[nikirj]

Nearby relatives that we are in much contact with came down with RSV a couple of weeks ago. Their 3 month old is still in the ICU at the children's hospital.

My kids now have "that cough" (it is a really awful sounding, chesty cough) and DS is quite sick with other symptoms as well (DD not so much so, but she has an incredible immune system, hardly ever gets sick). I woke up with a scratchy throat the last two days but it isn't persistent and I'm wondering if it is just dry air or if I've gotten it already...

Anyway...

Here I am at 37.5 weeks feeling quite 'ripe', and having delivered both my DD and my DS a bit before their due dates.

I do not want my newborn to get RSV. Given that my kids already have the virus, how do I prevent that? Should I purposefully get sick myself and hope I've run the course before the baby arrives, so that the baby gets the antibodies from me? Or is the virus itself dangerous to the baby even before birth?

 

[MamaAllNatural]

OK, this might sound a little wierd but don't let your baby come out. If your body does not feel safe and you don't have any complications it will hold your baby in until you feel safe. I had issues with preterm labor and I would tell me baby that it wasn't safe to come out yet and I would visualize my cervix staying closed tight until I gave it permission to open. Just some food for thought.

This happened with me too where my dd got a huge fever when I could've been delivering. I just did the above and told myself and my baby that I just wasn't gonna let it happen. So, thankfully it worked and I didn't have him until after she was better.

My ds got RSV when he was 5 months old. He got over it so quick the doctor was in shock. Here are the things we did:

* Humidifier with a few drops of TTO & Euculyptus (sp?) oil
* Rub some olive oil with a few drops of the above EO's into their chest and back
* Encourage sleep as much as possible. Don't wake them up for anything. If you bring them into your room will they wake less? Nap them where and how you think they'll sleep the longest

*Since your children are older than my baby was you can also give them lots of Vitamin C and even Bee Propolis and zinc.

*You can make them a tea with things like Slippery Elm, Licorice, Marshmallow root, thyme, and honey.

Some dietary guidelines from a book I have:

- Cut out dairy and anything that could cause mucous (fried foods, etc.)
-Plenty of fluids
-Chicken or vegetable soup with lots of vegetables and esp. carrots, parsley, string beans and zucchini

I do think you should expose yourself moderately to the kids but also do all the treatments for yourself that you're doing for them. Good luck, I hope everyone is well soon at that you'll hold that baby in until they are.

 

[Periwinkle]

Wow MamaAllNatural, great post!

The only thing I'd add is that the hallmark of RSV actually isn't the cough but the water-fountain pouring runny nose. It shouldn't run any longer than the common cold (i.e., 1 week) and if it does, then it might be worth exploring further to make sure children don't have something else or are getting RSV disease.

My 2 were born prematurely and so had monthly Synagis shots which prevented RSV. I actually think a full term, fully breastfed baby is at much less risk than an older child due to the immune globulins s/he is getting through milk. Plus, the baby will get your antibodies (virtually all adults have antibodies to RSV... which strikes almost all children).

Keep that baby inside nice and safe as long as possible!!

Good luck!

 

[nikirj]

Wow, thanks MamaAllNatural, that was exactly the kind of info I was looking for. And Periwinkle, yes, it does make sense that a breastfed newborn, who is getting my antibodies, would be less at risk. I think I'm sick now, but it is very mild (as is normal for adults who come in contact with this virus, if I understand correctly). I've got a scratchy throat and a little extra pressure in my ears, and am a little extra tired, but no biggie.

Right now it is my DS I'm worried about. He has a very deep cough, is breathing heavily, his heart rate seems up, and he's got a fever. I gave him some tylenol this morning because his feverwas pretty high and was making him really miserable, and he's acting pretty normal now (still breathing a little heavy for his activity level, but not sitting around glossy-eyed and groaning and holding his head whenever he coughs). The tylenol should have worn off by now, so we'll see what he looks like in an hour or so. He's definately sleeping with me tonight - he seems to sleep more soundly in his own bed, but I'm going to want to keep a real close eye on him. He's 3 and so theoretically his body should be able to handle this with minimal help, and I totally don't want to go running to the ER (since it is Sunday) and have him wind up hospitalized, myself under scrutiny, etc. especially since from what I understand, there's not much they can do for him anyway, except check him in 'to keep an eye on him' and stress him out, so that he stays sicker for longer.

DD just has a chesty cough. She's been sick since Tuesday (our last contact with the family we got this from was last Friday, so that fits the time-frame) and hasn't had anything other than the cough. It seems to have gotten better the last two days, so I think she's over it.

I'm going to use your advice, MamaAllNatural, to try to help DS through this faster. All that I can. And I'm definately thinking about keeping the baby in, I really believe that we have more control than we think about things like this. My mom has suggested self-hypnosis ("just think 'pregnant Christmas', picture yourself pregnant at Christmas dinner").

Anyone else with advice or experience, please post it, I'd love to hear it...

 

[Wilhemina]

MamaAllNatural!

re RSV: I've btdt, but not while preg.

Nikirj, I hope all goes well.

 

[thepeach80]

I agree that you should keep the baby in.

I was worried about an appt I had to take my son too (to see a specialist) and 3 hours after that appt I went into labor. I wonder if it won't work that way for you. I hope everyone feels better soon.

 

[Asheville Mama]

The only think i can add is to get everyone's spine adjusted...the kids and you too. The stimulation to your nervous system massively boosts your immunity. Also, we put 2 cloves of fresh crushed garlic in a small cup of plain yogurt. Those two things I do automatically when this kind of illness creeps up. Of course, I would avoid the hospital since you would probably pick something else up there!

We had a friend who came to visit when my dd was less than a week old. She's a nurse at a hosp. and came in her uniform...got me & baby sick. But if it makes you feel any better, I got the worst of it and dd really was benefiting from the breastmilk antibodies.

 

[AnnMarie]

All I can think of is if the baby does come, breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed. :LOL

 

[majazama]

Whats RSV?

:

I second what mamallnatural said.

I'm getting sick right now, and after this post I'm going to cut up some garlic into degestable sizes, and swallow like pills

That kicks the a$$ of whatever is inhabiting the body. And cayenne, lots of cayenne.

 

[rachel]

I second MamaAllNatural! Just keep telling the baby he/she needs to wait!
I had babies #2, 3 & 4 at 37 weeks and with this last one all the signs of an imminent birth were there at the end of my 36th week, I was fully expecting to give birth that weekend...then, 3 of my girls and I all got a nasty cold w/fever and I started telling the baby it wasn't safe to come yet and "you need to wait baby 'til everyone is healthy!" well...I had the baby at 38 weeks...right after we all felt healthy again! (uc birth...link to the story is at the top of the uc thread)