Help - new born exposed to chicken pox

[Worriedmom98]

Help, my 6 week old boy has been exposed to chicken pox a friend visited with her little one and was touching him and a day later came out in pox - I’m so worried he hasn’t had his jabs yet

It wouldn’t matter if he had the early newborn jabs as they don’t inoculate against chickenpox pox.
There’s really nothing you can do but wait, but a 6 week old can barely move so the contact is going to be minimal. It’s not like 2 toddlers playing and slobbering all over each other.

I wish I’d known about the chicken pox vaccine when my DD was little; can’t recommend it enough. I’d go back in time to have her given it! Obviously your LO is too young at the mo, but worth thinking about for the future maybe.

My dc1 was in a similar situation (nephew came when dc was 5 days old), came out in spots the next day. The midwife said it was highly unlikely to be an issue because dc would have my antibodies. Dc didn't get it (but had it at 11months then again at 2 years)!

If you're breast feeding you'll likely pass on antibodies.
Lots of tiny babies get exposed as it's such a common illness in tiny kids. Try not to worry & get some calpol in just in case.

DS2 was exposed at a day old when my older son came home from nursery with it - he did look to get a couple of little spots (though in the newborn haze I never thought to ask the GP/midwife and they were gone before it occurred to me!) but was totally fine in himself, and we got him the jab at a year old. I would just keep an eye but hopefully nothing to worry about at all.

@watchmeflyhigh OP’s DC is too young for calpol still.

My middle child had it when youngest was about 12 weeks and youngest just got one little chickenpox spot. I think he was protected by my immunity and he really didn’t seem ill. He did get shingles aged about 4 which apparently is more common in those circumstances.

DS2 was exposed at 4 weeks old. We were told he would be immune via my breastmilk. He actually ended up in hospital but no one could ever work out of it was CP or not. He never had any spots.
But he's never caught CP since then. (18 years later)

Same with me, my eldest had it and had been all over the baby giving cuddles etc before we knew she was infected.
Baby was breastfeeding and never got it so I presume I passed immunity on - she still never has had it, 12 years on, despite being exposed to it numerous times.
Try not to worry x