Chicken pox during pregnancy

~ copy n paste from baby center.com ~

Is it risky to be exposed to chicken pox during pregnancy?
It depends. If you’ve had chicken pox before, you’re probably immune, so there’s no need to worry. Up to 95 percent of adults in the United States are immune, including many people who had chicken pox and never even knew it. If you got the chicken pox vaccine (available in the United States since 1995), you’re probably immune — it works for more than 80 percent of those who get it.

If you’re not sure whether you’re immune, a simple blood test can give you the answer. If you’re not immune and you do happen to catch chicken pox while you’re pregnant, there’s a chance that it will affect your baby and that you could get quite sick.

What can happen to my baby if I get chicken pox while I’m pregnant?
Chances are good that no harm will come to your baby, but timing is a factor.

If you get chicken pox during the first half of pregnancy, there’s a slight risk that your baby will get something called congenital varicella syndrome. This condition is characterized by birth defects, including skin scarring, malformed limbs, an abnormally small head, vision or hearing problems, and motor or mental developmental disabilities. A baby with congenital varicella syndrome may also suffer poor growth in utero.

If you do contract chicken pox, you’ll have a detailed ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks to look for signs of defects or other problems and at least one follow-up sonogram later to see how your baby is doing. You may also choose to meet with a genetic counselor to discuss the risks in your particular case and decide how you want to proceed.

If you get chicken pox in the second half of pregnancy but more than five days before giving birth, your baby will probably be fine. Here’s why: About five days after coming down with chicken pox, your body develops antibodies to the virus and passes them to your baby through the placenta, offering 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 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, develop a case of shingles during infancy or early childhood without having had chicken pox after birth, but it’s usually not serious.)

The most risky time to come down with chicken pox is between five days before giving birth and two days after delivery, because then your baby is exposed to the virus but doesn’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.

My story: I discovered that I had chicken pox during my 5th week of pregnancy.I thought it was a weird rash at first.When i knew it was chicken pox i got really scared because i heard it was dangerous for pregnant woman to have them.Called my mum, n my mum asked to do an abortion if the doctor said the baby might have complication if be born.I cried some more while waiting for my husband to pick me up from home to go to obgyn.She did a quick scan and said that if the baby was infected i will probably have a natural miscarriage in about a week.It is rare for babies to be infected,but if happens it could lead to very serious complications,including mental retardation.However it was our decision to have the baby or not.I was so torn.So i asked her opinion.She said that she would recommend us to continue the pregnancy,and said that if it was not meant to be,i know it would happen.She gave the anti virus n scheduled for another appointment the next week,n she scheduled a detailed scan on our 16 weeks.After i was recovered,my husband got the chicken pox and despite all that,our baby grew healthily in the womb.

Bleeding during pregnancy

A copy n paste from american pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding can occur frequently in the first trimester of pregnancy and may not be a sign of problems. But bleeding that occurs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy can often be a sign of a possible complication. Bleeding can be caused by a number of reasons.

Some basic things to know about bleeding are:

• If you are bleeding, you should always wear a pad or panty liner so that you can monitor how much you are bleeding and what type of bleeding you are experiencing.
• You should never wear a tampon or introduce anything else into the vaginal area such as douche or sexual intercourse if you are currently experiencing bleeding.
• If you are also experiencing any of the other symptoms mentioned below in connection with a possible complication, you should contact your health care provider immediately.

First Half of Pregnancy:

Miscarriage:

Bleeding can be a sign of miscarriage but does not mean that miscarriage is imminent. Studies show that anywhere from 20-30% of women experience some degree of bleeding in early pregnancy. Approximately half of pregnant women who bleed do not have miscarriages. Approximately 15-20% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage, and the majority occur during the first 12 weeks.

Signs of Miscarriage include:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (stronger than menstrual cramps)
• Tissue passing through the vagina

Most miscarriages cannot be prevented. They are often the body’s way of dealing with an unhealthy pregnancy that was not developing. A miscarriage does not mean that you cannot have a future healthy pregnancy or that you yourself are not healthy.

Ectopic Pregnancies:

Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies that implant somewhere outside the uterus. The fallopian tube accounts for the majority of ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies are less common than miscarriages, occurring in 1 of 60 pregnancies.

Signs of Ectopic Pregnancies:

• Cramping pain felt low in the stomach (usually stronger than menstrual cramps)
• Sharp pain in the abdominal area
• Low levels of hCG
• Vaginal bleeding

Women are at a higher risk if they have had:

• An infection in the tubes
• A previous ectopic pregnancy
• Previous pelvic surgery

Molar Pregnancies:

Molar pregnancies are a rare cause of early bleeding. Often referred to as a “mole”, a molar pregnancy involves the growth of abnormal tissue instead of an embryo. It is also referred to as gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD).

