shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox -
varicella-zoster.  So mother's with active shingles at birth are infectious
to their infants just as a mom with active chicken pox is.  The baby needs
Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin and to be separated until all lesions are
crusted. The baby can have expressed milk as long as there are no lesions
on the breast that would touch the pump or hand during expression.
Julie Graves Moy, MD, MPH
Austin, Texas