Chicken pox and pregnancy

[beauty]

I never had this skin condition once and I never had a chickenpox vaccine since I was a kid but my 26 years old step-sister has it. We were trying to avoid close contact with her to prevent spread of illness because some of us are highly at risk of infection. I want to take her to the doctor because she is on her first month of pregnancy and I am worried about her condition. What should I do? Do you know someone who is pregnant and suffered from chicken pox?

[orphanannie]

She definitely needs to go to the doctor because they will need to keep an eye on things. During the first half of pregnancy, chicken pox can cause birth defects, including blindness. If you've been around her at all, you've already been exposed and chicken pox really isn't dangerous to you so yes, I would say get her to the doctor right away. She needs to tell the doctor BEFORE going that she either has or believes she has chicken pox so they can keep her away from other pregnant women or infants. Again - definitely get her to the doctor so they can follow up on this for the safety of the unborn child.

[Arya]

I agree; a doctor visit is definitely in order! You may want someone who is already immune to take her though, since chicken pox as an adult is nothing to mess around with. Since she is pregnant, her system is already immunocompromised, making it even riskier for her, and there is some danger to the embryo.

[ashleybrown]

Absolutely a doctor visit is must. And do better care of your kid.