Taking newborn out and about?

[MeadowMom]

I am going to talk to our ped tomorrow, but I was wondering what you other mama's are doing/thinking.
With it being cold and flu season, and with swine flu lurking out there, are you keeping your newborns home longer then normal? I'm a little freaked out to take dd out in public. I have read it's good to keep them home for 2 months before taking them out into public.

What are your thoughts/plans on/about it?

[Leilamus]

We've been out and about since Sydney was about 2 weeks old. BUT,she's my third and I have two other kiddos who have swim class and homeschooling activities so we couldn't stay in as much as I might have if she were my only.

the biggest thing I do is always wear Sydney so strangers can't and don't get very close and we're obsessively washing our hands right now. Where did you hear the two month rule? I haven't heard that before but I'd be curious to know if it's a new thing or a general suggestion that's been around for a while.

[Pandme]

I do but she's always in a wrap.

[NCmama]

DDC crashing.

My last DS was born in June but I still wanted people to back off. I put him in the carrier and always had a light blanket over the top so you couldn't see him. I only did this at stores where strangers were more prone to oogle.

When people would try to peak I would politely ask them not to. I know carriers aren't the way we like to go, but I knew if I wore him, which I did all the time at home, out in public, it wouldn't keep people from getting close and grabbing his feet and hands.

With this baby being born in the winter, I will probably stay home as much as possible for a few months and keep him covered in a carrier if we need to go to the grocery store or something. I also have 3 older kids that are in homeschool activities and we will probably approach things a little different. From asking other mamas to take them to even skipping some things.

[Serenyd]

I need to make an appointment with our ped to get her newborn checkup and have her newborn screening done. And yes, the thought of taking her to the peds office full of sick kids makes me very, very nervous!!!

[firewoman]

I don't vaccinate so I will most likely be avoiding the peds office and taking my baby instead to the midwife for weight and measurement checks. I went initially when she was 2 days old but I don't see the point in exposing her to so much illness at such a young age. I think it is better ANY time you have a newborn to keep them home unless it is necessary to go out. If you must go out, wear the baby like the PP's have said.

[Spiralshell]

My pediatrician office takes new babies first thing in the morning, when the office is basically empty. This makes me feel better about taking him in for his first few checks (assuming I don't stay pregnant forever!!!)
SerenyD - Could you arrange for an appointment like that so that you have her there when the office air hasn't filled with kid germs yet?
I think I might take this approach to shopping, etc. too, if I can and it works with sleep schedules. The grocery store is pretty quiet at 8AM on a weekday, so I won't be so nervous about lots of people breathing on him. We'll see if that becomes reality!

[Serenyd]

Originally Posted by Spiralshell

My pediatrician office takes new babies first thing in the morning, when the office is basically empty. This makes me feel better about taking him in for his first few checks (assuming I don't stay pregnant forever!!!)
SerenyD - Could you arrange for an appointment like that so that you have her there when the office air hasn't filled with kid germs yet?
I think I might take this approach to shopping, etc. too, if I can and it works with sleep schedules. The grocery store is pretty quiet at 8AM on a weekday, so I won't be so nervous about lots of people breathing on him. We'll see if that becomes reality!

I guess I could request the 1st appointment of the day - that might help. Thanks for the idea.

[zjande]

I did decide to take our newborn to the ped. just to make sure his jaundice was within normal limits. I would never want to expose my other kids to the germs there so my dh stayed home with them, & I didn't touch a thing! I even went in the bathroom & washed my hands after they made me touch the clipboard & sign something.

I took him out a 2nd time yesterday, but kept him totally hidden in my maya ring sling.

As a side note, we are not vaccinators & also wouldn't consider any flu vax's, but we are taking large doses of vit. D3. I've read many places that say this is ideal, & our totally awesome dr (who is against routine vaccines, the overuse of antibiotics, etc), does not recommend any flu vaccines, but instead says we should all be taking 5,000-20,000mg of D3 every day. So I just ordered some children's chewable D3. My 1 & 3 yr olds will take 1,000mg/day, my 11 yr old takes 5,000mg/day & DH & I are taking 10,000mg. Our dr. says this is wiser (in his opinion) than the risky swine flu vaccine.

Just thought I'd share.

[Serenyd]

That's pretty cool - maybe we should try that! What's a good brand?

Originally Posted by zjande

I did decide to take our newborn to the ped. just to make sure his jaundice was within normal limits. I would never want to expose my other kids to the germs there so my dh stayed home with them, & I didn't touch a thing! I even went in the bathroom & washed my hands after they made me touch the clipboard & sign something.

I took him out a 2nd time yesterday, but kept him totally hidden in my maya ring sling.

