chicken pox and the journey to school

nadnad

if you havent had chicken pox and get it when pregnant it can be harmful to the baby.

silvercar

I can't see how you would be allowed in the school playground with a child with chicken pox. There is the risk that any of the other mothers could be pregnant.

You can't be the only one going to the school from your area, either find another mum who can take your children to school or find someone (who has already had chicken pox) to look after your little one while you do the school run.

elisamoose

But chicken pox is infectious before the spots appear so we could all be in contact with it without knowing!

Nicki

elisamoose wrote: »

But chicken pox is infectious before the spots appear so we could all be in contact with it without knowing!

Yes, but in those circumstances there is nothing the mum can do about that. Just like I could have HIV and not know it, and if so would be less culpable if I passed it on to someone via an open wound, than if I knew I was positive and still took the same risk.

I was exposed to chicken pox at 6 weeks pregnant by a mum who brought her child to my son's birthday party knowing that her brother had just come out in spots 2 days previously and her child hadn't had it. It isn't as high risk as rubella but exposure in the first trimester can still lead to serious disabilities in the unborn child, and it isn't necessary to touch the rash, as someone else suggested, to contract it. The NHS advice is that being in the same room as someone with chicken pox for more than 15 minutes will put you at potential risk of infection, so sitting beside an infected child on the bus for a shorter period would do it too.

Leaving aside the pregnant ladies, it would also not be good for anyone with compromised immunity (eg those with cancer having chemo or radiotherapy) or the elderly to be exposed, so my own personal view is that the only responsible thing to do is to keep your child properly quarantined, unless you know that all of the people he will come into contact with, know about the chicken pox and are happy to take the risk of exposure.

ethelsmum

When my dd had chicken pox I had to take her to the doctors which is a bus ride away - I took her in the buggy with the raincover down.

Sallys_Savings

I'd just like to say my friend "died" with complications after contracting chicken pox at the late stages of pregnancy. Fortunately her son was delivered safely via ceaserian but we lost her.

Bettyboop

Sallys_Savings wrote: »

I'd just like to say my friend "died" with complications after contracting chicken pox at the late stages of pregnancy. Fortunately her son was delivered safely via ceaserian but we lost her.

That's very sad. Must have taken some time to get over it. I had chicken pox as a child and my husband only caught it when I was pregnant with our 1st child, needless to say the doctor confirmed that me or baby would not be harmed as I had already had it...however I did kick him out our bedroom for 2 weeks though...just to be safe :rolleyes: