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Any Chicken pox advice?

9 replies

del1 · 03/07/2010 20:27

I am due a visit of my sister tommorow, she is coming to see my 5 day old baby.
She has been putting off a visit, due to her kids having chicken pox.
The 4 year old has had the fever and now has spots.
The 6 month old apparently has no spots, and no other signs?
She has said she will come up with the baby, who has no symptoms.
I am a bit worried that she may have it, but it hasn't come out yet?
I really don't want my newborn to catch it so young.
Does anyone have any experience of chicken pox.
Can mine catch it easily, or do you have to make skin contact?
Don't want to seem like i'm wraping my newborn up in cotton wool, and would love to see my sister and neice!?

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Haliborange · 03/07/2010 20:32

It's hard to know when the baby might have been exposed (incubation is 14-21 days) so it is possible that her 6 month old might be incubating at the moment.

At 5 days old your baby probably has immunity from you assuming you've had chickenpox (the immunity won't last long - by 3 months it will be gone). Cpox is very contagious and is spread by sneezing etc.

Tbh I probably wouldn't chance it purely because your baby is so new.

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thisisyesterday · 03/07/2010 20:33

hmm yes, her baby could be contagious. they are contagious before spots appear, so personally i would say no thank you

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tutusare4 · 03/07/2010 20:34

I don't know how easily a newborn would catch chicken pox, but I definitely wouldn't want anyone to visit when there was a possibility of their child coming down with it any day!

I would ask them to wait until they know that they have all had it, or they have missed it. Could your sister visit by herself with no children?

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OnEdge · 03/07/2010 20:35

I would cancel the visit because the baby might have it in the incubation period.

its just not worth the risk

The baby might be just about to start and therefore at his/her most contageous, I think.

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BuzzingNoise · 03/07/2010 20:37

Cancel the visit. My friend's 2 week old got it from his older brother and it wasn't nice for the poor wee thing.

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del1 · 03/07/2010 21:05

Well ladies, thankyou for your quick responses!
I will cancle the visit.
havn't had chance to read through all the websites on the virus yet, so your advice is much appreciated!
Don't mind my 19 mnth old getting it, but certainly not a 5 day old!
It will be more peacefull if she comes on her own anyway!
Thanks again x

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fifitot · 03/07/2010 21:44

Internet says pretty much everywhere that newborns have mother's immunity. Still probably not worth the risk though.

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thisisyesterday · 04/07/2010 09:33

a breastfed baby would have immunity, but it isn't guaranteed is it?
there are cases where newborns have caught CP, so i wouldn't risk it