Chicken pox infection in this time period is called congenital varicella. If chicken pox develops between 6 and 21 days before delivery, there is still a chance your newborn could develop congenital varicella. However, because your baby will get some of your newly-made chicken pox antibodies, the congenital varicella would probably be mild. After an individual has chicken pox, the virus remains inactive in the nerves of the spine. If the virus is activated again, it causes shingles.
Shingles are painful blisters that are usually only on a small area of the body.
My co-worker has shingles. If you have had chicken pox before, you have antibodies to the chicken pox virus. Because this virus is the same one that causes shingles, your antibodies will prevent the virus from multiplying in your body. Your exposure to shingles will not cause you to develop chicken pox or shingles, so there is no risk to your baby. If you are not immune to chicken pox, there is a very small chance that you will develop chicken pox.