Can bfing protect my baby from chickenpox? I have shingles so am bit worried...

[alittleteapot]

I have shingles. My baby could catch the chickenpox virus if he's been in contact with my rash (not impossible.) As I have had chickenpox will he be protected by my immunity?

I'm sorry to say this but a friend of mine had shingles when bf her little girl and even though she bound her shingles rash (to prevent the baby touching it), her baby caught chicken pox. It wasn't a bad case of chicken pox though.

Breastfeeding wont protect your DS from chicken pox, it is the wrong type of immunoglobulin for that. I was very worried about my DD catching chicken pox, and had hoped that breastfeeding would protect her, but her paediatrician told me it wouldnt help.
How old is your DS? He may still be protected as a result of the immunity gained before he was born.

thanks - he's seven weeks...

Owwwwwww! Bfing through shingles - it's blimmin' sore, isn't it?!!

I had shingles when DD was 4 months old, didn't realise what it was at first. My rash was under my armpit and sometimes I feel little hands under there when feeding! Kept it covered once I knew and DD didn't get chicken pox, so it's not a foregone conclusion.

that's good to know, thanks beveridge. i think i might actually have a bit on one of my breasts. and yes, ouch.

My DS1 had chickenpox when my DS 2 was born, and I was told by my lovely midwife that because I had had chickenpox DS2 was born with immunity but it would only last a month or two.
But breastfeeding doesn't make any difference, there is just the immunity for the first couple of months.

So you may just be inside the window where he would be immune!

I got shingles when DS was 4 months and he did get chicken pox, several weeks later so at first I'd thought we'd avoided it.

It was perineal shingles, ouchhhhhhhhhhhh, so he obviously had no direct contact with the rash, I can only guess that I must have scratched it in my sleep then touched him; he was still having several night time BFs. I was really careful with handwashing though

He had loads of spots, but was fine in himself, which I think the BF helped with.

I hope your baby doesn't catch it, and you're well again soon.

I don't know about shingles, but DS had chicken pox when DD was 4 weeks, and then DD got it when she was 6 weeks. I was bf her at the time and everyone said she would be protected, but she wasn't.

She was pretty spotty, but wasn't at all ill with it.

I hope you feel better soon.