How long are chicken pox contagious?

[wolfear]

DS (23 months) has them. The first spots appeared on Monday just gone - the day I gave borth to my second DS!

DS1 has been shipped of to his grandparents until he isn't contagious anymore. I miss him terribly and feel like and awful mother. I know we have to wait until they've all scabbed over, and a lot of them have but he's still getting a couple of new ones each day. Anyone know when this should stop?

I think they take a few days to scab over from when they first appear. My DS was ten days but I think this is the worst case. Why have you sent him away? Your baby will be protected from Chicken pox if you've had it.

I think it takes about 6 days, altho isn't it infectious before the spots come out too? (Just to worry you a bit more - sorry!)

ANd I feel I should point out that Pox is not plural, - so it should be How Long IS Chicken Pox contagious.

What I mean is that DS2 will have immunity if you have had chicken pox for at least a few weeks and def if you are breast feeding.

I think it's 5 days after the last spots appear.

However, until spots are all scabbed over I think they are still contagious. Sorry.

It will be over soon and forgotten about.

Congrats on ds2 by the way.

My GP told me that it's 7 days from the first spots appearing.

And if you've had it and are brest-feeding then the lo will be fine.

Breastfeeding doesnt help with chicken pox immunity, but your newborn should have some protection from chicken pox if you have had it.
Standard advice is that you are no longer contagious either when the last spot has scabbed, or 5 days after the chicken pox starts.

Drs told us that immuntiy is not 100% even though I've had it and am BFing and that we should still try and keep them apart as much as poss.

Thanks sparkybabe but correct grammar is the last thing on my mind at the moment.