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Original poster

Terrified — Newborn (7 weeks) exposed to chickenpox. Any similar experiences?

12 replies

Ellerdcc · 02/12/2025 11:33

Hi mums,

I’m a first-time mum and I’m absolutely panicking right now, so I’m hoping someone has been through something similar and can reassure me.
Yesterday my 7-week-old baby was around a 1-year-old who seemed fine at the time. The toddler touched my baby’s leg and came close to his face for a few minutes, and I held the toddler briefly too. This morning the 1-year-old woke up with a rash and has started to blister — so it turns out they were already contagious yesterday.

I had chickenpox when I was younger and I’m breastfeeding, but I’m still really scared because my baby is so tiny. I’ve been so cautious since he was born, and I honestly can’t believe I let my guard down like this. My anxiety is through the roof and I can’t stop thinking about it.

Has anyone had a newborn exposed to chickenpox around this age? What happened? Did your baby get it? I’m just looking for real experiences and reassurance because I’m so worried.

Thank you so much to anyone who replies. 💛

OP posts:
LoveSandbanks · 02/12/2025 11:47

My so caught chickenpox from his brother at 5 months old. It seems that the severity of chickenpox might have some dependency on how much “exposure” the child has. I was also breastfeeding and have immunity to chickenpox. I think that, given the exposure was for a relatively short time if your baby gets it, it should be somewhat mild.

Chafing · 02/12/2025 11:48

Very unlikely to catch it if you have had it and are breastfeeding. Try to relax.

Hollyjollynights · 02/12/2025 11:53

Oh op this isn’t your fault, don’t beat yourself up. you didn’t let your guard down, you’re being a good mum and having your baby meet people and have experiences, and you are seeing people and that is good for your MH (and therefore also good for your baby) to stay part of the world! You are also seemingly choosing the people you’re around well because the child’s parents have told you and been concerned about you and your baby, at a time when they could just be thinking about themselves. You also didn’t know the child had chicken pox, you can’t know everything and remove all risk, as much as we’d like to.
it sounds like exposure was minimal, all you can do is keep the baby hydrated and fed and keep an eye on them. Hopefully you don’t catch it - not everyone does! Think about dc in nursery, if an infected child goes in the rest don’t all get it at the exact same time, (indicating not all exposure results in pox) and many won’t catch it at all.

Pluckmeoutbluemoon · 02/12/2025 12:02

Dc1 was 3 weeks when in prolonged contact (full weekend) with dn aged 1 and didn't get it (I was breastfeeding and had had chicken pox). Dc1 went onto get it twice aged 11 months and 3 years.

MirandaWest · 02/12/2025 12:06

When DD was 4 weeks old, DS (nearly 2) got chicken pox. Many people said she probably wouldn’t get it as I’d had it and she was breast fed.

2 weeks later when she was 6 weeks old she became very spotty. I was worried but really it wasn’t an issue. She didn’t appear to be itchy and basically slept a bit more.

Hopefully your DD won’t get it but if she does it is likely to be fine.

(DS and DD are 22 and 20 now and so I have many other things to worry about!)

ICSH1 · 02/12/2025 14:23

My youngest caught it at 7 weeks. His brother brought it home from nursery, there was nothing anyone could have done. He was absolutely fine and although very spotty didn’t seem ill will it or particularly itchy (possibly because he was too little to realise he had hands…) so I actually felt quite lucky he got it out of the way when he was so little. I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine either way x

CheltenhamLady · 02/12/2025 14:31

My 5 week old baby caught chicken pox pox from his elder brother. He wasn't very ill with it at all. However, I also caught it and I was quite poorly. I imagine that if your baby catches it it will be very mild. Try not to worry OP.

Antihistamine62 · 02/12/2025 17:04

The first night I brought my youngest home from hospital my eldest came out head to toe in chicken pox. I was frantic. He didn’t catch them and I formula fed x

PodMom · 02/12/2025 17:08

Probably worth a phone call to the gp, there is medication which can be given to people within so many days of exposure to stop them getting it. No idea if a 7 week old can have it though. Baby will have antibodies from you breastfeeding too. And the chances are even if they did get it it would be mild.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 02/12/2025 17:10

DS2 caught CP from his brother at one week old despite me bf! A few spots, not unwell, and 20 years later never had it again.

Baboutheocelot · 02/12/2025 17:16

My youngest was 3 weeks old when my eldest came out in chicken pox. I was breastfeeding and have had chicken pox as a child. The baby had no symptoms but then developed shingles at around five months old so must have caught it off my eldest as you don’t get shingles without having had chicken pox. Neither have ever had it since.

DrEmilyCrabtree · 02/12/2025 17:16

My dd was about 6 weeks old and ff when ds (then 6) got chicken pox. He was very spotty, she didn't get it at all. She possibly had it, aged 4.5, but only very mildly

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