BFing, chicken pox, antibodies - bfing experts here please!

[Mij]

DD (18 months) has been in close contact with two poxy children, so to speak, in their infectious stage in the last year, and hasn't caught them.

I had it as a child. I know BFing passes on antibodies but I was under the impression that didn't include these kinds of infectious diseases (can't remember where I got that from - but I know lots of BFed babes who have had it).

So, the question. Does BFing actually offer some protection against chicken pox, or has she just been lucky, or maybe had it very mildly after her first contact and now has immunity?

Any thoughts appreciated. Thinking of rubbing her up against the next pussy child I see to get it over and done with!

I don't know the answer, just know that dd2 had chickenpox very badly at 9 months, when she was near enough exclusively breastfed.

My dd has had CP twice (at 2 and 5) and she was bf for the first three months and mixed after that.

I got CP for the first time at 34 (from my dd) and I was bf. Sorry if this isn't much help.

Hi,

A friends older child about 2 got chickenpox badly. However her 4 month old who was being BF only got a few spots and sailed through it.

Friend had chickenpox in past and was told by GP that her antibodies would have helped the 4 month old but that she might not be as immune long term as she didnt need to respond direcly to the virus.

Sorry- 4 month old might not be as immune not friend

My previously BF DD1 was in contact with lots of pox-ridden () children on and off at nursery over the period of a year. All the children had had chickenpox apart from her and one other then suddenly they both came down with it together. No idea why she didn't get it before though. IME this is common and many children don't get it even though they have had very close contact with another who is contagious.

However...my DD2 was 8 weeks old when her sister got 'the pox'. She was 100% bf at the time, got three pox spots and that was it. The doctor has told me she is likely to contract chicken pox again as she has only had a small dose of it.

No, that is helpful folks. I thought she may have had a very slight dose the first time, as she was extremely grouchy for a couple of days but then nothing appeared. I know reinfection is supposed to be rare but there seem to be a lot of people who report it.

But now I'm feeling spoddy about it, any immunologists out there with a definitive answer?!

Mij - My doctor said reinfection is not all that rare at all if you have only had a light dose and by light dose he meant you had only a few spots.

Luckily (i think ) my DD1 got it really badly so no more pox for her.

DS (3 years) has been in frequent contact with poxy chidren as he plays round at MILs a lot & she is a childminder & a lot of her charges have had it....yet he has never shown any signs of having CP at all. Wondered if it was just good luck or if I have passed on some immunity from when I had CP at age 5.

My dh developed shingles (which can shed the chickenpox virus) when babycarrot was just a few weeks old. I've had chicken pox as a kid so I didn't develop cp again due to the antibodies in my system. Our GP believed that excl bf passed on a hefty dose of the antibodies which helped protect babycarrot from getting it too.

She may well get it later on if exposed again, though.

Coby - my dd has had CP twice in three years. She was covered in spots both times. Poor little mite couldn't even wee since it hurt her spots so much .

I'm hoping that she doesn't go in for a third dose since I got it from her the second time. I'll probably get shingles next time.

Both of mine had chicken pox while being breast fed.

bookofchristmascarolsmum - yep, I am fully expecting my DD2 to get 'the pox' when it is her turn. She is currently fighting a really nasty virus so hopefully no pox waiting in the wings for her right now.

If DD1 gets it again we'll never hear the end of it! She's been showing her scars off to anyone who would look at the doctors today and she's been doing that for two years now .