Tanya:
Sorry for the long reply....this is what babycenter says about chicken pox while pg.:
Is it risky to be exposed to chicken pox during pregnancy?
In most cases, no. It's not a problem if you've already had chicken pox because your body has developed antibodies to the virus, which in most cases makes you immune to further infection. And even if you think you never had chicken pox, there's a good chance you did; surveys show that about 95 percent of adults born and raised in the United States are immune. (Women who grew up in tropical climates are somewhat less likely to be immune because chicken pox is less common in those areas.) If you have any doubts, see your practitioner for a blood test to find out if you're immune.
If you're not immune and you do develop chicken pox while you're pregnant, there's a very small chance that it will affect your baby and some possibility that it will be dangerous for you. But keep in mind that this situation is very rare: Researchers estimate that there are only about six cases of chicken pox for every 10,000 pregnancies.
What can happen to my baby if I get chicken pox while pregnant?
It depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy, though in general, the chances of the virus harming your baby are very small.
If you get chicken pox during the first half of pregnancy, your baby will be at a slight risk (1 to 2 percent) for getting something called congenital varicella syndrome, which can cause birth defects, including scarring of the skin, limb defects, eye problems, and other serious abnormalities. (In a very small number of cases, it can cause a miscarriage.) You'll have a detailed ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks to see if any there are signs of defects and a follow-up sonogram later to see how your baby is progressing. (Remember that a sonogram can't detect every problem, so it can't completely guarantee you a healthy baby.) Fortunately, though, the vast majority of babies whose mothers have chicken pox during the first or second trimester are not born with any of these problems.
If you get chicken pox in the second half of pregnancy but more than five days before giving birth, your baby will likely be fine. Here's why: About five days after coming down with chicken pox, your body develops antibodies to the virus and passes them on to your baby through the placenta, offering him protection that his own immature immune system can't provide. If you develop chicken pox five to 21 days before your baby is born, he might develop chicken pox within days after birth, but because of the antibodies he received from you, it's much less likely to be serious. (Some babies exposed to chicken pox in utero, particularly those exposed five to 21 days before birth, may develop a case of shingles during infancy or early childhood without having had chicken pox after birth, but it's usually not serious.)
If you come down with chicken pox between five days before giving birth and two days after delivery, then your baby will have been exposed to the virus but won't have had time to receive antibodies from you before birth. In this case, he has a 30 to 40 percent chance of developing what's called neonatal varicella, or newborn chicken pox, which can be serious and even life threatening, especially if left untreated. Fortunately, your baby's risk of a severe case can be greatly reduced if he gets a shot of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG), a blood product that contains chicken pox antibodies. (He'll get it soon after birth if your chicken pox showed up within 5 days of delivery or during labor or as soon as you discover your rash if it's within two days after delivery.) If your baby shows any sign of developing the infection — such as coming down with a fever or showing a rash of even a few spots — he'll be treated intravenously with the antiviral drug acyclovir.
What should I do if I'm exposed?
If you're not already immune or if you're uncertain of your status, call your practitioner and have a blood test done to confirm your status. If you find out you're not immune (or are unable to get results within four days of exposure), your practitioner may recommend that you get a shot of VZIG (varicella zoster immune globulin). Getting this shot within four days (96 hours) of exposure can lessen your chances of a severe infection, though it won't do anything to protect your baby. (Note: This protection lasts only about three weeks. If you're exposed to chicken pox again more than three weeks after your injection, you'll need another shot.)
This is all from
www.babycenter.com.
You're over 43"! I love that! I think that you are winning! I can't believe it's bad luck to give a pregnant woman a baby gift! Maybe you will be showered with gifts after your little girl arrives! A lot of help that is when you need stuff pretty much in the next 5-6 weeks right?
I think my Mom is coming this week to paint a mural all over the nursery. We have it narrowed down to an oversized garden with lots of butterflies, dragonflies, and lady bugs! The nursery will be my project for the next month or so.
Is anyone starting to hurt when they sleep? I have to switch sides several times during the night now because my hips will start aching. I wonder if it's because they are spreading out and the joints are lose, or if it's just because I'm packing an extra 35 lbs.
I'm getting so excited after seeing my sisters new little bundle of joy. I forgot how sweet they are.
I'm also having some colostrum....anyone else having this?
Paige
I think I'm running out of room. 