When you become pregnant, your primary focus is to ensure your health and that of your baby. However, protecting yourself from every illness can be challenging. One such illness is chickenpox, a highly contagious viral infection that can pose serious risks during pregnancy. Thankfully, there are ways to safeguard both you and your unborn child if you find yourself at risk of chickenpox.
What is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a viral infection characterized by an itchy rash that appears as small red spots or blisters. Symptoms usually begin with a fever and body aches before the rash emerges. While chickenpox commonly affects children, adults can also contract the virus if they haven’t been previously infected. Fortunately, around 95% of women of childbearing age are immune to chickenpox.
Who is at Higher Risk During Pregnancy?
If you’ve had chickenpox in the past, your body likely has immunity against the virus. However, if you haven’t been infected before and you’re pregnant, you could be at risk. It’s crucial to avoid close contact with anyone who has chickenpox. If you’re uncertain about your immunity, your healthcare provider can perform a blood test to check for varicella antibodies. A positive result indicates that you are immune.
How Can Chickenpox Affect Your Baby?
The impact of chickenpox on your baby largely depends on when the infection occurs during your pregnancy. According to the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS):
- If chickenpox occurs in the first trimester, the risk of birth defects is around 0.5-1%.
- If it happens between weeks 13 and 20 of pregnancy, the risk increases to about 2%.
- If you contract chickenpox within five days before delivery or one to two days after giving birth, there’s a 20-25% chance your baby will develop congenital chickenpox.
- If the infection occurs 6-12 days before delivery, your baby might still acquire chickenpox, but they could receive some maternal antibodies, leading to a milder form of the illness.
Potential birth defects may include scarring, eye problems, low birth weight, microcephaly (small head size), developmental delays, and/or intellectual disabilities.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Baby?
If you have previously had chickenpox, there’s no need for additional precautions during your pregnancy, as your body has likely built up protective antibodies for both you and your baby. However, if you have never had chickenpox, you can receive a zoster immune globulin (ZIG) injection if you come into contact with someone who has the virus. This should be administered within four days of the exposure.
For those who have not had chickenpox and are not pregnant, a chickenpox vaccine is available. It is advised to wait three months after vaccination before trying to conceive.
Can You Get Chickenpox More Than Once?
While rare, it is possible for someone to contract chickenpox more than once, particularly if they have a compromised immune system. Additionally, some individuals may mistakenly believe they had chickenpox in childhood when they actually experienced a different rash.
For more information on various myths and facts about pregnancy, check out this insightful post on common myths about pregnancy.
In summary, being informed about chickenpox during pregnancy is crucial. The risks associated with the virus can be managed through awareness and preventive measures. If you’re considering home insemination options, sites such as Make a Mom provide innovative solutions, including reusable options. Additionally, for those in Las Vegas looking for a free sperm donor matching service, Vegas Pregnancy might be helpful. Understanding the process of home insemination can be explored further at Make a Mom’s how it works page. For those looking for comprehensive information about IVF, the Mayo Clinic is an excellent resource. For more on family planning and related topics, Modern Family Blog offers valuable insights.