- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
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Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical editor-in-chief, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for MayoClinic.com to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a consultant and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education for Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs before taking this leadership role. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this Web site. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
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Question
Chickenpox and pregnancy: What are the concerns?
Is there a concern with chickenpox and pregnancy? If I develop chickenpox while I'm pregnant, could it harm the baby?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious viral illness that causes an itchy rash. Most pregnant women are immune to chickenpox, due to either immunization or a childhood bout with chickenpox. If chickenpox develops during pregnancy, the risks depend on the timing.
If chickenpox develops during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the baby faces a slight risk of congenital varicella syndrome — a rare group of serious birth defects. A baby who has congenital varicella syndrome may experience:
- Scars on the skin
- Muscle and bone defects
- Malformed limbs
- Vision problems
- Mental retardation
If chickenpox develops shortly before delivery, the baby may be born with a potentially life-threatening infection.
If you're considering pregnancy and you're not immune to chickenpox, ask your doctor about the chickenpox vaccine. It's safe for adults, although you'll need to wait at least one month after vaccination before trying to conceive. If you're unsure of your immunity, your doctor can do a simple blood test to find out.
If you're exposed to chickenpox during pregnancy and you're not immune to the illness, contact your doctor immediately. He or she may recommend an injection of an immune globulin product that contains antibodies to the chickenpox virus. When given within 96 hours after exposure, the immune globulin can prevent chickenpox or reduce its severity.
If you develop chickenpox during pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe oral antiviral drugs to reduce the severity of the illness. This may help reduce the risk of complications, such as pneumonia.
If your baby is born with chickenpox, he or she may be treated with an immune globulin. When given promptly, the immune globulin usually reduces the severity of the illness. If needed, antiviral drugs may be given as well.
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