Chicken Pox

[emvy]

It looks like my toddler has picked up chicken pox from nursery. This would probably be good news (we all know it’s good to “get it out the way early”) but I have a 3 week old baby too. A quick google suggests that infected people should stay away from newborns. Obviously that’s not going to happen, especially as I’m home alone with both of them while DH is at work.

Does anyone have any experience of their newborn getting chicken pox? What did you do? How bad was it? Should I be overly worried?

Thanks!

Are you breastfeeding and have you had it before? Breastfeeding may confer some immunity but can't totally be relied upon

agree with pp. If you have had it, and are breastfeeding, the baby will get antibodies from you as you are likely to get a boost of antibodies due to your toddler having it and being in close contact with you.

...but talk to your GP just in case?

I would maybe speak to your GP or HV just to let them know the situation as well

Hi when my now nearly 3 year old was a week old we had my husbands best friend over with his wife and two young children to visit. The very next day the wife messaged saying one of the kids had come out with chicken pox. I phoned and spoke to our GP who asked us to come up to the surgery. After doing some research online he referred us straight to the paediatric assessment unit at the hospital. Once there they said they didn’t want to take any chances and gave my son a course of anti vitals over the next 24 hours. I stayed in with him overnight. And he wasn’t showing any specific symptoms (rash/temp etc) and yes I was fully breastfeeding him. Hospital said potential complications in newborns aren’t worth the risk of not treating him. I’d contact your GP for advice. Xxx

• anti-virals

Thank you everyone.

@Clangerschick that sounds pretty stressful! I will definitely be calling the gp surgery as soon as it’s open this morning. She’s not even registered with the gp yet so I hope they are still able to help. Typically I was planning on picking up the registration pack today! She is exclusively breastfed and I have had it before so hopefully that will offer her some form of protection. She’s not showing any symptoms yet and my DS has only just come out in the red spots so hopefully we have time.

Incubation period is 10-21 days so could be a while before she has symptoms

GP seemed to think there was nothing to worry about, just that she may get it again in the future even if she does get it now.

@dementedpixie yeah I’m aware it has a long incubation period so it’s very possible she could get it in a week or so. Let’s hope breastfeeding and birth immunity keep it at bay until she’s older 🤞🏻

Thanks again for your responses x

Also if they get chicken pox under the age of 1 they are at a higher risk of childhood shingles. My ds had CP at 5½ months and shingles age 3.

Fingers crossed she avoids it just now

I've heard of day old newborns being exposed, getting spots 2 weeks later, but being fine with it.

DD was 15 weeks when she came out with CP spots -- fine. Immune in every outbreak since, too.