What are the effects on fetus, if a pregnant woman develops chickenpox?
The effects depend on timing of the infection. If a mother develops infection during early pregnancy (e.g. first three months of pregnancy), the growth of various fetal organs may get affected and baby may be born with skin scarring, abnormalities of limb development and cataract. These babies may be mentally retarded, and may develop heart defect too. There is a possibility that abortion may occur in the pregnant woman. If the infection occurs later in pregnancy but not too close to delivery, the baby will be normally born but there is a possibility that she will develop herpes zoster (shingles) during infancy.
