pregnant for 3 months if i get the vaccine, so i thought i could wait it out another year (since i have not been immune my whole life after all). anyway, i should have been more diligent i guess.

i will call my midwife tomorrow and see what she says. i also have an appt with her next week.

@oliviaoblivia: it's okay, i am not that scared yet, but want to make sure i take the necessary precautions.

If my LO is almost 3 and on the recommended vaccine schedule, does that mean he is fully vaccinated against varicella? or does he have to get another one still at some point?
oliviaoblivia
pineapple / 12793 posts

Oct 1, 2015

@californiadreams: there is a second dose between 4-6. The first dose isn't 100% effective.
creativemomma15
pear / 1610 posts

Oct 1, 2015

@californiadreams: I'm sorry you are dealing with this stress. We just had our DD at the Dr for a rash and they said it's a small chance it's chicken pox... As for the fully covered question... The Dr said the first shot at 1yr makes them 92% covered and then they get another shot at 4 years. I am also pregnant, but had the chicken pox when I was a kid. I am thinking if the rash spreads on DD I am going to call my Dr to see what they say.
gracecat
clementine / 878 posts

Oct 1, 2015

My friend was vaccinated but while she was still within the four week period after the second shot she was exposed to someone with Shingles and ended up getting a very mild case of chicken pox. She was supposed to come stay at our home for a couple nights but after a quick internet search we decided against it as I am pregnant with #2. I think I had chicken pox as a child and my first blood test before TTC #1 didn't show I needed the vaccine again but it seems like you can still get it even if you have been vaccinated or have had chicken pox as a child so I would be extremely careful! Hopefully you are in the later third trimester? Most dangerous I read is between 13-20 weeks pregnant. Be careful!!
californiadreams
pomegranate / 3411 posts

Oct 1, 2015

@creativemomma15: i hope your LO doesn't have it!

@gracecat: I am 21w2d
creativemomma15
pear / 1610 posts

Oct 1, 2015

@californiadreams: thanks! Me too... I wasn't worried until reading this The pediatrician said I didn't need to worry since I've had the chicken pox but who knows. I really don't think it's what DD has... They were almost positive it's just a viral rash related to an ear infection.
californiadreams
pomegranate / 3411 posts

Oct 1, 2015

@creativemomma15: you are probably fine. I probably should be more worried than i am. I just can't do anything at this moment in time, so i am not stressing until i need to.

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potential exposure to chicken pox & pregnant

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