As a side note, we are not vaccinators & also wouldn't consider any flu vax's, but we are taking large doses of vit. D3. I've read many places that say this is ideal, & our totally awesome dr (who is against routine vaccines, the overuse of antibiotics, etc), does not recommend any flu vaccines, but instead says we should all be taking 5,000-20,000mg of D3 every day. So I just ordered some children's chewable D3. My 1 & 3 yr olds will take 1,000mg/day, my 11 yr old takes 5,000mg/day & DH & I are taking 10,000mg. Our dr. says this is wiser (in his opinion) than the risky swine flu vaccine.

Just thought I'd share.

[mrscompgeek]

We had to take Ki to My pediatricans office when she was 4 days old and there was a ton of sick kids in the waiting room. THankfully the receptionist was very nice and said we could wait outside in the hallway (our pedi is in a big medical building with lots of other offices in it) then the nurse came out and took us back to a exam room within like 5 minutes too so that helped. Maybe you can ask your pedi office if they can take you straight back to a room to wait instead of waiting in a waiting room because you are concerned about the flu.

Our Pedi said not to take baby out anymore then we have to right now. Especially to church. People in our church do not stay home when they are sick annoys me but oh well!

[Serenyd]

We've got an early am appointment Friday for her newborn exam. They have separate waiting areas for sick and well (non-contagious) kids.

Originally Posted by mrscompgeek

We had to take Ki to My pediatricans office when she was 4 days old and there was a ton of sick kids in the waiting room. THankfully the receptionist was very nice and said we could wait outside in the hallway (our pedi is in a big medical building with lots of other offices in it) then the nurse came out and took us back to a exam room within like 5 minutes too so that helped. Maybe you can ask your pedi office if they can take you straight back to a room to wait instead of waiting in a waiting room because you are concerned about the flu.

Our Pedi said not to take baby out anymore then we have to right now. Especially to church. People in our church do not stay home when they are sick annoys me but oh well!

[boobs4milk]

Originally Posted by zjande

As a side note, we are not vaccinators & also wouldn't consider any flu vax's, but we are taking large doses of vit. D3. I've read many places that say this is ideal, & our totally awesome dr (who is against routine vaccines, the overuse of antibiotics, etc), does not recommend any flu vaccines, but instead says we should all be taking 5,000-20,000mg of D3 every day. So I just ordered some children's chewable D3. My 1 & 3 yr olds will take 1,000mg/day, my 11 yr old takes 5,000mg/day & DH & I are taking 10,000mg. Our dr. says this is wiser (in his opinion) than the risky swine flu vaccine.

Just thought I'd share.

amelia and i are already on mega doses of d3 for her osteopenia so woohoo we're good.

the no-vax thing though i wonder about. are you worried that he will get exposed to something because he is not vaxxed? won't mama milk take care of that for the first little bit or do you not have any antibodies? i was fully vaxxed as a child and even got a few of the boosters as an adult. i've been tested and have antibiodies for several of the illnesses.

my concern is that we are delayed/selective vax and we are waiting until amelia is 2 months ADJUSTED AGE (so about 3 1/2 mos actual) before even thinking about vax and then only the pertussis and MAYBE the hib. i just wonder if you worry because he's unvaxxed or because mama milk may not cover some of the stuff that's out there?

[pjs]

We're going to stay home pretty much until the spring! Anytime an infant can get a fever it is extrememly dangerous and at this point I'd rather not risk it. My older kids have come home each with a sickness after going out wiht their dad for their weekly outing. We're generally very healthy people- eat well, limit junk, don't vax, wash hands A LOT, supplement with Vit D, etc and both my boys have had different illnesses in the past two weeks in spite of all these measures and limited outside contact (we homeschool).

So this LO is a great reason to hunker down and just enjoy the fleeting moments of infancy without feeling pressured to run errands and what not. Lots of snuggling, hot cocoa and books for us this winter.

[abc123xyz]

I guess I am of the school of thought that the more you avoid the "plague" the more you are succeptable. That being said, my DS was born in Oct. and I would sling him and cover him with a blanket and when people asked to see him, I was selective. Even around family. With this one, I cannot and refuse to lock myself up all winter. I breastfeed and feel this is the best way to supply antibodies to any illness going around. I figure if we get sick, it's one less illness to get again! If not, hopefully we won't get it! My DS has only had one cold in 2 years and it was passed on from another family's sick children. I breastfed him through it, gave him vitamins, and his body worked it all out. So, if people ask to see the baby just say politely, "Well, he/she is sleeping or nursing(most people don't want to see a nursing baby!) and I am trying to keep him/her healthy through this flu season so I'd really rather not." Unless it's family or friends, then you just have to be selective. We also believe in complete rest the first 10 days post birth so no going out in public during that time for us anyways and then just selectively. I cannot keep these germs from my children too long. Grocery shopping, bank lines, just getting the mail...It's out there! Luckil, I am blessed to have found a ped that doesn't schedule sick children in her office around well children visits and aside from that, you never meet another child, sick or healthy, in the waiting room. She very specifically plans it out that way so there is no swap in germs. And they disinfect everything once a child in the waiting room or examining room. I LOVE IT!!! We don't do ped visits often but if and when we do, it's so nice to have that comfort knowing she cares about my children as healthy children!!!! So, I would just decide what is important to you about going out. You need to get out. You will go crazy sitting in the house all winter. Just go the the necessary places and keep your baby close. I wouldn't put a carrier in the buggy at stores...tooooooooo many germs touch those things!!! Unless you disinfect and even then!!! I would invest in a wrap or sling you adore that allows you privacy!!!

