Chickenpox and pregnancy

Chickenpox can often be treated on its own, but if chickenpox and pregnancy are a problem, there are ways to protect yourself and your baby if you're at risk of getting chickenpox while pregnant.

What is a chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a viral infection, also called varicella. Accompanied by a rash in the form of small reddish spots or pimples. Fever and body aches usually occur before the rash appears. In most cases, chickenpox is contracted during childhood, although there are cases when an adult does not have immunity and becomes ill with chickenpox. About 95% of women of childbearing age are immune to chickenpox.

Who is most at risk of getting chickenpox during pregnancy?

If you have ever had chickenpox, you are probably immune to chickenpox.

If you are NOT infected with chickenpox and are pregnant, you may be at risk of contracting the virus. You should avoid contact with people who have chickenpox.

If you're not sure if you've ever had chickenpox, your doctor may do a blood test to see if you have chickenpox antibodies. If the test shows that you have antibodies, you are immune to chickenpox.

How will my baby be affected if I get chickenpox?

How this will affect your baby depends on how far along you are during your pregnancy.

If chickenpox occurs in the first trimester, the risk of birth defects is 0.5 to 1%.
If chickenpox occurs between the 13th and 20th week, the risk of birth defects is 2%.
If chickenpox occurs within 5 days or less of delivery, or within 1-2 days of delivery, there is a 20-25% chance that your baby will develop chickenpox, known as congenital chickenpox.
If chickenpox occurs within 6-12 days after birth, the baby may still get chickenpox. In this case, your child may receive some of the varicella antibodies you have created that will make congenital varicella benign.

Possible birth defects may include scarring, vision problems, poor growth, small head size, developmental delay and/or mental retardation.

What can I do to protect my child?

If you've already had chickenpox, you don't need to do anything to protect your baby during pregnancy. Your body must have antibodies that protect you from chickenpox. so your child will be protected.

If you have never had chickenpox before and are pregnant, you may be given an injection of anti-shingles immune globulin when you come into contact with someone who has chickenpox. Herpes zoster immunoglobulin should be administered within 4 days of first contact. This is only given if you do not already have chickenpox antibodies.

You can get the chickenpox vaccine if you do not have chickenpox antibodies and are not pregnant. You must wait 3 months before trying to conceive.

Can you get chickenpox twice?

It is rare for a person to get chickenpox twice, but people with immune problems are at high risk of re-infection. There are also cases where people think they got chickenpox when they were young when it was actually a rash or something.