Seriously FIL?! Risking our baby's health...

MrsG.060708 · December 2011

FIL arrived yesterday to visit for a few weeks. He hung out with the girls (well, mainly Taryn) all day, and didnt inform us until late evening that he might be having a SHINGLES outbreak! Im so pissed and worried now. shingles themselves arent contagious, but he can give the girls chicken pox.(or me, only had a mild case as a kid). If taryn gets it, it could easily be passed to tessa and could cause serious health issues for her. I read it could even be fatal to newborns. DHs birthday is tomorrow and we were doing Christmas Eve with his parents but i told him we need to put our kids health before a visit with grandpa. FIL really needs to start thinking things through.

(sorry for formatting, posting from phone)

mrsjanks · December 2011

AGH! I'd be pissed too! I thought shingles were contagious (maybe just from adult to adult)?

Aren't chicken pox and shingles caused by the same virus?

I remember when my mom worked at a nursing home and there was a shingles outbreak... we had to wash everything in our house and all take meds.

morrigan08 · December 2011

I would be so pissed off! Did you call your pedi to see what they say about it and what to look out for?

MrsG.060708 · December 2011

No, I didnt call the pedi. DH had shingles right when I found out I was pregnant with tessa and he wasnt allowed to hold taryn and he slept separately from me until his blisters crusted over. I told DH his dad needs to go get checked at the er or he isnt welcome here. dH doesnt think its shingles, i say better safe than sorry. if his vacation is shot, sorry but my childrens health is more important.

ernuno787 · December 2011

I do not blame you one bit, I would be so pissed also! I agree with you, that your kids come before any visit from anybody, no matter who it s.

Jennrs · December 2011

Here's some research-based information on chicken pox that might calm your nerves a bit: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/childhood-illnesses/chicken-pox

Yes, I agree your FIL should've cancelled the trip if he believed he had shingles. Is it possible he thought it was harmless? In that case, he shold've talked to you before hand.

I'm sure Tessa will be fine as she is breastfeeding and still has a lot of your immunities. I would call your pedi. just to be safe and get their medical input. FWIW, Jake had chicken pox when he was 4 months old and it was a very mild case.

The Big D · December 2011

I also had the pox as a baby (a breastfed baby) and well, here I am.

That being said, I totally understand your aggravation and I'm sorry you're stressed about this around the holidays, I was just trying to help you feel better. Good luck with it!!

MrsG.060708 · December 2011

Oh, I know she would most likely be fine, but he had like zero consideration for anyone. He was around us ALL day and waited until around 8 pm to say "Oh, I might have shingles"...after he had been playing and holding Taryn for a good chunk of the day.

When DH had shingles, our pedi recommended that he not hold Taryn at all until the blisters crusted over (took almost a month). So if FIL does have it, he shouldn't have been holding Taryn (he never held Tessa).

Luckily, I convinced him to go to urgent care (since he doesn't live here, therefor no Dr) and get checked just to be safe.