Exposed to chicken pox while pregnant...

[kblackstone444]

I'm 21 weeks pregnant. I had chicken pox when I was 12, my son had chicken pox about 5 years ago, so I have been re-exposed to them since, with no ill effects. I just found out that I was exposed to chicken pox somewhere between 17 and 19 weeks. I had a regular sonogram at 19 weeks, everything seemed normal, but who knows what could and could not show up on a sonogram. I've been extra tired the last couple of weeks, but I assumed it as just pregnancy related. The baby has become very active in the last couple weeks, but I figure that's probably because he's finally getting big enough so I feel him all the time. I plan on calling my OB to ask on Monday, but until then, it's just me and my thoughts... is my baby in any risk if I was exposed to chicken pox, probably between 17 and 19 weeks? If so, what are the long term and short term risks?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I am pretty sure that the only risk to the baby would be if you have never had cp before. Since you already have the antibodies that would protect the baby.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

I am pretty sure that the only risk to the baby would be if you have never had cp before. Since you already have the antibodies that would protect the baby.

[HeatherB]

Yep, you've clearly got antibodies so you've got nothing to worry about.

[Smokering]

Yup. I actually found out I was pregnant with DD because I was exposed to CP and someone suggested I test. The doctor said it was fine because I'd had the disease.

[pregnant@40]

Your baby is safe. Your antibodies last a lifetime, and they confer protection to your child while he/she is in the womb.

[kblackstone444]

Okay, good! Thank you, everybody!

[lillymonster]

I think you are fine. I got low iron around 18 weeks and started getting tired. It's probably unrelated. I didn't get chicken pox until I was 16 and it was very very mild, I had it a few days before I realized it. Probably infected a ton of other people, but I was told by many doctors that I had enough antibodies now, no matter how mild I had it.

[allisonrose]

I'm with everyone else on this. I visited a friend a month or two ago and her daughter had some hives. My mind went to CP first since I know she's nonvaxing and hoping her daughter will have the chance to catch wild CP. I asked if that were possible and the friend said her glands are fine and it more of a rash than spots. Later, my brother's girlfriend told me that I should be careful of getting exposed to CP. I told her that it'd be fine because I've had them and her response was "you have, but the baby hasn't". That logic just didn't add up in my mind so I did a bit of Googling and found that the fetus is protected by the maternal immune system in event of exposure.

Just thought I'd share.

[babyjelly]

My mom's OB wasn't worried in the slightest when my sister and I had chicken pox during her first trimester with the baby sister, because Mom had already had CP. A super cool side effect, though...my baby sister never had CP, but totally has antibodies from my mom still...20 years later
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[kblackstone444]

Originally Posted by babyjelly

My mom's OB wasn't worried in the slightest when my sister and I had chicken pox during her first trimester with the baby sister, because Mom had already had CP. A super cool side effect, though...my baby sister never had CP, but totally has antibodies from my mom still...20 years later
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lol Now that IS cool!

[ema-adama]

If you are really worried, you can have titres drawn. My OB checked my titres for many VPD's in my first trimester (I don't live in the US). I had IgG for everything except CMV. I had measles, chickenpox and rubella 25+ years ago, and my titres are still good. Which was reassuring.

Chances are good your immunity is strong enough to keep you and your baby safe.