Your Baby Today: Pregnancy: Expert Q&A: OB/GYN: Chicken Pox

Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn department at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor to national health agencies on women's health issues and has received numerous international honors for this work.

Q: I don't know if I've ever had chicken pox. Should I consider getting the vaccine before trying to become pregnant?

A: Contracting chicken pox while pregnant is dangerous. During the first few months, it can cause abnormalities in the fetus, including limb malformations and mental retardation. In late pregnancy, it can lead to a very severe and potentially fatal form of pneumonia in the pregnant woman. A simple blood test can tell you whether or not you've had chicken pox. If the results show that you haven't had the disease, you should be immunized before becoming pregnant. Your doctor will probably advise waiting two months after getting the vaccination before trying to conceive. The vaccine includes a live virus, and while this doesn't pose the same risks as contracting chicken pox, doctors advise waiting just to be extra cautious.