>>        I , too nursed an 18 month through chicken pox, with sores in the
>>mouth and found that this was one of the few things that would comfort this
>>very uncomfortable baby.
>>        I think this mother should be aware of the risks of continuing to
>>breastfeed, including theoretical risk of activating latent shingles.

I continue to be amazed at the number of circumstances where others are
warned not to breastfeed (pump and dump) or to wean when this issue was
never raised when I was experiencing it.  I have nursed a child with chicken
pox, and the pediatrician knew I was nursing and never questioned whether or
not to continue; I have nursed a child while I myself sat in the chair
getting a root canal/crown; I have nursed a child when I was sick; I have
had dental work done on my toddler's crummy molars without anyone suggesting
it was due to night breastfeeding......why is it that no one ever asked?

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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352