Chicken Pox nightmare!

[JennyT87]

Hello, I have a 3.5yr old DD on 3rd day of chicken pox (of spots anyway) and she looks just terrible the poor thing. I have a 19 day old DD at home too that I am already worried about catching the virus (hopefully she wont as she had a little of my BM at the hospital - now formula fed, given I had the illness as a child I am hoping to god she has some immunity!) If she does there is not much I can do about it at present besides worry my a** off :(
I got some calamine lotion yesterday which doesnt seem to work incredibly well and DD1 will NOT allow me to come near her with the stuff, gets HYSTERICAL when i try to cut her nails - she is so strong i find it impossible to pin her down and just do it and i cant stick her in the bath during the day until partner gets home from work later as DD2 will not settle without me.
I am feeling so miserable right now, I know she is too but I also feel like well I cant help if you wont let me now can I and just really feel stretched so thin. I have dealt with toddler illness before and while that sucked too I didnt have a newborn to contend with - doesnt help at all that DD1 has been jealous of DD2 since she came home and is none too impressed that she isnt getting cuddles all day long anymore.
Has anybody else been in the same or similiar situation, atm I feel that even some stories of other mummys having been through the wars and come out the other side will help (I know realistically it will pass in a few more days but my very soul is shuddering at the thought and could do with some reassurance :) )

My (b/f) DD3 was six weeks old when DD2 had chickenpox, and didn't catch it - fingers crossed.

Can you cut fingernails whilst DD2 is asleep? Is she actually itchy enough to warrant chasing her round with the calamine? I spent a fortune recently on the newer recommended gels etc, and DGS wasn't really itchy at all. Just rubbed up against the sofa when he was, lol.
Hang on in there - like you say, it will pass :)

Sorry you're having such a rough time.
I'd be mega-pampering the 3yo & fully expecting the baby to get it.
Any fever in baby then seek medical advice.

Calamine can sOnetimes irritate. It was no good for DS and I when we had it (yes he gave it to me...).

Apparently virasoothe or aloe Vera supposed to be better. Calamine dries the spots but too much sometimes so they feel itchier.

Can't help with the how to deal with newborn at same time. I think I'd go for Cbeebies for the older one and a sling for the younger. Hope you're all over it soon

Keep your eldest dd cool as possible, heat encourages more blisters. Porridge in the bath (cool bath) is really soothing. I found calamine the best thing for drying out the spots
Sorry, but cut her nails, the blisters can get nasty if infected. Brace yourself for the baby to get it(perhaps seek advice now in anticipation).
Do not give any Aspirin to children with chicken-pox can have serious complications.
I hope your dd is better soon. It's horrible illness.

You should never give kids aspirin anyways, are you thinking of ibuprofen ThePathan?

Bicarb baths helped my kids are did eurax. If she's on day 3 shell be at her worst and things should improve from here. Tbh I'd be giving her a bath, sit on the loo with the wee one whilst she is in and if the baby has to cry while you're sorting the older one out, well, she won't come to harm for it.

I think the thing that's toughest to realise when you have your second baby is that dc2 just doesn't get the same pampered babyhood as dc1 did, and that's fine, its ok, they won't remember it, you'll still bond and its normal. I have the same age gap as you and I've felt like you a lot of times but you'll get through it.

Re the baby catchinf chickenpox I think I might call the HV and ask her advice re that on Monday - whether shed need antivirals or earlier assessment by a doctor for example. Nothing else you can do in the meantime though so try to put it to the back of your mind.

Congratulations on your new baby.

I got a tip from an Iranian friend of mine...and it seemed to work! Apparently, at first sign of spots, juice fresh pomegranate up and give child to drink, do this daily or twice daily if poss. (juice it by taking out seeds, blending them and then push through sieve.) I did this at first sign, and DS breezed through, not many spots, no complications....maybe it helped? Who knows :) worth a shot though.