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Original poster

Chickenpox and Newborn babies

17 replies

flightattendant · 02/06/2007 12:58

This is (hopefully) a hypothetical question!

Ds is not very well since yesterday - slight cold, bit of a temp, quiet (that is unusual) and Ds2 is due in one week.
I am not sure if Ds has been exposed to Cp in the last couple of weeks, but am a bit worried - in case it did turn out to be that, what do you do with a newborn baby on the scene?
I've had it as a child so would the baby have passive immunity, or would I have to avoid contact between Ds 1 & 2 until Ds1 was better?

I'm not sure how that would be possible...

OP posts:
belgo · 02/06/2007 13:04

If it is chicken pox, he will probably develop the spots quite soon, today of tomorrow. Then he'll be contagious until the last spot has crusted over and dried, usually this is five days.

If he has the chicken pox, then I would keep him away from the new baby until he is no longer contagious. Keep the baby in one room, and don't let ds2 see him. The new baby probably will have your immunity, but there are cases of newborns catching chicken pox.

Hopefully this is all hypothetical

TillyBeany · 02/06/2007 13:04

Hi, not sure but would think if you are immune your baby would be as well..also I'm not immune having never had it and my dd1 caught chickenpox at around 4 days..terrified the life out of me but really wasn't a problem for her at all just a few spots and that was about it really hope all goes well for you!

KerryMum · 02/06/2007 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

belgo · 02/06/2007 13:10

KerryMum , that link is talking about maternal chicken pox (ie. the mother)

Flightattendant has had it as a child, so shouldn't be at risk of catching it.

KerryMum · 02/06/2007 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PrincessPeaHead · 02/06/2007 14:12

flight attendant, if you have had CP and you are breastfeeding the baby, then the baby will not get it. Immunity is passed through BM, not in utero though, so you need to be feeding.

If your baby is under a month old, then it is also v unlikely to get it, as they generally don't catch things like this so young.

If your "newborn" is more like a couple of months old plus, and you are not feeding, then he may well get it, and may get it quite badly because of the prolonged exposure to siblings (as opposed to shorter, temporary exposure at eg nursery). My DS2 got it at 5.5 months (I wasn't feeding) from DS1 horrifically badly, with secondary lung infections etc.

So in short - if VERY newborn, don't worry. If any age and fully breastfed, then don't worry. Otherwise keep them apart as much as possible, stock up on calpol, and keep a lookout.

HTH

PrincessPeaHead · 02/06/2007 14:13

kerrymum the baby won't get any of the other herpes things until he/she has had CP so that is confusing the issue a little

mumoftwoangels · 02/06/2007 14:15

i was pregnant when chicken pox and shingles went round at work. I was straight on the phone to my mw. She said not to worry.

mumoftwoangels · 02/06/2007 14:16

i was pregnant when chicken pox and shingles went round at work. I was straight on the phone to my mw. She said not to worry.

KerryMum · 02/06/2007 14:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

goingfor3 · 02/06/2007 14:54

PrincessPeaHead - DD1 had chicken pox when DD2 was three weeks old. DD2 was exclusivly breastfed and she got chicken pox at about 4 1/2 weeks. The information you have is incorrect.

PrincessPeaHead · 02/06/2007 15:36

if that is the case it is because you weren't immune - ie hadn't had CP as a child

the poster has had CP as a child, so it won't happen to her

Original poster
flightattendant · 02/06/2007 15:41

Thanks everyone, will keep a close eye on Ds1 and if I spy anything spot-like I'll ship him off to Grandma's when I go into labour...and for a week or two afterwards!!

Here's hoping it doesn't happen.

Lucky Grandma

OP posts:
goingfor3 · 02/06/2007 18:40

Good luck flightattendant.

I did have chicken pox as a child, so I am immune. I would have caught in from my children had I not been especially as my body was run down after having a baby. I'm sure if you ask a question along the lines of 'whose baby had chicken pox when they were exculisivley breastfed and the mother was immune' you will find people whose babies have had it.

belgo · 03/06/2007 09:00

the differing posts on this thread illustrate just how complicated the immune system is.

NotQuiteCockney · 03/06/2007 09:04

I have certainly known, and heard of, fully breastfed babies getting CP.

I think the risk is greatest in your baby's first week or two, as s/he won't be covered by your immunity right away.

But yes, babies can get CP even when fully breastfed by an immune mum. They should only get a mild case, but that isn't guaranteed.

jandeb · 03/06/2007 22:00

Hi, My DS had chicken pox when he was 6 weeks old, he then had them at 3 months.
He was fine both times but when he was 3years he got shingles. This was quite stressfull for us, DS is now 9 years old and fine.

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