~~*KRISTINA*~~Wife to wonderful DH Joe, mommy to Jayden (10-24-07), expecting baby #2 (10-21-07). Faithfully believing in Christ for . We

[zjande]

Originally Posted by boobs4milk

amelia and i are already on mega doses of d3 for her osteopenia so woohoo we're good.

the no-vax thing though i wonder about. are you worried that he will get exposed to something because he is not vaxxed? won't mama milk take care of that for the first little bit or do you not have any antibodies? i was fully vaxxed as a child and even got a few of the boosters as an adult. i've been tested and have antibiodies for several of the illnesses.

my concern is that we are delayed/selective vax and we are waiting until amelia is 2 months ADJUSTED AGE (so about 3 1/2 mos actual) before even thinking about vax and then only the pertussis and MAYBE the hib. i just wonder if you worry because he's unvaxxed or because mama milk may not cover some of the stuff that's out there?

I'm not worried because our kids are not vaccinated, I only mentioned that we don't vax to explain why we were relying on vitamins instead of a flu vaccine. My worry is that we are entering the "flu season" & I'd hate to see my wee newborn suffering with a flu already. I don't trust vaccines, personally. I think they mess up our otherwise healthy immune systems. But I'm all for being as healthy as I can & giving our immune systems a boost by natural means. Also, to be honest, I think I was so traumatized the last time the flu came through our house that I really want to avoid any bad viruses for as long as possible- my toddler had a febrile seizure in the middle of the night that scared me nearly to death. He seizured for well over a minute & his eyes were rolling..... oy, so scary. His fever got up to 105 with that illness. I definitely don't want something like that infecting our newborn. So, I'm just trying to keep the mean viruses away with our strong immune systems.

[zjande]

Originally Posted by Serenyd

That's pretty cool - maybe we should try that! What's a good brand?

I have no idea.



I just shopped around online & ended up ordering NOW brand's D3 that comes in 5,000mg capsules. I also ordered THESE ones for the kids.

[lil_stinkyfeet]

Originally Posted by zjande

I'm not worried because our kids are not vaccinated, I only mentioned that we don't vax to explain why we were relying on vitamins instead of a flu vaccine. My worry is that we are entering the "flu season" & I'd hate to see my wee newborn suffering with a flu already. I don't trust vaccines, personally. I think they mess up our otherwise healthy immune systems. But I'm all for being as healthy as I can & giving our immune systems a boost by natural means. Also, to be honest, I think I was so traumatized the last time the flu came through our house that I really want to avoid any bad viruses for as long as possible- my toddler had a febrile seizure in the middle of the night that scared me nearly to death. He seizured for well over a minute & his eyes were rolling..... oy, so scary. His fever got up to 105 with that illness. I definitely don't want something like that infecting our newborn. So, I'm just trying to keep the mean viruses away with our strong immune systems.

This is basically the same for me.. We don't vax and I am not worried about that but I don't want to see my lo get the flu or something. My last newborn that caught RSV was hospitalized and I would really like to avoid the baby catching ANYTHING until he is older.

I have 2 kids in school though and right now the flu is EVERYWHERE in the school. Thankfully they havn't brought it home yet.

[Serenyd]

Originally Posted by zjande

I have no idea.



I just shopped around online & ended up ordering NOW brand's D3 that comes in 5,000mg capsules. I also ordered THESE ones for the kids.

mmm those sound yummy ... I will totally remember to take them if they taste good

[BlueEyedLady]

Well, maybe I'm the odd one out, but we don't stay home. I can't - I'm prone to depression in the cold/wintertime anyway, and getting out helps that tremendously. If I stayed home all day every day by about 3 days in I'd be a nervous, crying wreck.

What I DO do is be selective about where we go/who we see/when we go/how we handle being out. I generally wait until DH is around and then we both go and I leave him and the kids in the car while I run into the store. Or, I get out just enough to run through a drive through for a cup of coffee. With DS, when we went out I would take him out of his carrier and carry him (he hated being worn). With DD, who also doesn't like being worn, I've been leaving her in her carrier to discourage people from touching her. If she needs to eat, instead of finding a bench somewhere and taking her out of the carrier, I go back out to the car and feed her there. I also wash my hands and DS' obsessively and carry hand sanitizer with me and use that often too.