To take my newborn out in public dispite fears over respiratory syncytial virus?

[honeytea]

My baby is 12 days old and doing really well, he was big when he was born (4.5 kg/10 pounds) and he is breastfeeding well and has regained his lost weight already.

I have been feeling very anxious about keeping him safe, I have been a little overwhelmed by the feelings I have around his safety.

My inlaws called and said they had heard the news on the radio saying that there is an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus in stockholm where we live and that they advised people with babies to not go out in public.

From the research I have done (dr google) there is an rsv outbreak every year and it lasts for months. Non of the midwives of health visitors have mentioned not taking the baby out.

Here in Sweden the days are so short there are only a couple of hours of daylight at thins time of year so not much chance to go for a walk outside, my plan was to spend time in shopping centers and going into the city to meet friends for coffee but now I feel very worried that I am putting my baby at risk :(

I am worried about feeling isolated being at home most of the day, I am more worried about the health of my baby I just feel like the stay away from the public might be a little extream. What do you think?

I would have my baby in a sling so there wouldn't be people coming and touching him, if anyone does try to touch him I am happy to say pleases don't.

[izzyhasanewchangeling]

He will be fine I would imagine.

Mine was out within 36 hours of being born, how are they going to develop immunity to anything if they never go anywhere.

[CoolaYuleA]

If they professionals haven't said stay in then I would go out.

Isolation can contribute hugely to Post Natl Depression - it is massively important for your health, which directly impacts your baby, that you go out if you can.

You will get a lot of advice from well meaning relatives - they aren't professionals so personally I would ignore them and listen to the people who are paid to know.

[bigkidsdidit]

Hi

RSV is endemic in Europe. By thr age of 2 almost 100% of hildren will have been infected.

It is scary as it can lead to bronchiolitis, but unfortunately, even adults are continually reinfected as our immune systems don't buil up memory to it. So short of staying in and banning all visitors, you can't do much about it.

It is frightening but practice good hygiene and hand washing etx. With diseases such as this and the common cold that's pretty much all we can do. I work on RSV and know the dangers but still took DS out on buses etc as normal. It's no life otherwise.

Congrats on your baby :)

[twilight3]

12 days!!! Go out woman, I would have gone crazy. Personally I name you a hero for staying indoors this long. Your baby will be fine, there's always one virus or another going around and keeping the baby indoors does not guarantee that they won't catch anything.

Congratulations on your new baby :-)

[WipsGlitter]

I think feelings of being overwhelmed about looking after a new baby are common but it would be worth mentioning to your HV as it might be the start of PND. Ask them about the virus and what is recommended locally.

[mrsjay]

if daylight hours are short id imagine it is pretty naff at the moment take him out for some fresh air he will be in his pram anyway a walk isn't going to do him much harm imo

[mrsjay]

and what your feeling is normal it is how you react to it , take him out meet friends do what you would normally do

[honeytea]

Thank you for the replies, it makes me feel much better.

We have been going out it was yesterday that they called and said we shouldn't be going out. The advice here from the midwife was to stay in till his tummy button stub fell off and that was on around day 5.

We both have huge families who have all been cuddling DS I feel that probably causes more risk than taking him out as they touch him and kiss him.

I will keep a really close eye on him and if he starts to become ill I will take him to the Dr ASAP.

[TheHoneyDragonsDrunkInTheIvy]

Dd was born during all the swine flu panic. She was out straight away. She had no choice to go on the bus at 3 days old as the hospital had forgotton to give us our red book!

You have to live your life.

[MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain]

I think the only time you need worry is if your LO has any other serious medical conditions. Mine was 13 weeks premature and had very bad lungs and was on oxygen, so RSV could have been very serious. He had a jab for his first two years, but it was very very expensive. I think in a healthy child RSV would have been no worse than a bad cold (tries to remember what the docs said all those years ago!)

[katieelh]

I had premature twins who have contracted rsv twice and been hospitalised twice, I was always told it was only really a problem in premmies not healthy full term babies? I was never advised to keep my babies inside though even though they were so early, babies need fresh air! You have to live your life and in most people it only causes cold like symptoms .

[FutTheShuckUp]

Thats nonsense about it not being a problem in term babies- any baby can be affected and it can make them very unwell. However so can the common cold or various strain of 'flu. Going out and about is far healthier than being cooped up indoors with central heating where germs and viruses have for more opportunity to spread

[LIZS]

RSV is prevalent throughout the year - similar to a common cold virus in adults. Not all babies who contract it get complications and even then many who do can be treated at home especially in countries with a paediatric gp system. Please don't overthink it.

[CailinDana]

You're right about close family being far more of a risk than random people walking by in shopping centres. Most diseases require fairly close contact in order to spread, and seeing as a newborn doesn't hold handrails or touch lift buttons etc their potential for picking things up while they're tucked up in their pram is really quite small. It's the hugging and kissing from family that is the real risk, but I'm sure your interfering inlaws wouldn't be too happy if you said that from now on you'd be banning them from touching the baby!

Try not to be swayed by "advice" like this. If you're ever in doubt ask a doctor but don't let "well meaning" nonsense from relatives make you anxious. Now is the time to start practicing the "nod, smile and ignore" routine - you will need it a lot in the coming years!

[CailinDana]

Just looked again and saw he's in a sling rather than a pram - all the better as he will be less likely to be accosted by overfriendly strangers!

[bigkidsdidit]

IT is more of a problem in premature babies but not confined to them

Hope you feel better OP :)

[Sirzy]

RSV is very common, severe complications from it are very rare.

DS was hospitalised with it at 8 weeks old and was very ill but even after that I wouldn't try to avoid it because it's impossible to do so

[Sirzy]

Ds was overdue and still hit hard by it.

[PetiteRaleuse]

DD1 is in hospital with RSV related bronchiolitis and double pneumonia right now. She is 21 months and was very very healthy until now, but has been in for days under oxygen and likely to be in for a few more days at least. Se was born at term and on 98th centile until the last week, where she lost over 2kg in a week. I had the same cold and currently have bronchitis. DD2 is 10 weeks and has started coughing. It's an absolute arse of a virus, particularly dangerous for under twos.

In your position I would take your baby out for walks but probably with the benefit of hindsight pay attention to enclosed areas where there are lots of children and activemy stay away from anyone with a cold. But I am super sensitive right now. A week ago I'd have shrugged it off. Fresh air is important though.

[bigkidsdidit]

unfortunately people with RSV shed virus before they get noticeable symptoms so you can't even just avoid the snifflers :(

it is chance, sadly.

interesting fact - one of the world's experts on RSV is Florence and the Machine's stepdad :)

[Northernlebkuchen]

Its all about balancing risks. Your son needs some exposure to sunlight to support his Vitamin D levels. This is paticularly important for babies born like him in winter with limited daylight.

I would take him out but avoid very dense areas like lifts, crowded underground trains etc.

[Sirzy]

RSV is a form of the common cold so for over 2s it normally doesn't bother them. That said my DS (3) is prone to a form of pneumonia which it seems can be caused by RSV so in his case it does still effect him. However, his inital bout of bronchi saw him in HDU and he had it 5 times before he was 1 so he is very susceptible to it

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Congratulations on your new baby! He sounds gorgeous and squishy (10lbers are always wonderFully cuddly ).

I agree that you should take him out unless instructed by medics not to. As you suggest, stop people from touching him as this will make you feel a lot happier. Enjoy your beautiful baby.