Question/advice about shingles contact, and newborn

[SilverMoon010]

My SIL has shingles. (She's in her early 30s.)  Anyway, My MIL has been in contact with her.  From what I know, shingles is not contagious and those with shingles should only avoid those who are pregnant and those who have not had chicken pox.  (I'm not sure but I assume my MIL has had chicken pox.)

My MIL is due to visit us tomorrow but part of me is afraid of her being around my newborn (he's 3 weeks old), even if she has had the chicken pox in the past.  I just feel you never know if she is a carrier or not and I am always cautious about that kind of stuff if I can avoid it.  I am planning on telling my husband to cancel them coming over tomorrow.  (It's really no big deal to cancel because they are over every Wed.)  I just wanted to hear other's opinions/thoughts on this and how you'd feel and what you'd do.

[eireann]

I think you are right to be concerned. It may be overkill, but why risk it. I'd probably cancel too.

[littlest birds]

Your three week old hasn't had chicken pox, so obviously you should avoid this contact.  She certainly is contagious, and your newborn certainly should not be exposed.

Shingles IS chicken pox, and is contagious in that it will cause chicken pox.  (You can only have shingles if you have had chicken pox before BTW, even if too mild to be symptomatic.)  Shingles is another expression of the exact same virus as CP.

One of my children has had shingles (VERY unusual in children) and his two sisters caught chicken pox from his shingles.    

ETA: Oh I just saw that your MIL had just been in contact with someone else with shingles.  So it's a possible secondary contact.  I'd be inclined to skip the visit anyhow, but if you felt it was a really, really important visit I would not be fearful, personally, to go ahead with it either.  My niece was born right when my kids were going through this bought of shingles and then chicken pox--I of course had neither but I did not visit my newborn niece during that time at all as it seemed an unnecessary risk.

[sosurreal09]

I'd cancel she will get over it.

[stik]

I would err on the side of limiting exposure to contagious diseases with a newborn.  

[SilverMoon010]

Thanks for the feedback guys...   You're right, she'll get over it.