Extended bf and chicken pox

[chegggersplayspop]

My ds1 has been exposed to chicken pox recently and despite nearly all his class at nursery getting chicken pox he seems to have escaped. He did get a temp and was under the weather for a few days a couple of weeks ago but no spots. He has a few faint pimples but they don't look anything like proper chicken pox spots.

Do you continue to pass on some immunity to your child when bfing them when they are older?

I don't know. I've wondered too, DD didn't get chicken pox when the rest of her creche class did, she was about 17 months but I'd stopped BF at about 14 months. So, not extended BF really and not BF at the time.

She did get a temp and feel grotty but I suppose it was something else.

Interested to know if there is any temporary immunity and how long it lasts.

Mine had it at 12 months when bf very frequently,she caught it from her sister though,so she had prolonged exposure.I think the received wisdom is that bf doesn't give protection against chicken pox.Possibly both yours have had it very mildly and so will be more likely to get it again in the future.

well, apparently immunity from you is less effective or wears off around 8 or 9 months from what i'bve read online

interestingly though ds2 did not contract CP despite sharing cups/biscuits with a small friend. he was breastfed at the time

he did finally get it earlier this year, after he weaned....

oh and ds3 got it as well, and he is still very much breastfed!

Oh bugger. I was hoping we may have got it out of the way and I escaped lightly! I could do with him getting it while I am still on mat leave.

I am amazed he hasn't got it properly, he has been playing with the others for days when they must have been infectious and kissed one of the other boys when he was at his spottiest!

DD got chicken pox at 19 months and she was still being breast fed three times a day.

Also chicken pox has a long incubation period. three weeks between DD1 and DD2 getting it.

His temp was a couple of weeks ago so maybe still time for the spots to come yet.

I think he is fed up of me checking him for them though!

I know all about this - my first child came out in chickenpox spots the day that my second was born!

They are born with your immunity which lasts for a couple of months, then there is no specific protection against chickenpox, just the general immune benefits of breastfeeding.

DS2 got chicken pox at 8m and was ebf. He got it really really bad. The plus side was he bf more during this time. BF really comforted him and I knew that he was well hydrated during the high temp phase.