Some chicken pox and possibly complex immunity questions

[silverpod]

CP has been doing the rounds here, like most places.

I'm pretty sure DS has been exposed a few times before, yet never seemed to have caught it. It is now fairly rife in his nursery, so if he doesn't catch it this time, I'm kind of assuming that he won't ever, does anyone know the stats or more info for being immune to CP?

Also, DD2 (9.5 months) is still being BF twice a day, I've had CP. Will she still get some immunity from me or is she too old/not enough BM for that?

[girlskull]

I was exposed to Chicken Pox loads as a child but never got it, so it was assumed that I was immune.

My cousin then had it when I was 37 weeks pregnant, so I had to have blood tests to see if I actually was (it turned out I wasn't at all, so had to have an injection to stop me developing it as J was born).

The midwife did say that some people do develop immunity without actually showing any signs of having it, though (hence the need for blood tests).

Hope that helps a bit (and doesn't read too much like gobbledigook!)

[Mrs B]

I was exposed to CP a lot as a child, back in the days of mums taking kids round to "CP etc parties", but never caught it. I was tested when pg and turned out to be immune, apparently most (but not all) women are.

Not sure about the bmilk/immunity thing, but would have thought you'd still be passing the good stuff through, and don't think the amount is as crucial at her age.

[clementinexyz]

I was talking to a friend about this recently-she has never had it and neither has her daughter and she wonders if she/they could be immune.

As for Bmilk immunity-Dexter has been exposed to CP quite a few times, at least twice at the very contagious stage and hasn't had it yet. I have and I think it might be because he's BFed that he hasn't yet caught it.

AFAIK when children receive less breastmilk the antibodies actually become more concentrated so the fact that C is not feeding as often as a newbron won't much affect the amount of your immunity she receives.

*ETA Disclaimer, everything I'm saying is pure conjecture, I think I've heard the last 'fact' but can't remember where so not sure how reliable I am*

[Islander]

I was exposed to it lots as a child too. I finally caught it when I was 17. My dad had shingles and I caught CP from him.

No idea why I didn't get it as a child but succumbed a week before my 18th birthday.

Don't assume your DS won't catch it. He might.

D x

[silverpod]

I'm kind of hoping they both catch it, now, and we can get it done and dusted before the holidays. I know that you still have to 'catch it' even if you think you've been in situations where you think it must be a cert. My sister had it when she was 18 and she suffered very badly, so I would rather it was done now.

Thanks for the info on BM, Clem and :bow: that you remember her name :lol: the amount of times I call her one if the others' names and yet you remember puts me to shame....

[clementinexyz]

Well there's a very good reason I'd remember:teehee:

IKWYM abut catching it sooner, I wish Dexter would get it as they say the older they get it the worse it is, and if he'd only caught it before the baby's arrival then I'd have been able to rule out the possibility of dealing with two sick poxy children at the same time in the future:rolleyes:

[silverpod]

I kind of hope they do both get it together and that's CP done, rather than one get it, then some time later the other does. Ah well, what will be...

I was just thinking after I posted, about how much DD2 really suits her name. I did have some worries, which I remember you posting to about a year ago :faint: , but it just seems the right name for her, so I'm glad we went for it now.**


**Apart from the fact DS pronounces it so it come out as/like 'hammer-time' :lol:

[IncyWincySpider]

I've been wondering about this too as mine (6, 4 & 1) have been exposed to it quite a few times but none of them have had it yet.

[wednesday]

My eldest was exposed to it a few times at nursery but only got it when he was about 8 (had 3 spots) My youngest had it the other week really badly and hes 14 and I've never had it

[ms.lurker]

becca got it at 3 months old and was breast fed

[minigirl]

The children's hospital here told us that immunity in babies is nothing to do with breastmilk, if the mother has had CP she will pass on some immunity through the placenta and the effect will last through the first year.

I never caught CP as a child even though I was exposed many times, but caught it recently at 35 so wasn't immune.

[Moffgal]

Con was exposed to it loads at nursery and never got it. I was really hoping he'd get it before starting school, but wasn't to be.

Re immunity my brother had measles when we were both on school hols and I never got it even though it was winter and we were pretty much together in the same room all day long.

[Adifferentnutty mumof3]

The children's hospital here told us that immunity in babies is nothing to do with breastmilk,


:puzzled::puzzled:


One of THE greatest arguments for breastfeeding is the conferring of immunity. not quite sure why hospital staff don't seem to be aware of this!! :no:


http://www.promom.org/bf_info/sci_am.htm


If you have CP or any other disease immunity you will pass that to baby through breastmilk for as long as you are bfeeding - hence one reason feeding until two is reccommended as that is when the child's own immune system is more able to cope with disease - until then bmilk supports the immature immune system.

[Adifferentnutty mumof3]

if the mother has had CP she will pass on some immunity through the placenta and the effect will last through the first year.





Immunity through the placenta only lasts about three months. Certainly no where near a year.

[Petrus]

Joshua had CP when I was pregnant with Robert, I believe that him having it actually boosted my immunity and passed it through to him as he's not had it yet and has been around babes with CP.

[minigirl]

:puzzled::puzzled:
One of THE greatest arguments for breastfeeding is the conferring of immunity. not quite sure why hospital staff don't seem to be aware of this!! :no:


Just passing on what we were told, this was a chickenpox specialist as well. We were told that breast milk passes on antibodies which helps boost immune systems but doesn't actually pass on proper immunity. :shrug:

[One Sock]

Just passing on what we were told, this was a chickenpox specialist as well. We were told that breast milk passes on antibodies which helps boost immune systems but doesn't actually pass on proper immunity. :shrug:


That is what I had understood as well, that you pass on immunity through the placenta that lasts for a few months and then breast milk provides antibodies which help boost the baby's own immune system.

[lucypede]

I have never had it, (even though DD1 had it at age 6 months) and despite two blood tests saying I was not immune, when I actually had the jab, it caused a hideous local reaction - was nearly hospitalised with it :shock: and a consultant virologist decided I must have been actually immune in order to react so violently!

So, therefore I conclude - yes you can be immune even if you have never had it! :lol:

[Muppetgal]

I was exposed to it lots as a child too. I finally caught it when I was 17. My dad had shingles and I caught CP from him.

No idea why I didn't get it as a child but succumbed a week before my 18th birthday.

Don't assume your DS won't catch it. He might.

D x

That happened to me too, my mum used to send us around every neighbours house trying to get us to catch it...for years. Once we were at a birthday party that every child there caught it, except my sister and I. So it was assumed we had some weird immunity to it.

I eventually got CP when I was 19.