Measles: five weeks pregnant

[Ashla]

Hi everyone. I posted this in first trimester, but then I realised it might be better here.

I just found out my 15 month old has measles. He had a 40 degree (celcius) temp all weekend but his fever broke on Monday and we thought he was getting better. However, on Tuesday morning he was covered in a rash and my doctor says it is ordinary measles (ie not german measles/rubella). I had him vaccinated for measles at 12 months so I don't know how this happened.

I am 5w3d pregnant and am so worried about the baby I had a MMRV vaccine when I was young and then had a booster shot in 2009. But, I was also sick on the weekend. At the time I thought it was a tummy bug, but now I wonder if it was a mild case of measles.

Anyone have any experience with measles in the first trimester? Or know how long immunity for the vaccination lasts?

I'm going out of my mind with worry

 

[younglove]

Usually the immunity would last for life but your doctor can order a blood test to confirm (1) whether you have immunity and (2) whether or not you are currently infected. Ask them to do a blood titre, where they can see the levels in your blood.

I don't know too much else. But I know that in Canada our public health nurses (through the major city where I live) have lots of information on transmittable infections. I once called our city's public health information line to for information on the chicken pox and the nurses were incredibly knowledgeable/helpful on the subject (more so than my doctor). If you don't live in a major city, I'm sure they have them in another Australian city. Sometimes it's just helpful to speak with someone who knows the subject well.

We also have hotlines that provide information to pregnant women. Maybe you have a similar resource?

Best of luck hun

 

[Dream.dream]

Immunity or the measle vaccine can wear off in some people and there was actually a whole batch of people that had to have there's re done because of bad batches of vaccines in the 80s .

One of the routine blood tests they run in pregnancy is to check your rubella immunity . As for your son if you didn't do his vaccines on time could be why he isn't fully immune yet

 

[MYBezalel]

Hi, I have experience of having measles in the 1st trimester... But I never had any vaccine before it. So I am not sure if the result is different or the same. I also had the rashes, no fever though, but a lot of swollen lymph nodes in my neck & swollen joints. The infectious disease specialist told me that the symptoms vary. The said symptoms may or may not appear but w/ me, I went to see the infectious disease specialist & she confirmed it with me.

Have you checked with your OB?

 

[Ashla]

Hi everyone, thanks for replying. I spoke to a midwife (not my obstetrician's normal one as she was on holiday and the fill-in midwife was rather dismissive). She said that immunity can wear off but that because I had a booster in 2009 I should be fine. I plan to mention it to my OB when I see him next week.