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shingles and breastmilk

ali-1411ali-1411 member
in Austin Babies

My sister has a 6 week old newborn and has shingles.  As if post partum isn't enough....

Anyway.  She's - what's the term? - she's giving the baby pumped breastmilk.  And she's on a medication for the shingles.  Is the breastmilk safe for the baby?  

We're all googling but I wondered if anyone had experienced this firsthand.  Her doctor said not to breastfeed but then the pedi says its fine.  Anyone got a third opinion?

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Re: shingles and breastmilk

  • MrsBeckOMrsBeckO member

    Where does it fall on this list?

    https://www.safefetus.com/Search.asp 

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    The O'Baby Blog
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  • MrsAJLMrsAJL member
    They're probably giving her Valtrex or Zovirax and both are Category B, so they would be considered safe while she's pumping and giving the baby her breast milk.
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  • ali-1411ali-1411 member

    imageMrsAJL:
    They're probably giving her Valtrex or Zovirax and both are Category B, so they would be considered safe while she's pumping and giving the baby her breast milk.

    Thanks for the link, BeckO.  Yes, she's on Valtrex and the site says its a B med.   Good to know!

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  • MrsAJLMrsAJL member

    The concern with breastfeeding and mom having shingles is not the medication.  If she has exposed blisters (weeping, oozing or open) she can transmit the virus to her baby if baby's skin comes in contact with the wounds.

    As long as they're completely covered and baby does not come in contact with them, than baby will be fine. Shingles is caused by varicella zoster. If baby contracts the virus, s/he can develop chicken pox. Chicken pox at 6 weeks old would be no fun at all (and potentially quite dangerous.)

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  • MrsRegisMrsRegis

    Yes, it's fine to breastfeed while on the anti-virals and our ped recommended it.

    I had shingles a few months ago. My GP said I needed to wean DD. Her Ped said it was absolutely fine to breastfeed. He said valtrex (etc) does pass into the breastmilk, but the amounts are far below what they would actually give an infant who needed it...and that they prescribe these same drugs to infants. 

    He added it's a great idea to keep breastfeeding because the baby will continue to get the antibodies your body is making to fight the virus, making it less likely that the newborn will contract chicken pox.

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  • MrsRegisMrsRegis
    Also forgot to add that a friend of mine also had shingles recently (weird, no?). Neither my daughter nor her son contracted the virus. Keeping the rash covered and washing hands is important.
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