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Original poster

the POX

15 replies

RoseandVioletCreams · 13/03/2013 20:10

Does anyone know about chick pox catching times...

If my baby was exposed to another baby BEFORE that babies spots were out, could my baby have caught it?

We dont know if the baby has it yet - no spots however the sibling of hte baby does. Is it contageious before the spots come out.

My baby is four months and currently has a really nasty cold and heavy chest, should i be concerned if she does get it?

Thankyou Smile

OP posts:
strawberrypenguin · 13/03/2013 20:19

My DS has just had chickenpox, the doctor said he would have been contagious for about 2 days before he got spots. Chickenpox can be dangerous so get advice from a doctor if you are worried.

NorthernLurker · 13/03/2013 20:35

Yes your baby could well have got chicken pox. As she's now 4 months old it's unlikely to be too problematic but consult your GP if needed. Don't take dd in to surgery before checking you can wait away from peopl though. Chicken pox can be very serious in groups such as transplant patients.

My dd2 got it from her sister aged 5 months. She was fine. Stock up on paracetamol and if she seems irritated you can put some porridge oats in a sock and swirl that around in her bath water for a soothing soak.

Original poster
RoseandVioletCreams · 13/03/2013 20:43

she will not take calpol, and already has nasty cold and chest.
oh dear.
Sad

she wasnt next to the other baby for long, about 50 minuets or so.

OP posts:
Original poster
RoseandVioletCreams · 13/03/2013 20:43

oh and she desnt like baths!

OP posts:
NorthernLurker · 13/03/2013 20:46

If the other child was infectious you only need to be in the same room for 15 minutes to catch it. You'll just have to wait and see. Syringe the calpol in to her mouth. She's 4 months old. She doesn't really have conscious 'likes' and 'dislikes' and anyway you will need to get medicine in to her at some point over the next 18 years. Get in practice now Grin

Original poster
RoseandVioletCreams · 13/03/2013 20:59

sorry what i meant was she wont take it - she is EBF no dummy etc and when she had a temp last week we tried everything to get some calpol in to bring her temp down, a teeny tiny bit on syringe she gagged and was sick, put some on nipple wouldnt have that, I was worried in the end about her being de hydrated becasue she started to be sick every time we tried it, so I left it and kept monitiering temp

yes my five year old had the pox at 3 and it was fine, she was fine.

I just dont want my already poorley little baby to get it.

Sad

i thought when weaning starts she would probably take some then.

OP posts:
mayhew · 13/03/2013 21:26

If a baby gags on medicine, what I do is
: medicine in syringe, not spoon
:cuddle baby close with one arm, laid back, slightly restraining head
: slip syringe in corner of mouth, between the gum and cheek
:squirt in half, wait for a swallow, then give other half.

Gagging occurs when an unrecognised taste/texture comes unexpectedly. Especially if it suddenly hits the back of the mouth.
Babies are more likely to gag if you introduce medicine on the back of the tongue. In the cheek, gravity takes it down more gently and dilutes it with saliva and they usually swallow. Because its less startling, they are more likely to accept it and get used to it.

Original poster
RoseandVioletCreams · 13/03/2013 21:56

it was syrigne but will try your cheek method!
I was hoping last time at least a tiny bit will go in, but she projectiled everywhere!

OP posts:
Original poster
RoseandVioletCreams · 13/03/2013 21:57

alotugh i did try it on nipple as well and she wouldnt have that.

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nannyl · 14/03/2013 22:12

incubation period is up to 20 days

she might have it, she might not, but if she does you will get through it.

My DD had it a few weeks ago at 16.5 months..... (had it pretty nastily) she saw lots of people before, and had spend 3 occasions with 2 of her best friends (playing closely) in the week before...... none of them got it.
she also saw more brriefly many many more children who also didnt get it.

at 4m old she spent almost a whole toddler group session with a 1 year old (practically on top of her in the baby chair as he loved babies) who came out with it nastily hours later.... she didnt get it then, nor at all over the next few weeks when she was around other contagious children who didnt at that point know what was going to happen.

she was EBF and health visitor said it probably helped get some immunity from me.

But no point worrying about it, what will be will be..... and im sure at toddler groups / nursery etc she will be exposed many many more times, untiil one day she gets it, then you can hope she doesnt get it again

AmberLav · 15/03/2013 13:34

Advice on newborns with chicken pox appears to be one of the many things that has changed a lot over the years - in 1978 my mum, who was in fact a midwife, took me home early at 2 days old, as my middle sister had chicken pox. My big sister then caught it, and I then caught it at 3 weeks old... I was fully breast fed... Apparently I was fine, no one worried about it...

And I know I did have it, because I got myself tested for antibodies before I got pregnant, and I'm immune...

Got no wonderful insights as to why no one worried about it back then, when it's such a worry now - I would love to know more, if anyone knows?

I do have fun holding my hand up when my GP friends confidently say that newborns never get chicken pox as they have immunity from their mother!

Oh and my son was exposed at swimming class, with lots of nice warm moist air, getting changed right next to the infected child, and nothing happened...

Original poster
RoseandVioletCreams · 15/03/2013 20:12

Yes its strange Amber.

I just think its a little selfish to expose your own DC to it - but not tell other people you are meeting clearly that you are doing this.

Esp if you dont know them that well and thier lives etc.

If I was going to expose my DC I would first of all read up about it =- and then tell people....

Myself and others have essesntially been attending a pox party, but unawares.

OP posts:
forgottoremember · 15/03/2013 20:47

ds born at home
dd gave him lots and lots of cuddles and kisses, in the same room all day
that afternoon she was suddenly covered in spots
drs quite worried, but basically said so long as i'd had it, there was no point in any action (if I hadn't, they'd have given me (and maybe ds? can't remember) some sort of injection.
they all said: pox in first month really not good news. after that, well, not ideal, but should be fine.
you can't do anything about it - just wait and see, and hopefully baby will be fine. (ds didn't get it...)

MammaCici · 19/03/2013 08:49

EBF babies often completely avoid bugs and viruses that the rest of the family get. My own DS was EBF and escaped catching a particularly nasty cold/flu that DH and I were both floored with. Blessed breast milk!

How is your DD? Did she avoid "the Pox"?

scaevola · 19/03/2013 08:54

You can ask for paediatric paracetamol in suppository form.

But it only really helps with pain, not congestion, so you might find that antibodies from you (via breastmilk) are the thing that most helps in shortening the illness.

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