I am nearly 8 wks pregnant and have just been informed that chicken pox are going around in the school I work. Should I stay away, when are they most contages? I have had them when I was younger, can they harm my baby if ive already had them? And if so what kind of damage can it do ?
2007-06-11 04:19:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
The chicken pox can be very harmfull to your unborn baby. They can make your baby have growing probs and affect there brain growth to. If you had been in contact with the kids you should go to the doctor.
2007-06-11 04:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The risk of Chicken Pox to an unborn baby is only if the mother has contracted them. If you had Chicken Pox as a child, you are most likely immune and there is no danger of causing any harm to your baby. Even if you are not immune and get the Chicken Pox while pregnant, the risk to the unborn baby is quite small. There is a possibility of the baby getting something called a congenital varicella syndrome, which can cause defects in a baby's eyes, heart, or limbs. The risk of this is quite low. If you are concerned about being immune, there is a simple blood test you can have that determines if you are immune to Chicken Pox. Contact your doctor to express your concern and get his/her recommendation. "The most risky time to come down with chicken pox is between five days before giving birth and two days after delivery." If you know you are immune to Chicken Pox, there is no risk to your baby and no need to be concerned. A person with Chicken Pox is contagious 1-2 days before the erruption of the pox and stay contagious until all the blisters have scabbed over.
2007-06-11 05:14:11 · answer #2 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure about Varicella/Chicken pox being harmful to babies but I am sure that Measles are. Varicella is most contagious days before symptoms appear until crusts form in the skin.
Searched in Wikipedia and this is what I found:
Congenital defects in babies
These may occur if the child's mother was exposed to VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus) during pregnancy. Effects on the fetus may be minimal in nature but physical deformities range in severity from under developed toes and fingers, to severe anal and bladder malformation. Possible problems include:
* Damage to brain: encephalitis, microcephaly, hydrocephaly, aplasia of brain
* Damage to the eye (optic stalk, optic cup, and lens vesicles), microphthalmia, cataracts, chorioretinitis, optic atrophy.
* Other neurological disorder: damage to cervical and lumbosacral spinal cord, motor/sensory deficits, absent deep tendon reflexes, anisocoria/Horner's syndrome
* Damage to body: hypoplasia of upper/lower extremities, anal and bladder sphincter dysfunction
* Skin disorders: (cicatricial) skin lesions, hypopigmentation
2007-06-11 04:32:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked my doctor the same question because my husband had been exposed to chicken pox. Apparently, as long as you have had the chicken pox, your baby is fine.
2007-06-11 04:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by Jessica C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you've already had chicken pox, you should have antibodies already that will protect both you and your baby. No special precautions should be necessary. You just need to be certain that it was chicken pox that you had.
2007-06-11 04:25:30 · answer #5 · answered by Emily H 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
stay home from school! Chicken pox are really dangerous for adults esp. 2nd time around! Better to be safe than sorry. stay home!
2007-06-11 04:27:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to stay away from school. Seriously. Call your OB and see if he thinks he should write you a note to keep you out of school.
I wish I could be more specific, but I seem to recall there being some danger associated with chicken pox.
Best-
DN
2007-06-11 04:22:23 · answer #7 · answered by Dalice Nelson 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i don't know about chicken pox but i had shingles when i was preg. and nothing bad happened. i had to take some meds. for it and it went away.
2007-06-11 04:24:46 · answer #8 · answered by island_chick21 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have already had the pox then you have nothing to worry about!!!
2007-06-11 04:46:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you had them before you should be fine. The most risky time to get them during the first half or your pregnancy they can cause birth defects or if you get them right before you deliver, the baby may get them from you. Call your doctor if your nervous because they can test you to make sure you're immune.
2007-06-11 04:27:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