Fifth Disease Exposure During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Question
I am 28, this is my second child. I am due at the end of january. My kindergartner got fifth disease at school. I was given the test to see if I had an active infection. It said I did not but that I had previous exposure. I am having the second blood test this week. (it was recommended that I have two tests two weeks apart)How worried should I be about this? I am about 28 weeks along

Answer
There is nothing you can do if you develop Fifth's Disease during pregnancy except hope that it will not harm the baby. If you have antibodies to Parvovirus, you may have been exposed many years ago, or may have been exposed recently. HOwever, as long as you do not contract the ACTIVE DISEASE, the baby will probably not be affected. If it is infected with parvovirus, a sonogram will show Hydrops Fetalis (edema of the baby). We usually do nothing but follow the baby with serial sonograms to see if the baby does develop edema. Then we can notify the pediatrician to watch the baby after it is born. If too much edema forms, the baby may not survive the pregnancy. I doubt that you have the disease, but may have merely been exposed to Parvovirus in the past.