What does this mean for Midwives?
Generally speaking, most women of childbearing age in New Zealand have been immunised against measles as a child.
If a pregnant woman is known to have been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with measles, please advise her to contact her general practice team.
Measles during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature labour or low birth weight baby. If a pregnant woman has contracted measles then referral for a consultation with an obstetrician is advised.
Following birth, breastfeeding can provide passive immunity from the immunised mother to her newborn baby1.
As a health practitioner you may also be at risk of contracting measles due to your work with young families and the potential for exposure. As measles is highly infectious and individuals are contagious prior to the onset of symptoms, non-immune health professionals may inadvertently be a source of infection. We advise that you consider your own immunity status and consider vaccination.
Key messages for Pregnant Women:
Generally speaking, most women of childbearing age in New Zealand have been immunised as a child against measles.
If you're pregnant and think you have come into contact with someone with measles, and aren’t sure if you’re immune, you should speak to your midwife and see your general practice team as soon as possible.
If you are not currently immune, and contract measles during pregnancy, you may be at increased risk of miscarriage, premature labour, or having a low birthweight baby. These effects are not common but it is important to be aware of this.
If you are pregnant and contract measles during pregnancy, you will be provided with additional care to monitor you and your baby’s wellbeing, and to ensure follow up care for your baby after he or she is born. It is very important to avoid contact with others if there are concerns and you think you may be infectious with the measles. Please make contact with healthcare providers by telephone in the first instance.
The MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) vaccine is a live weakened vaccine, so it is not advisable to receive this vaccine while pregnant.
1 Note: Passive immunity is the passing of antibodies from an immune person to a non-immune person, providing temporary protection against disease-causing bacteria or viruses. Maternal antibodies are transferred to a baby in utero (via the placenta) and through breastfeeding (via colostrum and breastmilk)
Key messages for mothers with newborn babies:
Breastfeeding can pass immunity to your baby. Breastfeeding is strongly encouraged, especially for babies under 12 months of age, as this can provide protection against measles.
If you are concerned that your baby has been exposed to measles before they have had their MMR vaccine, see your general practice team, and speak to your midwife as soon as possible.
General - Signs and symptoms of measles
Respiratory style illness (cough, runny nose, headache) or conjunctivitis in both eyes, and
Temperature over 38.5 degree Celsius and feeling very unwell, and
A red blotchy rash that starts on day four / five of the illness, usually on the face and moving to the chest and arms.
Measles is infectious for four to five days before and for four-five days after the symptoms first show.