Chicken Pox in Breastfed children

[vickyplus3]

My twins have just come into contact with Chicken Pox for the first time. One has contracted it very mildly and the other has no spots. ALthough they were both quite unwell last week it seems to have passed. My five month old baby also seems to have escaped and I have been told it is because he is breastfeed. I was also told that the immunity in breastfed children lasts three years (the twins are three tomorrow!). So, my question is if anyone has any answers, will the other twin get the pox at some point in the next couple of years or can I assume he had it and fought it? If the baby comes into contact with it in the next three years is it likely he will not get it or like his brothers, get off lightly? Any comments much appreciated.

My son was in contact with chicken pox about 5 times during outbreaks at nursery prior to him finally developing it - no rhyme nor reason i'm afraid it catches them all eventually - just like the tax man!!!!!

all my children were breast fed and 3 of them had pox before they were 3. Is that any help?

My 2 month old, 100% breastfed ds has just had it. Grrr....

DD1 had it a few months before third birthday and she was bf for 6 months. It seems like a bit of an arbitary 'rule' to say that children will be immune for 3 years if bf because what constitute bf? Bf for 2 months, 4 months, a year? exclusively, until weaned etc?

Dd had it at 9mths and is bf'ed. Ds1 was ff'ed from a couple of months old but didn't get chickenpox until he was 4yrs old (and then again at 6yrs). Ds2 was bf'ed for 6 months and had chickenpox when he was 1yr and again at almost 4yrs.

No connection between chickenpox and breastfeeding here.

Thanks gals, I guess I have just not got out of it - damn!

My son was breastfed until 33 months and he got chickenpox really badly at 33 months. He has also recently had a chicken pox like rash on one side of his body at five years old.

I think its a little bit luck of the draw. I have no doult that breastfeeding has benefits for mother and child otherwise I would not breastfed my son until 33 months.

However I think a lot of a benefits of breastfeeding are greatly exaggerated.

Couldn't agree more, Frances.
The midwife at the hospital swore blind my ds would not get chickenpox if I breastfed (I was anxious because there was an outbreak at dd's nursery just before ds was due; in the end they both got it a little later). I mean, she talked as if it was absolute, universal proven fact.

As it happens ds has had it very mildly and this may be thanks to the bf, but I just wish they would pay us the compliment of giving accurate information, rather than so over-simplified as to be utterly meaningless.

Your child is immune if you're immune, you are exclusively bf AND they are under 1 month old. Past that - they can get it! My dd1 was fully spotty when dd2 was born and we had various dr's discussing the issue - they came to the above conclusion. Dd2 didn't get it by the way so they were correct.

My 16 month old still breastfed on demand has had the chicken pox, an average number of spots (about 80 or so) and a bit of a temperature.

Nope 3sEnough - that's not 100% either. My ds managed to disprove that one...

Blimey crumpet - how old was ds when he got it?

My DS was exclusively BF and got it when DD did. He was just 4 months. It was mild but he was still spotty and poorly. He has been in contact with it since (he is 5 next month) and has not had it again - the doctor said this was possible as he had it mildly and may not have developed full immunity. I can't see how immunity can last 3 years - breast feeding only provides passive immunity - you pass your antibodies on, the child does not make them themselves. This only happens when you are exposed to a disease either by having it or via vaccination. Antibodies live for about 4 months. Why did the person say 3 years?

Sorry 3sEnough - didn't see this. He was 2 weeks. Spent a week in hospital with the poor thing on a drip while they dithered about whether it was/was not cp. Given that his older sister had just had it and there had been a big outbreak in the area I was pretty convionced from the outset. But the medics were quite sure that it couldn't be - until the blood tests finally came back. Interestingly the bloods did confirm that I was immune.

My daughter got it when she was 4 weeks old, she was exclusivley breastfed and I am immune.

yep,mine too.both were breastfed until 10 months,eldest son caught them aged four and a few days later daughter caught them she was only about three months and exclusively breastfed.

yep,mine too.both were breastfed until 10 months,eldest son caught them aged four and a few days later daughter caught them she was only about three months and exclusively breastfed.

Come to think of it I was still feeding my ds as he was about 13 months when he got it. He had it quite badly too.

I don't think you can assume he had it and fought it if he didn't have it! He's either had chicken pox or he hasn't! I don't think the fact that he's been breastfed means he won't get it. I know loads of breastfed children that have had chicken pox. One boy had it twice, while he was still breastfed - the second bout was horrendous as well. So your ds is not going to avoid it because he was breastfed I don't think.

DS2 got it really mildly when breastfed at about 5 months - he had about 6 tiny spots. But later, for a number of reasons, he had a blood test to test immunity and he wasn't immune to chickenpox. So I don't think you can assume.

DD had chicken pox when she was 6 week and exclusively breastfed. I am hoping she had it "properly" as she was nice and spotty .

DS got it when she was 4 weeks old and everyone kept telling me that DD wouldn't get it. But she defintiely did.

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