Pregnant and exposed to someone with chickenpox—what should I do?

I have a question for the veterans here while I wait for my doctor to get back from vacation. How contagious is chickenpox, really? My mother is convinced I’ve had it before—she isn't entirely certain—but my son just battled it through a few months ago, and somehow, despite being by his side 24/7, I didn't catch a single thing. Now, I’ve just taken a test and found out I’m pregnant—about five weeks along—and I was in close contact with an infected child just a couple of days ago, even before any spots appeared. So, is it actually possible that I lack immunity, yet managed to dodge it when my son was sick? I am honestly spiraling a bit with worry regarding the pregnancy and the whole chickenpox situation 🙂

Steven Jackson13 said:I have a question for the veterans here while I wait for my doctor to get back from vacation. How contagious is chickenpox, really? My mother is convinced I’ve had it before—she isn't entirely certain—but my son just battled it through a few months ago, and somehow, despite being by his side 24/7, I didn't catch a single thing. Now, I’ve just taken a test and found out I’m pregnant—about five weeks along—and I was in close contact with an infected child just a couple of days ago, even before any spots appeared. So, is it actually possible that I lack immunity, yet managed to dodge it when my son was sick? I am honestly spiraling a bit with worry regarding the pregnancy and the whole chickenpox situation 🙂

From what I understand, you're most infectious once the chickenpox actually breaks out, because the fluid in those blisters is what carries the virus. If you truly did have it in the past, your antibodies should protect both you and the baby. The incubation period usually runs about two to three weeks. You absolutely need to talk to your OB/GYN and follow their lead on this!

The crux of the matter—if I can call it that—is that my mother isn't entirely certain whether I’ve ever actually had chickenpox before. However, I am fairly convinced that I have; after all, when my son caught them recently, I didn't contract the virus myself, and there were a few other instances where I was exposed to someone with chickenpox and came out unscathed. My real concern, though—and this is what keeps me up—is whether they pose any risk to the baby if I am indeed immune. Specifically, if I've already had it, is there any danger in being in contact with someone suffering from chickenpox while I'm pregnant?

Steven Jackson13 said:The crux of the matter—if I can call it that—is that my mother isn't entirely certain whether I’ve ever actually had chickenpox before. However, I am fairly convinced that I have; after all, when my son caught them recently, I didn't contract the virus myself, and there were a few other instances where I was exposed to someone with chickenpox and came out unscathed. My real concern, though—and this is what keeps me up—is whether they pose any risk to the baby if I am indeed immune. Specifically, if I've already had it, is there any danger in being in contact with someone suffering from chickenpox while I'm pregnant?

I already addressed this in my last post: your antibodies protect your baby while they're still in the womb. That said, don't just take my word for it. You should call the CDC or your local health department and ask them directly; they are the actual experts who can give you a definitive answer.