Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Does breastmilk offer protection against chicken pox?

30 replies

wetTshirt · 13/02/2008 16:20

My two year old has chicken pox, and I am just wondering if my milk will offer some protection to his brother who is 17 weeks old? I had chicken pox as a child, so will there be chicken pox antibodies in my milk that protect him?

OP posts:
bundle · 13/02/2008 16:22

i had cpox as an adult, quite badly.

dd2 (bfed for 3 years) didn't get them till she was 3.5 even though she was exposed at least half a dozen times

policywonk · 13/02/2008 16:23

I think the short answer is 'no' - DS1 was still bf-ing when he got chicken pox. However, he was older than your baby is at the time. Your baby might be protected by the fact that at 17 weeks he isn't getting into everything, sucking things that his brother has touched, and so on - ie he might just not come into contact with the virus.

harman · 13/02/2008 16:25

Message withdrawn

policywonk · 13/02/2008 16:25

Yes, DS2 is still bf-ing at three and has yet to get chicken pox, but I have no idea whether this is coincidence or because bf-ing helps to boost the immune system.

I rather wish he would get it tbh - I'd like to get it over with!

harman · 13/02/2008 16:30

Message withdrawn

bundle · 13/02/2008 16:31

that's what I thought policywonk - dd1 got them around 15 mths (bfed for 2 yrs)

Original poster
wetTshirt · 13/02/2008 16:35

Interesting to get some conflicting answers! Im not too worried if he does get it, but Im just interested. kellymom suggests that newborns get some immunity from the placenta.

OP posts:
Original poster
wetTshirt · 13/02/2008 16:37

thanks harman our posts crossed (slow one handed/ baby balancing typing)

OP posts:
NorthernLurker · 13/02/2008 16:38

dd2 had chicken pox at 5 months whilst breastfeeding

wheresthehamster · 13/02/2008 16:42

Not sure where this fits with the theory but dd1 (bf) had chicken pox at 9 weeks and I assumed she'd somehow caught it from me because I was 5 weeks pregnant with her when I had it. Sound feasible?

pagwatch · 13/02/2008 16:44

MY DS 2 got chiocken pox at 10 months whilst I was still bf him.

(Just my personal experience but you may want to be careful and make extra sure he is fully recovered before you continue with vaccination schedule. Chicken pox is a bugger for hanging around and keeping little ones 'low' even once they are supposedly over it)

ScienceTeacher · 13/02/2008 16:45

My fully, rtc, breastfed daughter caught chickenpox at around 4-5 months.

TillyScoutsmum · 13/02/2008 16:46

DD had it at 6 months whilst I was still bf'ing ..

bundle · 13/02/2008 16:47

coudl having them as an adult make the difference if most of us bfed?

mistlethrush · 13/02/2008 16:51

Ds, entirely bf got it at 3mo - I had it as a child. Initially didn't get diagnosed as no health worker even considered it as a possibility as he was bf

Original poster
wetTshirt · 13/02/2008 17:00

mistlethrush - how bad was it? your ds sounds the closest in age to mine?

OP posts:
Original poster
wetTshirt · 13/02/2008 17:07

actually just realised scienceteachers dd closer in age!

Did anyones baby get it really badly? please tell me it was all ok? especially hamster - at 9 weeks you must have been quite worried.

OP posts:
harman · 13/02/2008 17:46

Message withdrawn

wheresthehamster · 13/02/2008 17:58

wetTshirt - dd1's chickenpox was mild. She wasn't at all distressed by it and it was mainly on her face and chest. I just covered her in calomine lotion. It lasted about 2 weeks

TillyScoutsmum · 13/02/2008 18:26

Just wanted to add - dd's was very mild as well (she was around 24 weeks). She didn't seem too concerned and I think it looked a lot worse than it was... Calpol Night/Medised have a mild antihistamine in them which helps with the itching if they're struggling to sleep at night...

To be honest, she was a bit off for a day or two before the spots appeared, then she was fine. Whole thing lasted 10-14 days start to finish.

I know it doesn't help when they're so tiny - but I really do think its easier for them when they're so young (too young to know how to scratch for a start !)

welshdeb · 13/02/2008 18:33

My ds1 had it while I was bf dd. She was about 3 months old. She did catch it off him although it was very very mild.
My ds 2 then had it a few years later, I did worry she would catch it again, but she didnt, so my guess is that my bf supplemented her antibodies and she developed enough immunity.

pulapula · 13/02/2008 20:34

My DS had chicken pox at 4mo whilst fully bf. It went round all the babies at baby group but my DS had the mildest case- about 5 spots. Others got it quite badly, including needing hospitalisatiin (ff baby but not sure if that affected things?).

mistlethrush · 14/02/2008 17:15

Sorry, not been on line for a bit!

Ds's (3mo) was not too bad - did get quite a lot of spots, most on his head, quite a lot on his torso - had spots for about 3 or 4 days before we got a confirmation that it was chicken pox.

He started to try to scratch, but couldn't do it - the best he did was rubbing his face on our clothing when we held him (he knocked a scab off like this, so be careful - his only scar!)

I think that there is an alternative to calamine that doesn't dry the skin out as much - can't remember what it is, sorry, but ask a pharmacist?

pistachio · 14/02/2008 17:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wetTshirt · 15/02/2008 13:42

He's got it! He has about 10 spots, arriving precisely 2 weeks after his big brother's.

He isn't in the least bit troubled, so I'm not particularly concerned (yet).

I spoke to my GP and NHS direct and it seems that it shouldn't be a problem. I have to watch out in case he develops a chest infection, but the chances are pretty slim.

Now, I just have to re-think our plans for half term .

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread