Chicken pox is normally a childhood illness. Is there a concern with chicken pox and pregnancy?

Chicken pox normally develops in children so the risk of it occurring during pregnancy is very rare. However should you be concerned if there is any problems between chicken pox and pregnancy?

Chicken pox is a viral infection that occurs most commonly in chicken. It's symptoms include red itchy rashes that last anywhere from 7 to 21 days. There is also headaches, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain in the first day or two. It is very rare that the symptoms get so bad that it becomes severe. However severe symptoms include any type of neurological problems such as slurred speech, walking, dizziness, vomiting, there is also cause for concern if a cough develops or difficulty breathing, if these were some of the symptoms it is best to consult a health care professional right away.

It is estimated that 80% of adults have had chicken pox as a child. Once you have had chicken pox the risk of developing chicken pox again is very slim. The body produces antibodies that cause the body to fight against any contamination of the virus in the future. Those that haven't had the virus as a child can get a vaccine and it will make them immune to the chicken pox. However what if you do come down with chicken pox while pregnant is there a risk?

This is very rare. The odds of getting chicken pox while pregnant are 1 to 7 people for every 10,000 pregnancies. Most people have developed the antibodies that fight it. However you could become exposed and what will happen to the baby? The chances are that if you develop chicken pox while pregnant that it comes down to timing. If it is within the first or second trimester then there really is no cause to be alarmed, and watching the illness like any other time is all that is needed.

What if the chicken pox are forming in the third trimester? The chances are that nothing will happen in this stage of the pregnancy. Nothing will happen to the baby as the body creates antibodies to fight off the virus. This also includes antibodies that will fight the virus for the baby. However it is always a good idea to check with a health care provider if there are any concerns about chicken pox while pregnant. There is a very low risk to both yourself and the baby, so if one is to be exposed to chicken pox while pregnant and you have already had the illness there is no need to worry. If you haven't had a vaccine or the illness already then there isn't much to worry about but it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the illness for the time being.