[Submitted Question]

I am 24 weeks pregnant with my second child. Yesterday I heard that there is an outbreak of chicken pox at my first child's nursery school. What should I do? How dangerous is chicken pox in pregnancy? As far as I know I haven't had it yet.

Janet E., Ohio

[WombToBloom]

First, you should call your doctor and schedule a blood test which will tell you whether or not you are immune to chicken pox (either from having had it or from a vaccination). If you are not immune, there is a risk to you and your baby if you contract chicken pox. Your doctor may go ahead and give you a prescription to help stave off some of the effects.

The good news is that the most severe potential effects of chicken pox on a fetus will occur during the first half of pregnancy (0 to 20 weeks). Your body, during the second half of pregnancy, will be able to pass antibodies to the virus through the placenta to protect your baby. You will be at risk though for developing chicken pox pneumonia, which can lead to preterm labor.

[Nicolexx]

Too Much Information in this Post and Thank you so much for sharing this kind of information with us.