Signs of a Molar Pregnancy:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Blood tests reveal unusually high hCG levels
• Absent fetal heart tones
• Grape-like clusters are seen in the uterus by an ultrasound  

What are common reasons for bleeding in the first half of pregnancy?

Since bleeding that occurs in the first half of pregnancy is so common (20-30%), many wonder what the causes are besides some of the complications already mentioned. Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy due to the following factors, aside from the above mentioned complications:

• Implantation bleeding is one of many normal pregnancy symptoms and can occur anywhere from 6-12 days after possible conception. Every woman will experience implantation bleeding differently—some will lightly spot for a few hours, while others may have some light spotting for a couple of days.
• Some type of infection in the pelvic cavity or urinary tract may cause bleeding.
• After intercourse some women may bleed because the cervix is very tender and sensitive. You should discontinue intercourse until you have been seen by your doctor. This is to prevent any further irritation—having normal sexual intercourse does not cause a miscarriage.

Second Half of Pregnancy:

Common conditions of minor bleeding include an inflamed cervix or growths on the cervix. Late bleeding may pose a threat to the health of the woman or the fetus. Contact your health care provider if you experience any type of bleeding in the second or third trimester of your pregnancy.

Placental Abruption:

Vaginal bleeding may be caused by the placenta detaching from the uterine wall before or during labor. Only 1% of pregnant women have this problem, and it usually occurs during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Signs of Placental Abruption:

• Bleeding
• Stomach pain

Women who are at higher risks for this condition include:

• Having already had children
• Are age 35 or older
• Have had abruption before
• Have sickle cell anemia
• High blood pressure
• Trauma or injuries to the stomach
• Cocaine use

Placenta Previa:

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta lies low in the uterus partly or completely covering the cervix. It is serious and requires immediate care. It occurs in 1 in 200 pregnancies. Bleeding usually occurs without pain.

Women who are at higher risks for this condition include:

• Having already had children
• Previous cesarean birth
• Other surgery on the uterus
• Carrying twins or triplets

Preterm Labor:

Vaginal bleeding may be a sign of labor. Up to a few weeks before labor begins, the mucus plug may pass. This is normally made up of a small amount of mucus and blood. If it occurs earlier, you could be entering preterm labor and should see your physician immediately.

Signs of Preterm Labor include these symptoms that occur before the 37th week of pregnancy:

• Vaginal discharge (watery, mucus, or bloody)
• Pelvic or lower abdominal pressure
• Low, dull backache
• Stomach cramps, with or without diarrhea
• Regular contractions or uterine tightening

My story: During my first baby’s pregnancy,i had several bleeding episodes up until i was 6 months into the pregnancy.Luckily,the baby is strong and she was safely born then. The first bleeding came on my supposed piriod day.I was so frustated that day.I had light piriod like bleeding for 2 days,n it stopped.A colleague in my office told me to check if i was pregnant since it was too short.Next morning…half heartedly i took the test because i still think my piriod will come again n suprisingly to me,it was positive!I was on my folic acid,continue consuming it till 6 months on my obgyn’s advice.At about 7 weeks, i have spotting again right after i was recovered from my chicken pox.At 7 weeks appoinment i was relieved that my baby was still there n looking strong.At 12 weeks i had another bleeding,but with brown streaks.When an ultrasound was done the baby was kicking happily in my womb.Another relief! The doctors advised me to have more rest n avoid stress.I had frequent spotting until about 16 weeks,n my obgyn made a conclusion that i have very sensitive womb.The worst bleeding i had was when i was going back to PIL almost 20 weeks then.I even had stomach cramps like piriod, it last for almost 4 days.As scared as i was back then,it was quite relieving to feel my baby still moving.Did a scan at nearest clinic to make sure everything is safe.When we got home,my obgyn supplied me with some tablets (forgot its name) to strengthen my womb.At almost 24 weeks had another light spotting.I realized that i got bleeding when i was stressed,or travelling far.So to preggy mummies out there, get some rest when ur doctor told u so!Don’t push urself too hard.Ur job now is to succcessfully grow your baby in your womb.N cheer up ya!Happy womb,happy baby!

Food to avoid during pregnancy

A copy n paste information from nhs direct. 

During pregnancy, it’s important to eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet, in order to provide your baby with the nutrients it needs to grow. Your diet should also give you energy for the changes taking place in your body.

However, there are certain foods you shouldn’t eat whilst pregnant to avoid exposing yourself to the risk of food poisoning, or because they can be potentially dangerous to your unborn baby.

