What next!!!!

[Mrs_P]

I am so sick of problems at the moment, feeling really sorry for myself - sorry to moan but hoping someone can tell me it will be alright!

I have just picked up son up from school and he has chicken pox - my little girl is due next week. It feels like this pregnancy has been doomed from the beginning i seem to run into one thing after another. I rang GP and they said she'll be fine as long as she stays inside me she will only really be at risk if she's born whilst he's still contagious.

All well and good but i have 6 days to go and another son who has not had chicken pox and my middle son has been contagious from 2 days before the spots, so its most likely my youngest will have already caught it. It can take up to 21 days to show so one way or another one of them is going to be going through it around her. What do i do? Doctors advice was to keep her well away from her brother and hope its cleared up before she comes. But what about my other son, i can't send him away for a couple of weeks just in case (i was dreading spending one night away from him whilst i deliver and how he will cope - i have never left him) but unless he is showing symptoms he will be catching before the rash comes out so i won't know to keep her away (its air borne so she'll catch it being in the same room).

It feels like i'm just being tempted with the idea of a daughter and that one way or another she will be taken away

[Dana-Alicia]

My son came home with chickenpocks when my youngest was only a few weeks old. I was so worried! I phoned my GP and he said it usually doesn't cause a lot of problems. He did get it and wasn't sick from it, just had a few pocks. But the thing is they don;t become immune, so he will probably get it again.

[mommymachine]

Oh my gosh! That's such a load of stress that you don't need right now. Are you planning on breastfeeding? That will help her immunity some. Hope someone who know better than I chimes in.

[Mrs_P]

no idea what to expect, done some online research and some of it says its really mild as long as the baby inherits your immunity - other parts seem to say it can be really dangerous and even fatal if the baby catches it properly.

With a 14-21 day incubation period and ds3 still to catch it its looking more and more likely that one of the boys will have it (or be getting it) when she is born - really don't have any idea what to do (other than cross my legs but with her due in 6 days i doubt she'll stop in another 3-4 weeks!)

[queen-bee]

This is tough.. I would consider different even extreme options like getting someone help you with the boys (your parents or DH taking time off) and try to be isolated with her in a separate room. I remember doing this when DS3 got rash after chicken pox vaccine, I was around 8 weeks pregnant with my precious ht girl. Luckily it was school holidays and my 15 y.o. was a great help looking after two younger kids. Take care and hope this will be over soon and the whole family will be enjoying your little newborn princess.

[Rainbow baby]

Ahh my eldest just got over the pox, my other two boys didn't catch it and my niece who I baby sit didn't get it either (12 months). Nor did I or any one else. We were just told to keep a very good hand washing and bathing routine used a lot of antibacterial sprays. Do not share cups, cutlery normal things you would share...bath towels and washing sponges and hair brushes and so forth. As soon as the pox scab over they are apparently not contagious any more. My boys took 4-5 days for all of the pox to scab over.

[OneLastDream]

Ah mrs p - please try not to worry. Ds1 caught chicken pox when ds2 was 4 months old. Ds2 did catch it but they bathed together and I didn't breast feed for that long. But, I was told it is unusual for little ones to get it as they should have your immunity if breast feeding. I would speak to midwife and maybe another doctor - NHS direct or something as your doctor seems to be saying things that will be so difficult for you to follow. At the end of the day you need to do whatever is safest and what makes you feel better but I think you are like me and then would want dveryone involved. How old is ds3? Is he only 2? If so he won't remember xx keep your chin up xx lots of love xx

[Mrs_P]

thanks girls, doesn't seem any better for having slept on it. My little man is nearly 3 but he is such a mommies boy he never wants anyone else. I am considering keeping them apart until he has spots as there is no way he will avoid it now - he's been far to close to his brother its more a matter of when than if.

I just keep hoping if he starts to come down with spots soon and she is late then maybe i will get away with it - although thats highly unlikely, feels like she could fall out any second and he doesn't have a hint of anything. Just seems bad that i may have to stop him meeting his sister even if he is not ill (as by the time i know he is ill its too late she'd have it)

[RKT Mama]

If you have had it she will get some immunity anyway, however if you should get it, seek medical advice urgently.
I would look at the situation when she is born, chickenpox immunoglobulin is available which provides some protection as well if they are worried although its a bit of a horrid injection for a newborn

[missmegrn]

Just popping in on this....chicken pox can also be spread via the air from those who are contagious to those who are not immune to pox. Good luck in keeping everyone pox free