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How dangerous is chicken pox to pregnant women?

My three year son seems to be coming down with chicken pox. We're checking with the doctor in the morning. I'm 32 weeks pregnant and I've always been told chicken pox is dangerous to pregnant women. Both me and my husband have had chicken pox in the past.

Public Comments

1. chicken pox is one of few illnesses that can be passed to the fetus but if you have already had it then you cant get it again
2. If you already had it, your body has antibodies and will fight the virus right away. You will not get it, and neither will your baby. The only risk to your baby is if you contracted chicken pox for the first time while pregnant.
3. Chicken pox is dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn child if the mom contracts it while pregnant. You've had it, so there is little reason to worry. Hope your little dude feels better soon.
4. My mum had shingles a few weeks back and was worried for me as I am pregnant but she rang the NHS Direct and they told her because I have had chicken pox before we do not need to worry.
5. i just had a scare like this last week with my 19 month old son, and I'm 25 weeks pregnant, chicken pox is harmful to women you have and have had not had the virus before, if you have had it already it doesn't necessarily mean that you are safe while pregnant as a pregnant women's immunity is weaken quite dramatically with the pregnancy and are more susceptible to contracting viruses, with regards to the danger of the actual virus it is most harmful within the first 14weeks and last 30 weeks of pregnancy, as it can cause mental and developmental problems with the baby, and in some cases cause varicella pneumonia in the mother, you will need to get in contact with your doc or your local maternity hospital and they will take you through what you need to do, i needed to have blood taken to see if i in fact contracted the virus, i didn't thank god, but if i had i would have needed an antibody injection and to stay away from my son, my son didn't end up with chicken pox so i needn't have worried nut any rash on a child has a potential risk to its pregnant mother, i had to go down the road of getting it checked out to be on the safe side, so you can be assured that what i had to do was under doctors and midwives instructions, so definitely contact your nearest doctor or midwife to find out what you need to do asap, keep us updated!! best of luck!!!!!