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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
OK, so first let me start off by saying that all the doctors we have called and all of the things we have read online state that poison ivy cannot be passed from one person to another. You can spread it around more on yourself once you get it, but you have to come in contact with the plant to get poison ivy. Here's the scenario and I am looking for honest opinions:
- You have a 2 week old baby
- You do not live close to family
- Your MIL is coming down to spend 2 weeks with you, helping you out with the baby
- Your MIL gets poison ivy about a week before coming to see you.
- MIL is on steroids for the poison ivy to get rid of it.
Honestly, how would you feel about this? Knowing that doctors say she can't pass it along to your infant. Would you still be hesitant about letting MIL hold the baby?
To fill you in, this is my mom who is going down on Sunday to visit with my brother and SIL and their new baby girl. My mom is so worried that they aren't going to want her to come. 
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Posted 8/7/09 9:44 AM  |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
If I were your mom, I would ask her DIL if she could check with her pediatrican & do whatever they suggested. If it were minimal baby contact & help with the cooking & laundry, so be it.
eta. I would be concerned unless I talked to my pediatrician first. Once he gave the ok, I'd be fine with it.
Message edited 8/7/2009 9:49:17 AM.
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| Posted 8/7/09 9:48 AM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Posted by nrthshgrl
If I were your mom, I would ask her DIL if she could check with her pediatrican & do whatever they suggested. If it were minimal baby contact & help with the cooking & laundry, so be it.
My mom and dad are disagreeing on how to handle this. My dad thinks that my mom shouldn't mention it. My mom wants to tell them. I happen to agree with my mom. I would want to know.
I just called my pediatrician who told me that there is no way my mom can pass the poison ivy along to the baby. You have to come in contact with the plant to get it.
I think that is a good idea to let my SIL call her ped too... and hopefully they would agree with what my ped says.
And for the record... my mom has had poison ivy 2 times now and she watches DS 2 days a week. It's never been an issue for me because I know she has asked all the right questions and is taking all the right precautions.
I just feel bad for my mom.
Message edited 8/7/2009 9:52:00 AM.
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| Posted 8/7/09 9:51 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
It's not contagious so i would have no problem with someone having it being around my newborn.
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| Posted 8/7/09 10:00 AM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
I agree with Barbara. While I am sure your ped is competant, I would feel better hearing it from my own doctor. If she is mostly going to help out around the house, it shouldn't matter.
Also, I agree with your mom - she should tell them, one so that the parents can decide for themselves what they want to do and second, if they found out later that she had it and didn't tell them, I think there would be consequences (not inviting her as often or whatever.)
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| Posted 8/7/09 10:04 AM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
I think you mom should tell them. I know I would be really annoyed if I found out later. I'd feel like they were putting my baby in harms way. I'm sure your mom has already washed with the poison ivy remedies so she has removed the oils from her skin so it makes sense that she can't spread it, but as a mom of a new baby I'd still be worried even though intellectually I know it is safe.
BUT, also as a mom of a new baby, I would let the baby's grandmother hold her. I don't know where the poison ivy is on your mom but I MIGHT just ask her to cover the area with a receiving blanket if it were going to come into contact with the baby (i.e. if it is on her arms or face).
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| Posted 8/7/09 10:15 AM |
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isabelle2137
LIF Adult
Member since 12/06 1076 total posts
Name:
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Yuck - that's a tough scenario.
Honestly, as a new mom with my first baby, I would definitely want to know ahead of time. We just had friends visit with poison ivy and she refused to hold the baby - she was also covered in this weird lotion though.
But I know my brother and sil wouldn't have a problem with it. They have 3 kids and I think are naturally more lax and more confident due to having more experience.
Maybe by baby #2, I wouldn't care at all ?
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| Posted 8/7/09 10:23 AM |
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FelAndJon
needs to update her avatar pic
Member since 6/05 10212 total posts
Name:
Felice (aka LuckyBride2004)
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Your mom should definitely tell your brother and SIL. It isn't fair for them to not know.
