Worried about my newborn catching chicken pox

[PipIsOutNow]

Dc1 is 2.5 and has suspicious chicken pox looking spots on his body I've noticed today.

I've got a 6 day old ds2 and I'm worried sick about him getting poorly when he's so little. Will he have any immunity to it from me?

[cathpip]

Yes he will have immunity, my ds got chicken pox at 10 weeks old but only had 7 spots, he is now 4 and has just spent xmas with chicken pox again, all be it very mildly.

[Lexiesinclair]

I thought they had your immunity if you are breastfeeding?

[PipIsOutNow]

I'm
Not breast feeding him as I had no milk. I know they get immunity to some things via the placenta and was hoping that he'd have my immunity to chicken pox.

[missorinoco]

DC1 had chicken pox when DC2 was ten days old.
DC2 was fine, and didn't have a spot. She was fully breastfed and also had my antibodies from pregnancy.

Have you had chicken pox before? And are you BF? If yes to both I think you will be fine. I yes to 1 and no to 2 I still think you will be fine as he has your immunity. If no to both I would contact your HP tomorrow to ask for advice, as he won't have any immunity to it.

If your DS2 becomes at all unwell either way seek medical attention asap.

Lots of sympathy though, not what you want 6 days post delivery.

[missorinoco]

HP otherwise known as GP.

[MrsB74]

It's apparently that first few days of colostrum, rather than breast milk as such (so the midwife told me), that provide the immunity for a while, along with the time inside of course. If you've had chicken pox, your baby should be ok - fingers crossed.

[Mytwobeautifulgirls]

my mum is a midwife an I was worried about the same thing she said if it happenes u need to call ane or ooh usually the need and injection

[missorinoco]

Just had a quick look. One paper looking at antibodies persisting from you showed 100% were present when the baby is one month old and 25% when they are 6 months old.

Hope that's not too technical.

[MirandaWest]

DS had chicken pox when DD was 4 weeks. Many people told me she would have my immunity.

When she was 6 weeks she was a Very Spotty baby. But had no problems - she was quite sleepy but that was quite a good thing.

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, he'll have some immunity from you, provided you had chickenpox in the past.
TBH, he'll either get it or not, there really is nothing much you can do about it if your DD does indeed have CP at the moment. Incubation is 21 days, btw.

[CPtart]

My second DS was a week old when DS 1 had chicken pox. I was breast feeding and was told I would pass on my immunity but in fact he did come out in about a dozen spots and had it very mildly...and has never had it again, even when it was doing the rounds at nursery.
I have since learnt however that CP in a newborn can sometimes be quite serious so I would be vigilant and off to the docs if you notice any spots on your little one.

[Chrysanthemum5]

DS got chicken pox when DD was a week old. DD got 10 spots I was paranoid as the GP had said more than 10 spots meant we had to go to hospital. It was incredibly stressful with DH looking after DH while I stayed in the bedroom with DD.

I'm not able to breastfeeding but DD did get my colostrum and the GP said she would have some immunity. She is now 5 and has never had CP again despite lots of exposure.

[Chrysanthemum5]

Sorry DH was looking after DS not himself!

[SparklyStone]

My DD2 caught it from her sister at 7 weeks she had it really mildly (11spots that I could find). If I remember correctly I think young babies only get it very mildly. I expect her to get it again though!

[PipIsOutNow]

Thank you for the replies they are definitely reassuring. Im worried sick mind! Natural born worrier and there's absolutely nothing I can do to protect him. Sat here in tears feeling hormonal and helpless

[phoenixfox]

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and my ds had chicken pox last week, I never had it so i mentioned it to my midwife and she said that chicken pox can be serious to pregnant women and babies under 4 weeks. I had to be tested for immunity and if I wasn't immune I would have had to go to hospital for an immunoglobulin drip. I would call your gp in the morning and mention it.