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Original poster

Breastfeeding mother with chickenpox?

12 replies

Escargot82 · 27/07/2017 14:13

Hi all - please help calm my panic.
I have just been diagnosed with chicken pox (I'm 35, never had them as a child) and I'm also breastfeeding my 5 month old.
How likely is he to catch them? How long until I'm ok?! How bad will it get?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/07/2017 14:16

Very likely I would think as it is contagious enough to be passed on but being in the same room for 15 minutes. Not much you can do about it really, sorry Flowers

Original poster
Escargot82 · 27/07/2017 14:36

God I feel so guilty. I can't believe I have blinking CP!! Now of all times. Angry

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/07/2017 15:04

My ds got chicken pox from dd at nearly 6 months old. He wasn't that bad tbh although did get childhood shingles at age 3. Don't feel guilty as you can't help catching it when you did

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badg3r · 27/07/2017 15:07

They will also get your antibodies to it though through your milk as you fight the infection. And as PP said, they are not guaranteed to get severe symptoms. Yes it is not ideal but it can't be helped and at least once you have ridden it out you won't need to worry about it again. Get well soon!

2littlemoos · 27/07/2017 15:09

I got shingles whilst bf and doctor said if I wasn't bf baby would have got chickenpox. They are protected. Please do not worry Smile

badg3r · 27/07/2017 15:09

Oh, and you are contagious till the spots have all scabbed over and anecdotally I have heard it is generally worse for adults than kids... sorry!!

dementedpixie · 27/07/2017 16:23

Shingles doesn't transmit in the same way as chicken pox as it passes chicken pox with direct contract with fluid from the blisters whereas chicken pox itself is airborne so can transmit through droplets in the air rather than just through direct contact

purplesippycup · 27/07/2017 16:52

Highly likely he will catch it, literally nothing you can do as you can't be apart to the extent you would need to be to avoid it happening.

If it does happen, and it's a time when you don't need to travel or go anywhere risky then I guess it would be ideal to get it over and done with to put a positive spin on it!

I've dodged my child catching chicken pox after several people not knowing they had shingles had close contact when we were about to to fly abroad.

Recently a child had chicken pox and spent the night at our house shortly before finding out. Would literally be a nightmare situation as I'm approaching my due date and wouldn't be able to visit hospital or be close to newborn etc.

I wish it would just happen at a time when nothing is going on in life so we know it's over with and probably won't happen again Grin

gluteustothemaximus · 27/07/2017 16:58

My DD caught CP at 8 weeks. Hardly noticed it in her as was breastfeeding, and doctor said that was why it was mild.

Hope it's not too bad for you OP x

aurorie11 · 27/07/2017 16:58

My DD had it at 25 weeks, covered in spots but happy in herself. Recommend baths with porridge oats (put them in tights)

DesignedForLife · 27/07/2017 22:56

Pretty likely. DS caught it at 4 months and was miserable with it, covered head to toe and lots in painful places. Then got them in his ears and had a nasty ear infection. All over the worst in a week though. Poxclin mouse was by far the best cream, I could feel him relax as I put it on him.

Fingers crossed your little one will be ok.

DesignedForLife · 27/07/2017 22:57

Oh and he was exclusively breastfed at the time, sorry :(

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