Chicken Pox Questions

[lacysmommy]

We're selective vaxers and DH and I decided that we'd get the girls, 2 and 4 years old, vaccinated against it if they hadn't contracted it naturally by age 12 or so. I'd much rather them have a natural immunity rather than the vaccine. I brought up the idea of chicken pox parties to DH and he seemed very much against it. I broached the subject again today and found out the reason for his issues with CPPs-- when he was about 5 or so, his mother brought him to his cousins to get chicken pox. He remembers having a horrible case with it going into his throat and with huge scabs the size of silver dollars. I, however, had a much milder case of it with maybe a dozen or so scabs. Please help ease his fears of a worst-case scenario, and also go through with me the risks of the vaccine vs. the disease. Right now is the perfect time for them to be exposed because DD1 will be in kindergarten next year, and I'd like to get this over with now if we're going to do it!

Another thing-- we may be TTC in the near future. I am immune from CP. If my kids get it while I'm pregnant, what risk is there to the fetus?

[honeybunch2k8]

BUMP

Well, my case of CP was very mild-the worst symptom I had was boredom. Most of the people I know had mild chicken pox.

The cp vaccine is linked to shingles epidemic. Even in my experience, I hear about more and more adults with shingles.

cp vax and shingles

[taterbug1999]

I had a mild case as a child, so did my daughter. My dh said his was pretty bad. I had friends who had them everywhere... in throat, on eyes, vagina, the works.... I'm sure there's some medical explanation for the various severities, but my best opinion is it's a crap shoot. I am interested to see how my ds fairs when we can find them..........

As for us, we will find them for our ds or he can choose to get vaccinated when he becomes an adult. That is the path we've chosen for him. The vax is not long lasting, is not very effective, and increases the risk that your dc will get to experience shingles instead of the pox.....

It is still almost surreal to me that we vaccinate for the CP... I think that was when I became sure that vaxing was as much about productivity and the gross national product as it was protecting our wee ones. But then my grandparents, who survived all but small pox (cause they got that vax) think the MMR is crazy.... it's generational I suppose.

SO.... all this to say, I would go to the parties. Your kids will get what they get as to severity. Your dh was miserable for a week or so I would assume, but here he stands to tell you about it, right? They get the vax, they can always still get the pox, or shingles, and then what do you do when the efficacy period wains? This shot is just a no-brainer for us....

As for your tcc, as far as I know- if you have natural immunity, you should be unnaffected should your kids get CP while you're pregnant. Thus the blessings of natural immunity.

[AuburnBeth]

I'm lurking and reading along. I'm TTC, and had two cases of CP (5 years, 21 years), moderately severe. Wonder if I'm immune or just unable to become immune.

[taterbug1999]

AuburnBeth,

I would recommend having your titers checked. If you had a mild case there are odds that you can contract it again. So the 2 episodes are not totally unheard of. I would recommend the blood draw because you will know if you show enough titers to assume immunity, then you might have to decide from there what you want to do.

[plantmama]

I'm curious about this too. We just exposed our 2 unvaxed children and now it turns out that there are 2 moms in our playgroup who've never had it...one of whom is pregnant. I'm also pregnant but know I had a pretty good case when i was 8. I was exposed at least one other time when I was 12 and didn't get it and was exposed to shingles when I was pregnant wiht #1 and didn't worry about it. Now I'm wondering how responsible it is to bring my kids out pre symptoms? I figure we have a week before they're contagious.
And Lacy's mom, my dh had concerns too, but he did some research and came back fine about it. he's very anti vax though. He thought it was pretty messed up that I was actually trying to get our kids sick, which it kind of is...

[WhiteHorse]

My DH also got a very bad case of CP as a kid. For myself, I remember getting something (either rubella or CP) and it was mild whichever it was. The way I understand it is the younger they are, the more mild it is (but I could be wrong on that). My twins both had it (boys) when they were about 3 and one twin literally only had 3 spots on him - the other might have had a dozen or so. I am pretty sure my DH will not agree with me finding a CP party for DS, but in my mind it is best to do this when they are still toddlers....

[Marnica]

I had a very severe case at age 18....Even having had it very badly Id still want to expose my LO naturally, the younger the better. I will not get the cp vax for my DS

[battymama]

I had a horible case at 16. My mum took me to all my cousins and her friends children to try and get it - nothing then out of the blue i got it. I will try and expose poppy to it young, but even with my experience i still wont vax her for it.