>Last night a mother called who is nursing an 18 month old.
>A few weeks ago the baby had an ear infection and was given cefaclor.
>The mother then developed sore cracked nipples.  The baby has now been
>diagnosed with chicken pox and with herpes in the mouth.  The mother
>was told to wean the baby because SHE might get herpes as a result of
>nursing.

        You may be dealing with an MD you feels that breastfeeding is just
one of those variables that can be easily be dismissed, - if there is ANY
risk to the mother at all, why not just stop nursing!
        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, but
that it should be her decision.  Given this information, I think many
"motivated" breastfeeding mothers would continue to nurse, and not wean at
this time, despite a potential risk to herself.
                                Barbara Whelan, M. D.
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                                       Barbara Whelan
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