pregnant and exposed to MMR vax rash

[penstamon]

Please no judgements or comments about the fact that we vax. Thanks!

DS got his first MMR shot the week before I found out I was pregnant. Since then he came down with a fever for a few days and then the characteristic rash. He is recovering just fine but of course I have been in close contact with him the whole time. I know there is great danger if I am exposed to the actual disease (measles) while pregnant, especially in the first tri, but of course the vax are live attenuated virus.

Any idea if this poses any threat to the little bean? I received MMR vax as a child, but now that I thought about it I'm really nervous.

[MaerynPearl]

if you are immune, little bean will be fine.

i never realized this before but the initial blood workup at my doctors office for pregnancy actually includes testing my immunity to measles/rubella... thus I know now that my immunization as a child did indeed work.

[penstamon]

Thanks for the reply. I went through all my pg records from the OBs (got paper copies for midwife) but they did not include the initial blood workup. I'm sure you are right and they include a titer and someone probably would have said something if I was not immune or the titer was low? I can only hope and wait until morning...

[fairymom]

I don't want to set you to worry but I would talk to your MW and see if they have deffinate results on your test and if not getting one done asap. Just because you were vaxed as a child doesn't mean you have the immunity. I just found out w/my blood tests w/this lo that I have the immunity to CX (which I had as a child) and rubella but none to measles and mumps even though I was completely vaxed. I'd be cautious. Hugs. And sorry if I caused more worry.

[ema-adama]

Try to get your titre results/get blood drawn to measure your titres.

Also, how long ago did you son have the rash? While I am not aware of documented cases where someone contracted measles from the live virus shedding, it is possible theoretically. I am guessing there would be in incubation period, hence my question as to when your son had the rash.

I think it is highly unlikely that you have anything to worry about.

[Evelynmia'smom]

My dd just had her mmr vax and had the rash last week. I specifically asked her pediatrician if giving her the vax while I was pregnant posed any risk to the baby and he said not as long as I had been immunized as a child, which I had. I didn't get a rash, so I'm assuming all is fine. I think you will be fine, but if you are concerned ask your care provider.

[Jayray]

Also, what I've read is that USUALLY the rash is not contagious--it's not actually measles. It is possible to get real measles from the vax, but it's very, very rare.

[Lady Lilya]

Even if your titers didn't show any immunity, your body probably has memory immunity. After a while, we stop making antibodies that we don't need. But it has been shown that we resume making them if we are exposed. But, there is no way to test for that.