Slapped cheek, very worried :-(

[firefly15]

So last night I had a call from a friend to say that her little boy had just been diagnosed with slapped cheek - and we saw them on Friday so he would definitely have been contagious. Feeling really worried as this is the worst possible time to come into contact with it

Waiting to call my midwife to go in for a blood test to see if I'm immune or not.

 

[Leliana]

Let me start by saying try not to worry too much about this. I had exactly the same experience during my first pregnancy at the same time as you. I used to teach little children and two kids that I come into contact with were diagnosed with slapcheek.

The good news is that 60% of adults are already immune - most of us have it as children and our parents just put it down to a 'rash'. If you are not immune, there is only a small chance you would have caught it. Even if you catch it, it doesn't necessarily cross over to the baby and even if it DOES it doesn't always cause problems. If you do have slapcheek you will probably be monitored more closely and given scans just to check on the baby. I have heard of cases where the baby has been affected by this (including at least one person on here) however my doctor told me that in all the years he has been practicing, he can't remember a single time where it has happened. I found that really reassuring!

I really hope this helps you as I was going out of my mind with worry. It will be okay, I promise. I really hope you are immune

 

[firefly15]

Thanks Leliana, have been worrying about this all night! I spoke to the midwife team this morning and they are contacting the hospital to get them to run an antibodies screen on my booking bloods, so really keeping my fingers crossed that I'm already immune. If not then I'll get another blood test done to see if I've caught it - yay, even more needles!

Think I should have gone with my initial instinct at the beginning of this pregnancy and just gone into hibernation to sleep through all the ms, exhaustion and general worry

 

[Leliana]

I know, it's such a worrying time, especially in these earlier days! Dr Google doesn't help either!

Thinking of you xx

 

[firefly15]

thank you Dr google is bad, and I should know better by now but somehow I just can't help myself!

 

[CastawayBride]

Just stay on top of it as yes, it can be very harmful in pregnancy. Hoping you are already immune to it though!

 

[firefly15]

Well the bad news is that I'm not immune I
now have to wait a month for a repeat blood test to find out whether or not I contract it in that time, but if I develop any symptoms of illness at all over the next 2-3 weeks then I need to be seen urgently. Going to be panicking about this for a long time now and also have to pray that DS doesn't get it as he was with me on Friday.

I have had so much stress over the last 6 months that this really is the icing on the cake. I might cry.

 

[NotNic]

You may be fine. My son has had Hand, Foot and Mouth for the past two weeks and I have been with him 24/7. I definitely haven't had it before and I've been fine. I know it's not the same disease but its scary when your pg to be exposed to a contagious disease. That said one afternoon's exposure doesn't guarantee you'll get it and if you do get it, then there is still a high chance that your baby will be fine. I know its tough, but do try to stay positive. There's no point making yourself sick with worry. x