Slap cheek ( parvo virus) .. Please read

[LeoTheLion]

Hello .. Today 37 of us completed a 24 mile walk along part of the Offas Dyke Path to raise money for Cuddles & Liverpool Womens Hospital and more importantly raise awareness for Slap Cheek (Parvo Virus) in pregnancy.

The illness – known as slapped cheek syndrome – is common in childhood and causes a rash or reddening to the face. But it can be fatal if expectant mums get infected.
My friend was one of three cases among pregnant women from North Wales at the time, her baby daughter Seren now 16 weeks was the only one to survive. She was born by emergency caesarian at 36 weeks weighing 4lb12.

At 26 weeks pregnant my friend felt very unwell and her legs had swelled up and there was not much movement in the baby. She went to our local hospital and they scanned her and referred her to Liverpool women’s hospital there she found out that Seren had caught parvo virus and was very unwell.
Seren was so anaemic her hb was 2.6 she needed a blood transfusion in the womb as soon as possible to save her life. Seren was very poorly in the womb because as well as her belly being swollen with fluid, it was also in her lungs and around her heart and brain. She was in heart failure and it was not certain whether she would survive the night. But a blood transfusion saved her. Seren had a second blood transfusion two weeks later when her haemoglobin dropped again.
Seren then fought for 10 weeks to get better and when she was delivered at 36 weeks all the fluid (hydrops) had resolved.

Parvo virus only affects the baby in a small number of cases because the majority of pregnant women are immune to it.

But because its harmless in children it gets swept under the rug & mums to be get forgotten about.

Today we raised £4500 for a very good cause xx

 

[whatwillbe]

Thank u for posting this, I have been a bit worried about slap cheek since yesterday, what it is before I got pregnant my 7 yr old son had had slap cheek twice, well yesterday when I picked him up from school his cheeks looked a bit red, like how they did when he had slap cheek, only not as red, anyway I noticed my cheeks seemed a bit flushed too , not sure if I would be immune as I don't know if vie had it before, I'm going to the hospital on Monday for my anti d injection so will ask them then x

 

[Luzelle]

Wondeful work you did, and I am very glad for your friend that she was diagnosed and treated in time for her baby to survive.

 

[Taylah]

Just wanted to say thank you very much for trying to raise awareness about parvo virus !
I was infected with parvo virus at 14 weeks after my 7 yo daughter caught the virus from school where it was spreading around like wildfire , since I was aware of my infection from the start ( due to my daughters bright red cheeks ) I got tested , I was monitored very closely with weekly scans done by fetal medicine specialist & thank god after almost 10 weeks my bub has been given the all clear & has been extremely lucky to not have caught the virus from me , I am all to aware of what could have happened after all the worry I have been through !
I too am very concerned about the lack of warning / awareness about parvo virus , when it was going around my daughters school there was one line in the school newsletter saying
" please be advised head lice & slap cheek are going around the school "
" this can be dangerous for pregnant women "
I have since approached the school principal and asked that a more appropriate warning / letter be sent home explaining the virus & dangers, I was basically brushed off & told its too late once we are aware of the virus because it is contagious 2 weeks before symptoms appear , she was quite rude about it especially considering I was in the middle of all the stress & worry of it , so I left it at that & have written a letter to the department of education ( I'm yet to hear back )

 

[embo216]

Great to raise awareness, my baby contracted parvo virus, he's now on the mend but we had a truly wonderful medical team who gave him a blood transfusion at 21 weeks. I was so shocked when they told me what he'd got as I just didn't realise the risk x

 

[LeoTheLion]

I didnt have a clue about the virus until my friends beby became ill .. it took about 2 weeks befor they dignosed it as parvo tho, she worked as a medical receptionist in doctors so think it was caught by someone coming in there.
Alot of pregnant women wont be affected but its nasty if they are. I defo think more info should be out there. x