MARCH OF DIMES | MARCH FOR BABIES | NACERSANO

Am I not being protective enough??

After reading many of the stories on the RSV board I am begining to believe I am not careful enough. I dont stay cooped up in the house "cabin fever", I take Jameson everywhere I go( I dont let anyone touch him and I make the family that I let touch him wash up before handling him, etc. ) I asked out ped. and she told me that to still be careful but its okay to go places and to take Jameson out. I just feel like after reading the posts that Im doing something wrong?!?! :confused: I love my son very much and I dont want anything to happen to him...but he's been home since July 1st and hasn't really been sick. Im just worried because he's a former 26 weeker now almost 9 months old (6 adjusted) and I wouldn't dare want anything to happen to him!!...Am I wrong for taking him out?? Should I spend the winter at home alone with him?? or is it differnt with each premie and each mother??.... :confused: Someone please help me!!! Ashley :wink:
Jamesonsmomma

8 Replies

  • 2 here 2 in Heaven
    Our 26 weeker was isolated (once home) until he was 26 months, partly due to his bad lungs and being on oxygen for 15 months.

    He is 5 now....there are still places I avoid with him in the winter....grocery store, mall, church.....simply because he will get sick. In his case, it has nothing to do with building immunities (oh how I tire of hearing that from family) but the scar tissue and BDP in his lungs.

    Shonda
  • sweetchristine
    ALWAYS ON THE GO
    MY DAUGHTER IS A 26 WEEKER AS WELL 1LB 13OZ BORN IN OCTOBER HOME IN JANUARY WITH APENIA MONITOR END OF FEBUARY I STARTED TO VENTURE OUT A LITTLE BIT. HAVE TWO BOYS 8 AND 12 IN SCHOOL {GERM HAVEN} I ALWAYS TOOK MY KIDS EVERY WHERE WAS NEVER OVER PROTECTIVE AND MY KIDS ARE NEVER SICK.{KNOCK WOOD} FEEL THAT THE EARLY EXPOSURE IS BETTER IMMUNITY MAYBE I AM WRONG SHE IS 6 MONTHS AND 11 LBS AND DOING WELL.
  • Maya's mom
    I have a 31 weeker (6 month old based on actual due date) and we don't take her anywhere unless we have to (daycare 12 hours a week and the doctor). Our ped. said keep here in. The problem is you may be safe, but it doesn't mean everyone else is. Your not a bad mom, and its hard to stay home all the time I will admit. It's just if they do get RSV, their little lungs have a harder time. I would just be VERY careful. You'll be fine.
  • Karri
    Ashley,

    I am not the norm when it comes to this subject. Quite honestly.. I typically avoid this subject all together.. because my husband and I did not do total lock down of our house. We didn't keep our girls locked in all winter either. This is a very personal choice.. that we all make based on what makes us most comfortable.

    My Neo, and Ped told us that we should be careful, but that it wasn't necessary to keep the girls locked away in our home. I must point out.. we had a 2 year old at the time.. and he was inevitably going to pass things to them.

    We made very careful choices about where and when we took the girls places. We would have never intentionally placed them in harms way.. maybe some people will think we did just by taking them out... again it's a very personal choice. Each child is different. We did consider how keeping our girls in would affect the life of our 2 year old. We felt it would have been unfair to take him away from all his playmates, and activities.

    Did our girls get sick? Hanna did, quite often, Rachel... basically never.. she's had 3 ear infections in 5 years. The girls were always together, in the same places, and around the same people.

    I would say trust yourself. You know Jameson better than anyone. If you feel like being somewhere isn't safe don't go.

    I wish you a healthy winter!
    Karri
  • BriannasMomma
    AWWW Hes adorable!! My Ped. told us to stay home this winter or at least till april 1. That is her last RSV shot this winter. We are following her orders just to be safe. I think as long as you are careful and it seems like you are then you should be fine taking him places.
  • MzSunshine
    Each Dr and Nurse had there own opinon (sp) before we were discharged from the NICU. Some said don't leave the house and don't allow anyone to come visit. But then some said if you are going to go out, try to do so when there are not a lot of people. For instance go to the store late in the evening, when there tends to be less people. Of course I have to take her out for her dr appointments. Where there are sick kids, etc.

    So far no one has tried to touch her ... so I have not had to intervene.

    Oh I found this ...

    You can help protect your baby from RSV by:

    * Keeping him away from people who are sneezing or coughing
    * Making sure everyone who touches the baby has clean hands
    * Keeping your baby away from crowds of people
    * Not allowing anyone to smoke near your baby
    Of course DD has only been home for a week.

    I don't know .. sorry I am of no help.
  • moderator
    For Ashley
    Jameson is so cute! What a happy little boy.

    Just a reminder that RSV season is fall to spring, so you may want to consider taking some precautions. The March of Dimes has an article about RSV that may help. Here's the link: http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/298_9546.asp

    Best wishes,
    Pam
    Education Dept.
    March of Dimes
  • McTriplet Mommy
    He is SOOO cute!!! :)

    Certainly every mom and every baby *is* different and your doctor would know best... but I would certainly be careful with where you took him and all. We did *total* isolation that first winter (but my boys came home in December and February and weren't even due until mid-Jan so they were teeny that first winter!). The second winter, pretty much the same except we did allow more visitors over to *our* house - but we didn't go out much. My boys all had CLD and spent time on oxygen at home - my oldest almost two full years and he, especially, could NOT handle even a "simple cold" let alone RSV, the flu or pneumonia. He was hospitalized almost every month for a year because of upper respiratory infections. Had I "just" had the other two, I don't know if the situation would have been different or not. We also got Synagis those winters (and this one, yahoo!!) - are you getting that? If you are, that is another line of defense for Jameson but my oldest was still hospitalized almost a dozen times even WITH the shots. But - like I said he was a 23 weeker, not 26 which is a HUGE difference!

    Do what you are comfortable with but I do think it is important to be careful. If you take him out, use his stroller or carry him instead of putting him in a cart or high-chair, things like that so he doesn't touch anything (or if it is *absolutely* necessary - sanitize it first using Clorox wipes or whatever else you have in your diaper bag!!). RSV and other respiratory infections are actually air-bourne though and not "just" from people that physically touch your child so just be careful of people coming close enough to breathe on (or, God-forbid, sneeze or cough on!!!) your little guy.

    Hope you have a *healthy* winter!! :)
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