As far as the poison ivy itself, as long as the rash is no longer "oozing", it definitely isn't contagious. My aunt is highly allergic and can catch it from someone else but only if it is oozing 
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| Posted 8/7/09 10:43 AM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Posted by FelAndJon
Your mom should definitely tell your brother and SIL. It isn't fair for them to not know.
As far as the poison ivy itself, as long as the rash is no longer "oozing", it definitely isn't contagious. My aunt is highly allergic and can catch it from someone else but only if it is oozing
Yeah, my mom is definitely going to tell them. It's my dad who is living in la-la land who thinks she doesn't need to say anything. 
And that is weird about your aunt. Everything online says that the biggest myth about poison ivy is that you can catch it from someone else. Is it possible that the people she thinks she catches it from still have some of the poison ivy oil on their skin? Because everything I am reading and hearing from doctors say that you can't even catch it from oozy rashes.  So weird.
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| Posted 8/7/09 10:55 AM |
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jinglemommy
I <3 my boys!
Member since 12/06 1389 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
I think she should tell him and I think she should also buy the wash for poison ivy. My dad and brothers used to get it like crazy and this stuff cleared itup so quickly. it actually dried up the oil so it would stop spreading asap. I want to say the name is technu maybe. I dont know i cant remember anything these days but it is in a white bottle and it is good for poison ivy and posison zumac.
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| Posted 8/7/09 1:04 PM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Bumping for additional opinions
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| Posted 8/7/09 3:20 PM |
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itsbabytime
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 9644 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
As many other posters have said I think your mom should call them to tell them ASAP. If MIL showed up with poison ivy when i was home with a newborn without telling me first I would be very angry. I think the best way to handle this is to let her tell them and then let them call their ped and decide on their own what they feel comfortable with. And, whatever their decision is - rational or not - I think your parents should respect it without question. I'm just thinking of how I would like MIL to handle this situation Your poor mom! Hope she feels better and everything works out for the best!
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| Posted 8/7/09 4:25 PM |
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alexlynn7
Big brother to be!
Member since 9/06 6314 total posts
Name:
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
i agree that your mom should tell them.
but there is absolutely NO way she can pass that on to the baby! it doesn't work that way.
my husband is extremely sensitive to poison ivy, and we happen to live in NC where it is EVERYWHERE, so he gets it at least once a year. has to go on steroids, the whole 9 yards... and he takes care of our son as usual. never passed it on - you have to have actual contact with the plant to get it...
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| Posted 8/7/09 4:50 PM |
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jerseypanda
Life is good.
Member since 1/07 9164 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Posted by alexlynn7
i agree that your mom should tell them.
but there is absolutely NO way she can pass that on to the baby! it doesn't work that way.
my husband is extremely sensitive to poison ivy, and we happen to live in NC where it is EVERYWHERE, so he gets it at least once a year. has to go on steroids, the whole 9 yards... and he takes care of our son as usual. never passed it on - you have to have actual contact with the plant to get it...
That's exactly what I keep reading and hearing. But I am sure she is going to call them and give them a heads up before she goes down there. She is definitely going... just have to get their reaction to holding the baby.
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| Posted 8/7/09 8:46 PM |
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Merf99
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3380 total posts
Name:
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Re: Honest Opinions Needed - Poison Ivy Related
Posted by FelAndJon
Your mom should definitely tell your brother and SIL. It isn't fair for them to not know.
As far as the poison ivy itself, as long as the rash is no longer "oozing", it definitely isn't contagious. My aunt is highly allergic and can catch it from someone else but only if it is oozing
Ya know I've heard this too. I think from my ped's office actually. My friend had it a few years ago and we were having a party at my parents house. They said of course it's not airborne contagious but he should cover all of the exposed areas to make sure.
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| Posted 8/7/09 9:30 PM |
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