Chicken Pox Days (& Nights)

Guest Post by Emma Okada, Stay at home mother of a baby and a 4 year old

It all began with a bit of a fever, but now they are both absolutely covered in spots- giving a sneaky preview of how they might look as unfortunate teenagers (I was a bit of an acne sufferer myself).

Neither my son nor my daughter is able to sleep very well or very easily and neither am I (not through want of trying!).  They have temperatures every evening and my daughter is still contagious- having read the NHS guidelines- until all the spots come out, the blisters pop and scab over, the Varicella virus is still highly catching.

My son (4 years old) has been uncharacteristically clingy- holding on to my legs, so my husband and I have had to put him on our backs and our baby daughter on our fronts.  I am finding it next to impossible to prepare dinner, since my daughter does not like being on my back or front for long when we are indoors and does not want to go to anyone else- not even for a miunute.  My son sits on a little chair covered in a blanket, right next to me.  My son has had no appetite for anything much other than mama’s milk.

At times like these I am grateful for breastfeeding- the only way to calm my little 7 month girl and when my son has visions in the night of “the really loud noise” – petrified by his fever-induced nightmares- I know exactly how to make him feel completely held, loved and safe- through breastfeeding.  I also imagine it to be the most perfect  medicine for them both- I am here, my body is experiencing exactly the same virus and I am able to produce the most appropriate, nurturing kind of milk to support their little bodies’ recoveries.

Other than breastmilk the only kinds of medicine I am using are alternative- chamomile flowers in the bath to ease the itching and the odd homeopathic remedy (Chamomilla for my clingy, teary boy), watching my diet- lot of fruit and vegetables (as usual) and nothing at all sugary for my son.  Plus plenty of rest- a good excuse to lounge around, without make-up and just “be” with my children.  Happy spotty days!

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