Therefore, a pregnant woman with chicken pox who develops symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection should contact her health care provider immediately. For the infant, infections early in pregnancy may be associated with congenital malformations, but most medical professionals do not believe the incidence of birth defects is increased over that in the general population. The time when maternal chicken pox seems to pose the greatest threat to the baby is if the mother contracts it five days prior to delivery and up to seven days after. A vaginal delivery is still recommended and the infant is given immune globulin shortly after delivery. The infant does not need to be isolated from the mother and breast feeding is still acceptable if the infant does not have direct contact with maternal lesions.
Shingles is a disease that occurs when the virus that causes chicken pox is reactivated in the body.
The rash is similar to chicken pox, but is generally localized to one side and small area of the body. The lesions go through the same stages as chicken pox and crusts usually within ten days. Shingles are not associated with adverse outcomes for mother and baby. Again, if you are pregnant, exposed to chicken pox and unsure if you have had them, contact your health care provider for further information. This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.