I have diarrhoea and vomiting. DP wants me to keep away from 5 week old baby.

[ElenorRigby]

He's afraid I'll pass it on to her you see. Is that good advice?

I actually think I caught it of her as shes been having lots of watery poos sometimes muscousy as well, I have long gel nails and think I got infected by some of her poo getting undrneath them. She doesnt seem unwell though apart from that, temperature ok, is feeding fine and seems happy enough. DP reckons theres no need to call the doctor or HV, but Im a bit worried.

So mumsnet do I...
Keep away from baby
and
Would you guys call the docs over babys watery mucousy poo?

oh and do I get rid of the long nails while she is so young, to prevent them being an infection hazard?

[MrsBadger]

If she is bf you will be passing her the antibodies to help her fight it, so I certainly wouldn't keep away from her, just be scrupulously hygienic after loo and nappies - if the long nails mean you can't wash your hands properly you should certainly get rid of them.

I'd mention the watery poos to the hv and keep feeding on demand to ensure she doesn't get dehydrated.

[jalopy]

I would look after her as normal so long as you....
Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands. Don't use the same towel in the bathroom. Don't let her suck your fingers.
Keep your nails short
Hope you feel better.

[welshmum]

Most likely that you got a bit of gastroenteritis - not because she's ill but because of not washing your hands well enough after changing her, especially with the long nails - might be a good idea to keep them a bit shorter.
Doesn't sound like there's much wrong with her, feeding fine and normal temp are pretty good indications.
And I wouldn't keep away from your baby - she needs you.
But if you're worried call NHS direct and have a chat to put your mind at ease - it's an anxious time with a new one.

[ElenorRigby]

Thanks the replys, much appreciated!


Baby is formula fed so DP would be able to feed her. My symptoms are quite nasty so I guess he feels its not worth the risk of her getting what has incubated inside me. Also because the symptoms are so nasty I have to make emergency loo stops all the time (twice since writing this message alone

As for the nails, consider them gone. I seem to remember nurses are advised to keep their nails short as its to hard to clean propeerly underneath them.

All this makes me feel so damned low, just want to cry. Why oh why did I have to get ill

[loopylou6]

elenor, i would take full advantage of this and go and hole yourself up in your bedroom and leave dp to it, your lucky u have such a great dp thats willing to take over whilst your ill, u wont find many of them to the pound oh and get better soon.

[ElenorRigby]

thanks looplou!

Yes he is fantastic, love him loads I do sniff

Missing them both I am double sniff!

[wheelybug]

Elenor - I got a really nasty stomach bug when dd was 3 weeks old (caught off my Mum who had come up to help out but spent most of the time with us vomiting !). I did keep away from her once it appeared which was REALLY hard but she had been born early and had IUGR so was tiny and the last thing she needed was a stomach bug. Having said that though I would have been near her up to that so would have been contagious. However, dd didn't catch it although DH (and some friends) did so it was quite contagious but dd (mixed fed at that stage) was fine.

[wheelybug]

To be honest, I felt unable to look after dd for the first 12 hours anyway.

As a vaguely amusing aside - dh got it a week after so dd was 4 weeks old and then our microwave exploded and I only had a microwave steriliser and couldn't drive as I'd had a c-sec. I then had to sterilise everything on a pan on the hob until dh was well enough to drive to currys. Not a good time but amusing to look back on it.

[ElenorRigby]

Thanks Weelybug!

Yeah it is so hard to stay away from both of them. Its particularly hard if DD is crying!

Funny story though!
I have a funny one too...
We call baby, baby Blofeld after the evil James Bond character whose plotting world domination, starting with us of course!
Last week DP fed Blofeld and brought her over to the changing station to change her. I was in an adjoining room when I heard an OMG!! cry coming from DP. I ran into the room to find Blofeld smiling at daddy with milk dripping from her mouth like a milk vampire! DP was covered in milk and t was all up the changing draws too! I took Blofeld whilst DP went upstairs to change. As I was changing her she started grinning at something over and behind me. I looked behind to find she was giving a hearty gummy grin to a Gollum mask that hangs on the wall!
It was like she was pleased with her naughty asault on dad and was giving her evil friend Gollum a nod and wink!