Many women fear that a combination of shingles and pregnancy can do serious harm to the baby. Unfortunately, it can cause some damage, both to the fetus, and later in the child's life. If you are concerned about shingles and pregnancy, it is very important to discuss the issue with your gynecologist. Among other things, you may want to ask about what things you can do to decrease the chances of having a shingles outbreak.
It is important to realize that shingles and pregnancy tend not to occur at the same time. If you had chicken pox as a child, chances are you will not develop shingles until you are in your 60's, if at all. That said, during the first two trimesters, an outbreak of shingles can cause some fetal malformation. Because shingles and pregnancy rarely happen in combination, very little is known about how to stop the disease from transmitting to the fetus.
If you develop shingles within the last three weeks of being pregnant, the baby may be born with shingles, or develop them soon after. Even though your body will transfer some antibodies to the baby, there is an increased chance of a full outbreak within five years. As the child's immune system continues to mature, these antibodies may help stave off further outbreaks.
The worst time to have a shingles outbreak is just a few days prior to delivering the baby. In this instance of shingles and pregnancy, the infection can be life threatening to the baby. Along with not having adequate immune capacity to fight the disease, your body will also not have had enough chance to pass along enough antibodies to the fetus.
Contrary to popular belief, once you have had the chicken pox, you cannot “catch” shingles from exposure to someone else with the disease. That said, if you feel uncomfortable about the potential for shingles and pregnancy, you may want to stay away from people with either type of infection. In addition, if you have never had chicken pox yourself, you may want to take extra precautions.
Considering the consequences of shingles and pregnancy, you will more than likely want to avoid shingles as much as possible during this time. The best thing you can do for yourself and the baby is stay healthy. Diet, adequate exercise, and effective stress management all contribute to a healthy immune system. If you smoke, it is best to stop immediately. Along with reducing the possibility of shingles and pregnancy, it will also boost well being in other areas.
Learning that a developing fetus has a health issue can be some of the most heartbreaking news to expecting parents. Because the baby depends on the mother for antibodies to shingles, an outbreak just before delivery can be catastrophic to the newborn.
It should come as no surprise that many are concerned about the rate and consequences of shingles and pregnancy. Even though an outbreak of shingles is rare during pregnancy, it can cause harm to the fetus, as well as other complications later in life.