Listeria

Listeriosis is a rare, flu-like illness, which can be contracted from food that contains listeria bacteria. Although rare in the UK, listeriosis can cause stillbirth, miscarriage, or severe illness in newborn babies.

You should avoid foods where high levels of listeria are occasionally found:

• Soft and blue-veined cheeses, such as camembert,brie and stilton. There is no risk of listeria associated with hard cheese such as cheddar, cottage cheese or processed cheese.
• Pâté (any type, including vegetable).
• Certain prepared salads such as potato salad and coleslaw.
• Ready-prepared meals or re-heated food, unless they are piping hot all the way through.

Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacteria that causes a type of food poisoning. Salmonella is found in unpasteurised milk, raw eggs and raw egg products, raw poultry and raw meat. Although salmonella food poisoning is unlikely to harm your baby, it is advisable to take precautions to avoid foods that may contain salmonella. 

The following steps will reduce your risk of getting salmonella:

• Avoid food containing raw or partially cooked eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise, and some mousses and sauces. You should only eat eggs if they are cooked until both the white and the yolk are solid.
• Avoid unpasteurised dairy products.
• Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly, and take particular care with products made from minced meat, such as sausages and burgers. Make sure these are cooked until they are piping hot all the way through and no pink meat is left.
• Take particular care with meat at barbeques, parties and buffets. Bacteria breed quickly on food that is left uncovered in a warm environment.
• Make sure that raw meat does not come into contact with other food (for example, in the fridge), particularly food that is already cooked or that will be eaten raw.
• Always wash your hands after handling raw meat.

You should also avoid raw shellfish when you’re pregnant. This is because raw shellfish can sometimes contain harmful bacteria and viruses that could cause food poisoning. Food poisoning can be particularly unpleasant when you’re pregnant.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite found in cat faeces. It can also be present in raw or undercooked meat, and in soil left on unwashed fruit and vegetables. Although rare, the infection can occasionally be passed to the unborn baby, which can cause serious problems.

To reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis, you should avoid the following foods:

• unwashed raw fruit and vegetables,
• raw or undercooked meat, and
• unpasteurised goat’s milk or goat’s cheese.

To avoid contact with soil or faeces that might contain the toxoplasmosis parasite, it’s important to wear gloves if you are gardening or changing a cat litter tray.

Vitamin A

If you’re pregnant, you should make sure you don’t have too much vitamin A. Although you need some vitamin A in your diet, having too much could mean that levels build up in your body and harm your unborn baby.

Eating a normal, well-balanced diet should give you all the vitamin A your body needs. Avoid liver or liver products such as pâté, as liver contains high levels of vitamin A. You should also check with your doctor before taking any high-dose multivitamins or cod liver oil supplements, as these may also contain vitamin A.

Fish

Oily fish is good for your health but we need to limit the amount that we eat because it contains pollutants, such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). If you’re pregnant, you should eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week. Oily fish includes fresh tuna (not canned tuna, which doesn’t count as oily fish), mackerel, sardines and trout.

There are a few types of fish that you should avoid eating while pregnant, and some others that you should limit the amount you eat. Limit the amount of tuna you eat because it contains a high level of mercury which can have a damaging effect on your baby’s developing nervous system. You shouldn’t eat more than one tuna steak, or four medium-sized tins (about 140g per can) of tuna a week. This works out at about six rounds of tuna sandwiches or three tuna salads.

Avoid eating shark, swordfish and marlin as these fish also contain a high level of mercury. You should also avoid eating raw shellfish when you’re pregnant. This will reduce your chances of getting food poisoning which can be particularly unpleasant when you’re pregnant.

Alcohol

The Department of Health advises that pregnant women, and women who are trying to conceive, should avoid drinking alcohol. Heavy drinking during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight and other more serious birth defects. However, if you do decide to drink alcohol while you are pregnant, you should limit the amount that you drink. The Department of Health and The Royal College of Gynaecologists advise that pregnant women should not drink more than 1-2 units of alcohol once or twice a week. Binge drinking (drinking several units of alcohol in one session) should be avoided.

Caffeine

You should limit the amount of caffeine you have each day. Caffeine affects the way your body absorbs iron, which is very important for your baby’s development. High levels of caffeine can result in a baby having a low birth weight, or even miscarriage.

Caffeine occurs naturally in a range of foods, such as coffee, tea and chocolate, and it’s also added to some soft drinks and ‘energy’ drinks. It’s important not to have more than 300mg of caffeine a day. 300mg is roughly equivalent to either:

• three mugs of instant coffee,
• three cups of brewed coffee,
• six cups of tea,
• eight cans of regular cola, or
• eight standard bars of chocolate.