Exposed to Chicken Pox

Updated on April 16, 2009
M.Z. asks from Indianapolis, IN
10 answers

i am 9 1/2 months pregnant. we are inducing on tuesday. a woman that i work with found out that her son has chicken pox. she has never had them either. i had them when i was young. i am just nervous about the baby in utero. can she catch it? should i call the dr.? or am i being a worry wart for nothing?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

thanks ladies for all your great advice. turns out that her son had chicken pox, but she already had them as an infant (which is why she thought she never had them.) dr says i should be fine and not to worry

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.I.

answers from Indianapolis on

I went through this during one of my pregnancies and I asked the doctor about it. She told me the baby has all the same immunities as I do while in utero and also while breastfeeding. Since I had already had chicken pox as a child, baby was also protected. :) If I were you I would mention it just to be on the safe side, but I think everything is just fine! Good luck, I'm sure you're excited to see that little face!! ~K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

Double-check with your doctor,but to help you sleep better tonight, here is my 2 cents worth. I work in a hospital NICU. Your baby should be fine since you had the chickenpox. You should have immunity. If by chance, you had such a mild case that you don't have immunity, here is how you would catch them from your co-worker. 10-21 days after her initial contact with her child who has chickenpox, she would be able to come down with them. You are contagious 24 hours before the first symptoms, (usually a fever). If your doctor feels there is a concern, they will alert your baby's Ped, and they can give an immunoglobulin to the baby that will help the baby have a milder case if he develops chickenpox.
I hope this helps. good luck on tuesday. I hope all goes well. I was induced with 3 of my 4 babies, and had no issues with their deliveries. Sometimes mother nature needs a nudge.
R.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

I think you are worrying about nothing. Did you personally come in contact with the child who has the chicken pox? Was the mother running a fever and starting to break out with chicken pox? If not you really weren't exposed to them.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.V.

answers from Columbus on

The baby should be protected by your inmunity since you have already had them. Also you will want to try to breatfeed to further pass on you immunity to the baby. Ask your doc anyways.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Bloomington on

tell your doctor. we are not professionals. this is something he should know about. hopefully it's not a problem... but he should know.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.W.

answers from Cleveland on

I am pretty sure you should let your doctor know. Just incase.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

It doesn't hurt to call the dr but I don't know if they can get them that way. You could be a carrier and the baby could get them on the way out maybe!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

I'm much more worried about being induced than chicken pox in-utero. You can tell the doc, and maybe they will put off inducing unless really medically necessary, but I don't think there's a chance she can get them. Breastfeeding will be a big help.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Dayton on

I was exposed to chicken pox/shingles in 2 of my pregnancies. Both times the doctors said not to worry about it since I had it as a child. Also, the possibility that the woman carried it from her child then on her to you is slim, so I wouldn't worry too much. Do let the doctor know.

To make you feel better, I'm a nurse and took care of my pt for 4 hours before we knew he had shingles. My ob told me, "well, as long as you weren't swimming in it, you should be fine." Let the dr know, but it shouldn't be an issue. Good luck with the baby!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.M.

answers from Dayton on

Hi M.!

My M. was pregnant with my youngest sister when me and my middle sister had bad cases of chicken pox. My youngest sister was born perfectly healthy, but the strange thing is she has NEVER caught the chicken pox and now is an adult. She had been around many children with chicken pox because our M. always babysat from home while we young and my sister worked at a daycare before becoming a M. and has never been infected. Her doctor always wondered if she developed some sort of immunity to it since my M. was pregnant with her and caring for us? I would just check with your doctor to be safe! Best wishes!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions