Cold and Flu season with our new babes - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[jbk21]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

At any rate some things I have found to help lessen the frequency and severity of illnesses are mega doses of vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate daily, elder berry syrup, vitamin D, and probiotics.  Hand washing is essential every time you visit somewhere public and I carry sanitizer for times when hand washing can't happen.  Wiping down counter tops and doorknobs with TTO or Thyme is a good habit to get into as well.  We also don't take baby out in super crowded areas for the first couple of months and baby stays in a carrier when we do go out.  But honestly I think the number one thing to prevent and lessen severity of illness is SLEEP.  It's not really something we as mothers have a whole lot of control over, but I know that when I can actually get decent sleep or take naps when sick that I get better quicker or can prevent getting an illness that both my kids have.  There really is not a substitute for sleep, unfortunately. 

Great tips!  I know all these things in theory but it's good to have reminders of things to do.  

Kaypea, as far as planes go I think my in-laws are probably going to fly in the evening (hopefully!)  Perhaps we can wait to visit until the next day once they've changed clothes, etc.  Planes are seriously so gross- all that recirculated air and people coughing and sneezing and YUCK.  It's just a hotbed of illness (I totally feel like Ben Stiller in Along Came Polly right now... but it's true!)  You're totally right about things being most contagious in the latent phase.  Uggghhhh.  So even when they're "not sick" they are carrying all that nastiness.  Ick. 

I know it's no big deal for baby to get the sniffles or something, but it's those nastier bugs (flu, RSV, etc.) that are scary.  I'm so sorry that you had to go through that, Wendy!  That's terrifying.  A spinal tap on a 3-week old?!  It must have been so traumatic for you :-(

[1love4ever]

Originally Posted by jbk21

My DS really did get sick a lot less than a lot of folks we know (who are less anal about it) so    .... Now that he's 2.5 we worry less about it, of course, since he's doing things like eating dirt and such   but newborns are especially at risk for something like influenza. 

I never thought about this, but I have a friend who uses disinfecting cleaners everywhere, drenches her house in Lysol all the time (EW) and her DS who is DDs age gets sick NON-STOP, even in the summer, and DD never gets sick even when she is around him and sharing cups with him!  They eat very unhealthy and demand antibiotics and give OTC meds at the first sign of any illness so I think these things have a lot to do with it!

[jbk21]

Originally Posted by 1love4ever 

I never thought about this, but I have a friend who uses disinfecting cleaners everywhere, drenches her house in Lysol all the time (EW) and her DS who is DDs age gets sick NON-STOP, even in the summer, and DD never gets sick even when she is around him and sharing cups with him!  They eat very unhealthy and demand antibiotics and give OTC meds at the first sign of any illness so I think these things have a lot to do with it!

All she's doing with all that disinfecting is creating super bugs in her house that are immune to anything.  Not helpful   

It sooooo pisses me off when people go to the doc to demand antibiotics.  HELLO most illnesses are viruses!  Antibiotics don't help AT ALL!  Sheesh.  I know people often don't know any better but doctors really need to start putting their foot down and explaining these things.  Ridiculous.

ETA we don't disinfect or anything, I just do general cleaning and ask people to hand-wash, etc.  Handwashing is the best way to stop the spread of germs, after all   Lol.   We've unfortunately had some illnesses lately (really minor colds) but I think it's because we're new to the PNW and aren't immune to these germs yet :-)  In OH I rarely got sick.

[1love4ever]

Originally Posted by jbk21 

All she's doing with all that disinfecting is creating super bugs in her house that are immune to anything.  Not helpful   It sooooo pisses me off when people go to the doc to demand antibiotics.  HELLO most illnesses are viruses!  Antibiotics don't help AT ALL!  Sheesh.  I know people often don't know any better but doctors really need to start putting their foot down and explaining these things.  Ridiculous.

ETA we don't disinfect or anything, I just do general cleaning and ask people to hand-wash, etc.  Handwashing is the best way to stop the spread of germs, after all   Lol.   We've unfortunately had some illnesses lately (really minor colds) but I think it's because we're new to the PNW and aren't immune to these germs yet :-)  In OH I rarely got sick.

O I know it annoys me too!  I was a nursing student and got to see first hand Drs and NPs handing out prescriptions for antibiotics to cold and flu patients.  One time I called a Dr out on it, just asked why he gave someone with a cold abx and he said that the hospital actually encourages it to keep the patients happy and coming back, because if they spend $100 to see a Dr and just get told Yep its a cold, go home and rest, then they get pissed and write nasty letters to the hospital, bad mouth the hospital and that Dr to others and encourage others not to go there, and of course do not return themselves to spend money (this was at a for-profit hospital BTW).  It made me pretty upset that people are really that dumb!  So irritating, and look what it has given us!  Antibiotic resistant bacteria!  RRRGGGHHHHHH