I have had many many conversations with doctors about poison ivy, as my
husband is highly allergic to it, and I have gotten it a few times myself
(from cutting brush full of poison ivy).  The doctors, including
dermatologists who specialize in this sort of thing, INSIST that the only
way poison ivy is spread is from the resin of the plant. It can take up to a
week or 10 days for all the places the resin touched your body to break out
in a rash, which makes it seem like it is "spreading."  But the doctors
INSIST that if you wash well with hot soapy water, including all your
clothing (and sheets if you went to bed without washing well after the
exposure) that you cannot then transfer it to any other part of your body or
to anyone else.  The clear fluid that leaks from the rash is lymph, and does
not contain the toxin from the plant, and cannot hurt anyone else.

At the same time, I would think it would be excruciating to nurse from a
breast covered with poison ivy.  What has helped for me and my husband (and
the doctors say is fine) is to stand under the very hottest shower you can
and let the hot water run over the rash.  It feels very weird, but the
relief from the itch lasts for several hours.  We also take Benadryl
internally, but that may be contraindicated for a nursing mother.  You have
my sympathy!

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Katherine A. Dettwyler                                email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352