chicken pox when pregnant

[Anonymous]

Hi! I'm actually posting this thread for my friend. she is on her 4th month and found out that she has chicken pox. it is so sad...how dangerous is it as far as fetus is concern? so worried for her... pls. share! thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry--she must be a nervous wreck on top of very uncomfortable from the pox.

The first thing she needs to do it talk to her doctor immediately about the risks of contracting during her pregnancy. The doctor will be able to assess risk to the fetus and give her statistics about possibilities. I had actually never had the chicken pox and it was confirmed during prenatal screening that I did not have the antibodies. I wound up getting vaccinated, but in my reading I came across statistics that the risks to the fetus are greater in the first half of pregnancy than the second, with the exception of the elevated risk to baby of mom contracts right around delivery time.

Tell your friend to absolutely have a consult with her OB asap. She will find a lot of information online, of course, but she needs to meet with her OB.