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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that all that bf'ing ought to count for something in terms of immunity?

29 replies

MogTheForgetfulCat · 05/08/2008 13:52

DS1 (2.5) has chickenpox

When I realised he had it, I called SIL to tell her, as we'd been at her house with her DS and DD when my DS1 might have been infectious. Luckily, neither of them have caught it.

The thing is, DS1 was bf from birth for a year. His cousin was ff from birth. He has been at nursery 3 days a week since he was 9 months, during which time chickenpox has made several visits but he has never caught it .

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly NOT wishing chickenpox on my nephew - he is a honey. Nor am I wishing it on anyone, in fact. Just sort of wishing it OFF my DS1, I suppose. Nor am I making any kind of point about feeding methods or childcare or thumping any sort of tub!

Just feel a bit peeved that all that purported immunity from bf'ing doesn't seem to have happened.

Grr. Argh.

OP posts:
mumblechum · 05/08/2008 13:55

I don't think BF literally means they won't get common things like chicken pox, just that there's a bit of extra immunity.

annh · 05/08/2008 13:55

DS2 got chicken pox aged 10 weeks, WHILE being breastfed. Immunity? Pah!

giraffescantdancethetango · 05/08/2008 13:55

everyone i know who has been bf/has children who have been bf have all caught the pox. you want them to get it as yoiung as possible anyway, its easier then.

BroccoliSpears · 05/08/2008 13:55

BFing boosts immunity, it doesn't make your child invulnerable to all known diseases.

flack · 05/08/2008 13:57

DD got CP at 3.5 months old when she was fully b'fed & I know 100% for sure I was/am immune. She was fine. Now I'm wishing DS3 (6 months) would get it over with.

2.5yo is good age to get it over with.

liath · 05/08/2008 13:57

Aw, your poor ds.

THB, though - I wasn't aware of bf giving any log-lasting immunity against CP, he'd probably have caught it breast-fed or not!!

liath · 05/08/2008 13:58

"long-lasting" I meant!

theyoungvisiter · 05/08/2008 13:59

Well it would be nice if it worked like that but there're so many variables involved! Did you have chicken pox by the way? You can only pass on immunity if you have it yourself.

Also going to nursery probably helped your nephew - if the cp was in another room to the baby room (which it probably was - you don't normally get it under a year) he may have got v low level exposure a couple of times and thus got a low-level immunity to it.

sallyforth · 05/08/2008 14:01

I don't think BF provdes much immunity against CP - the protection it provides is mainly antibodies to things and immunity against CP depends more on T cells I believe.
I may be wrong though

1dilemma · 05/08/2008 14:03

Chicken pox at 2.5 isn't that unusual for a nursery child is it?

My youngest mnaged to get pneumonia pre-weaning once started nursery, then another infection also hospitalised him, then measles all before 1

B(**&y nursery!!

Was still BF (and yes I have had measles!)

1dilemma · 05/08/2008 14:04

Sorry forgot to say poor ds hope it is mild and he gets better soon

Lots of cuddles and calomine,

Have you had it?

1dilemma · 05/08/2008 14:05

Oh my first post wasn't boasting BTW (read it abck it sounds awful sorry )just also grrr about all that immunity stuff!

Original poster
MogTheForgetfulCat · 05/08/2008 14:07

I know, I didn't really think bf'ing would stop him getting the pox! I bf'd because I loved it - just feeling sorry for him all itchy . But, as said, better to get it over with young.

Just waiting to see if DS2 will get it - have heard that under 6 months, my immunity (I've had chickenpox) should protect him? We'll see...

OP posts:
Allwayslateofearley · 05/08/2008 14:08

he may have CP, but has much is he suffering from it ? You may find he has a very mild case, like my DD's. DD1 had it at 2.3 yrs & DD2 caught it at 10 mths. Both where fine & other than maybe a day of being unwell, you'd never know if they didn't have the spots. DD1 was bf until she was 2 & DD2 is now 2 & still being BF.

A friend's toddler has just had a really nasty case & she was ff from about 2-3 mths.

You never can tell.

Original poster
MogTheForgetfulCat · 05/08/2008 14:12

1dilemma - unclear post from me, it's my nephew who's at nursery and hasn't caught the pox, despite several bouts of it while he's been attending. Constitution of an ox, clearly.

Anyway, DS1 is fine - lots of spots but not v poorly with it, he'll be fine. Just, y'know, PFB! He's in bed, sleeping it off

OP posts:
1dilemma · 05/08/2008 14:15

Ahh I see sorry.
Glad he is doing OK and fingers crossed for ds2 FWIW my lo who had just about every other germ going didn't get CP when it was at nursery (but only a few got it that time and none in his room I think) so hopefully it will skip him.

He'll probably get it in a couple of years when dc3 is little

Original poster
MogTheForgetfulCat · 05/08/2008 17:41

Ooh, hope so!

DC3, I mean, not DS2 getting the pox! Trying to persuade DH now.

Meant to say - triple whammy for your little one, bless. Blimey, what fun you must have had with that lot... I'm going to stop complaining now - DS1 up and bouncing around, so maybe he HAS only had it mildly as a result of bf'ing

OP posts:
Psychobabble · 05/08/2008 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiggerlovestobounce · 05/08/2008 18:00

BF doesnt do much to protect against chicken pox. The main immune componant in breastmilk is IgA, but it is IgG that you would need to prevemt you developing chicken pox.
I think it helps a little bit but not much, and the effects wont persist for long when breastfeeding stops. (For chicken pox that is, am not disputing that breatsfeeding had many effects that will last beyond the duration of the breastfeeing itself).

TinkerBellesMum · 05/08/2008 18:23

When your body picked up that your son had chicken pox it sent out the antibodies to defend you against it. If you had been actively breastfeeding him at the time he would have received them through the breastmilk. As others have said though, it doesn't stop it from ever getting through to a child though.

I have breastfed my daughter through two bouts of CP which she didn't get although she was ill with her asthma during it (first time ended up in hospital).

Ripeberry · 05/08/2008 18:28

My DD1 had chickenpox when she was 3yrs old and her sister caught it at the same time when she was 6 months old and solely breastfed!
They only had a few spots and did not suffer with it much.
But breastfeeding does seem to help with ear infections because (touching wood like mad!) they have never had that.

Original poster
MogTheForgetfulCat · 05/08/2008 19:05

Thanks for tip re: aloe vera gel - he has quite sensitive skin and calamine is so drying, so might use that instead.

Still waiting to see re: DS2 - he has developed a mark on his face, but not yet clear if it's a pox or not. Maybe the fact that he is v close to 6 months and therefore currently taking huuuuge quantities of milk (mostly at night ) will be enough to protect him

OP posts:
IdrisTheDragon · 05/08/2008 21:29

DD got chicken pox when she was 6 weeks old and was totally breastfed. I definitely had it when I was younger so was a bit surprised that she got it.

Original poster
MogTheForgetfulCat · 05/08/2008 22:32

Oh no - 6 weeks seems very wee for that, poor little thing

OP posts:
IdrisTheDragon · 05/08/2008 22:34

She was all right luckily - very spotty but not really ill.

I have read that if children get chicken pox under the age of one that they are more likely to get shingles, which I hope doesn't happen.

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