BFP and help with shingles advice 🙌

[Star9]

Morning all. So today is my OTD and I am absolutely amazed that I have my first ever BFP!! I did my test yesterday too as it was grandmas funeral, she passed away the day after my embryo transfer. So it’s was an emotional day yesterday to say the least, after a tough 2WW.

I was convinced my period was coming so it was beyond a lovely surprise. I know there’s still along way to go, but I’m just grateful for now that at the age of 37 and a half I have seen my first ever pregnancy test (well several just to be sure!).

Anyway as things on this journey are never straight forward, my boss has rang this morning to say that a colleague has been signed of with shingles! He knew I was at a vital point in this cycle so wanted to let me know. After several phone calls I now have a doctors appointment this afternoon at 4:30pm, as advised by 111.

Does anyone know anything about shingles/pregnancy to try and reassure me as 4:30 seems ages away!!! Xx

[AllWeNeedIsluv]

First of all sorry about your grandma. Looks like she's left you a lovely surprise congratulations on your bfp. 💝😘💝

I'm sorry no idea about shingles the drs will advice you further.

💝😘💝

[Star9 in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

Thank you that’s a really beautiful way of looking at things 😘 xxx

[AllWeNeedIsluv in reply to Star9]

💖😘💖

[elle80]

Aww I'm so pleased to hear your news Star. Congratulations 😘

I don't know anything about shingles, sorry. Its good that your boss thought to phone you straight away! Good luck at the doctors xx

[Star9 in reply to elle80]

Thank you, I’m amazed I honestly thought the monthly was on its way! You were exactly right tho, I’m sorry I should have listened 🙈hope all ok with you xxx

[elle80 in reply to Star9]

Haha. It's hard to not worry when it's happening to you! I'm just so pleased it's positive, especially after losing your Nana.

Yeh I'm OK, booked a private scan cos I can't stop worrying that something has gone wrong lol xx

[Star9 in reply to elle80]

Yes true you think you know your on body! I still can’t believe it, especially as it wasn’t the most stress free 2ww. Just need the sort this blooming shingles thing!!

Aww bless you, oh best wishes for your scan, I’m guessing it’s probably peace of mind. When is you scan? And how do you book a private scan (just for future reference 🙈) xxx

[elle80 in reply to Star9]

You get an early scan, so when you phone the clinic they will give you a date for that. I had one on the 15th at 7 weeks 1day pregnant. But I can't wait for the 12 week one, the midwife books that one, so still waiting for that date. I'm just feeling a bit negative atm, so I've booked a private one in the City I live in on Tues. So if you want extra scans and you have to pay, just Google ultrasounds in the place you live in.

Let me know how you get on at the doctors xx

[Star9 in reply to elle80]

Oh ok I didn’t know you could do that, but it’s good to know. It probably feels like a really long time then between 7 and 12 weeks. Thank you I will do xxx

[elle80 in reply to Star9]

Have you phoned your clinic with your BFP, they will book your first scan? Xx

[Star9 in reply to elle80]

Yes I rang them earlier, I’m just waiting for a nurse to ring me back, which is norm later in the aft xx

[Star9 in reply to elle80]

It was fine at the doctors, pretty much what the other ladies have said. Had chicken pox already and no contact with any open wounds from infected person. Xxx

[elle80 in reply to Star9]

Aww glad to hear. 😘 Xx

[Hidden]

First of all mega congratulations for your bfp, feels like a precious gift from your nan 🙏🏼 Have you had chicken pox as a child? I’m pretty sure Shingles in pregnancy doesn’t do any harm but you have to be careful with chicken pox. Hope the dr can reassure you! Good luck x

[Star9 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, yes it’s been a funny old two weeks but yes it does feel like a lovely gift she has left. Thank you 😊xxx

[Coracle]

Hello. First of all, congrats on your bfp. Second, I hope I can reassure you re the shingles. I work as a GP... if you have definitely had chicken pox in the past, we reassure patients and there is nothing to do. If you have NOT had ch.pox or not sure, then we do a blood test and can give you a special injection to protect you... but the vast majority of people will have had ch.pox in earlier life and so are ok.

I am giving you a link to a leaflet here.... patient.info/health/pregnan... (this is a UK website written by UK health professionals, recommended to GPs to recommend to patients and generally extremely useful)

But I would keep the appointment anyway, as GP can chat to you about do's and don'ts of early preg (altho I expect you know them all!!) and help get you booked in with midwife etc, and you might still like to discuss the ch.px/shingles issue to feel reassured. (Here is releveant passage from the leaflet I have given you address for, but whole leaflet is useful to understand ch.pox/shingles etc! )

I am pregnant and have been in contact with chickenpox or shingles

If you have had chickenpox in the past, you are likely to be immune. You are less likely to be at risk. You do not need to worry or do anything, but may want to discuss this with your doctor or midwife. About 9 in 10 pregnant women have already had chickenpox as a child and are likely to be immune.

If you have not had chickenpox, or are not sure, see a doctor urgently. A blood test may be advised to detect antibodies to see if you are immune. About 1 in 10 pregnant women have not previously had chickenpox and are not immune.

[Coracle in reply to Coracle]

Also, the shingles person is contagious only when they have the rash... this is different from ch.pox... ch.pox is contagious before the rash...

[Star9 in reply to Coracle]

Hi there, thank you so much for your response. To hear that from a medical professional I definitely feel reassured. Thank you for the information. I did have chicken pox as a child, I have the scars to prove it!

I will keep the appointment as you say, I just wish someone I spoke to this morning was able to advise me of this, so save a slight melt down ☺️but never mind, as long as all is ok that is the main thing.

Thank you 😊 xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Star9. Lovely news and I hope all goes well for you. If you have never had chickenpox, then there is the tiniest chance that you could catch the chickenpox virus from someone with shingles. You would, however have to be in contact with the blisters – actually touching them. If your blood test comes back to say that you have no immunity to chickenpox, then you might be offered an immune globulin vaccination to protect you. Should you be unfortunate to catch chickenpox, there is an antiviral medication called “Acyclovir” that can be used. This is thought to reduce the severity of the infection.

The tablet form of this drug is considered to be safe for use in pregnancy. Even if you do contract chickenpox, it is very unlikely that your baby will be affected. Hope this helps. Diane

[Star9 in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane, thank you very much for your response. I definitely feel reassured that all is ok. I did have chicken pox and although I was in close contact with the person, we definitely did not have any contact.

Thank you 😊 xxx

[emu2016]

Against all the odds eh? Life throws the kitchen sink on you and that embryo hangs on. This is very similar to what we had in terms of stress to deal with. Massive congratulations. You’re in a similar waiting game to me now. Bring on that scan! x

[Star9 in reply to emu2016]

Yes it’s mad isn’t it And just goes too show you never know! I see you’ve had your own time of things too and yes we are very similar stages, must be within days. Congratulations to you and yes it is now another wait to the scan isn’t it... three weeks on Monday 🙈xxx

[emu2016 in reply to Star9]

I don’t have my date through but I predict it’ll be a very similar date to you x

[Kvelvetrose]

Congratulations on the lovely news, each cloud has a silver lining. I hope that all goes smoothly with the pregnancy and delivery

So sorry to hear about your grandma's passing, I am sendinglove to you and your family. Xx

[Star9 in reply to Kvelvetrose]

Thank you that’s lovely, yes I guess it’s life isn’t it, the good and the bad times xxx

[Shivvyboom79]

Congratulations hun on your BFP xx

[Star9 in reply to Shivvyboom79]

Thank you xx

[Star9 in reply to Shivvyboom79]

Congratulations to you too xx 😊