Stupid new mum panic!

[bellainthemiddle]

My 10-week-old DD was born at 34 weeks and has recently had a trip to hospital due to being a bit unwell with a high temp. She's back at home now and seems very well (and energetic!) but I've gone down with a stomach bug. I've basically been completely floored with vomiting and fever and all the other yukky symptoms today and thankfully, DP is home for the next few days (usually works away) and can look after DD.

But... I'm really terrified about passing on germs and I just don't know what's the best thing to do. Apart from isolating myself as much as possible in our pretty small flat! I'm even wondering if it's best for DP to take DD to his parents tomorrow (who are also in London and happy to have them both). Does that sound like a good idea, or am I being a ridiculous and paranoid new mum?

Sorry for the probably stupid questions, I'm just so not sure what to do for the best! Was considering to call 111, but it seems a bit silly - and I'm not sure they'll really be able to advise!

I think you’ll be fine for them to stay. Tbh you’ve probably already passed it on to them if they are going to get it. The incubation period for sickness and diarrhoea is pretty quick. Basic hygiene though will still be incredibly important. Washing hands before you touch the baby and disinfecting all door handles, surfaces and the toilet. I also wouldn’t prepare any food for your partner. Not sure if you breast feed or bottle feed but hand washing before touching bottles is important. I’d avoid kissing the baby until you’re clear also, super difficult I know!! Feel better. Keep yourself hydrated and avoid dairy products as this can prolong symptoms. You’ll also need to replace your lost salts with rehydration sachets or an isotonic sports drink. 💐

Call your health visitor or midwife tomorrow are you bf? If you are then you have likely already passed the antibodies to dd, I often found when dd was a bit ill I got really sick and she was generally better than me. Has she had any injections recently?

If she’s had injections it could be that my hygiene was fab when dd was tiny and I was tired and trying to move country and .i got really sick after she had her injections.

I think it a very sensible idea and it gives you time to recover. Hope you are feeling better soon

Disinfect light switches, shower pull, mobile phones and tv remote too, as well as door handles and cupboard handles, taps, door lock, keys, toilet. Basically anything you’ve touched! Wash towels etc (I’m adding dettol laundry cleanser in every wash routinely now) and hopefully all will be fine.

Are you breastfeeding? I've come down with two nasty bugs since having DD and one time she avoided it entirely, the other she got a much milder version, which I'm sure was to do with my body creating antibodies and passing them to her. DP and I were totally floored with it for about five days, as was his poor sister a few days later who had unfortunately come to visit us, but DD had one day where she was a bit sniffly and grumbly and that was it. We were amazed!

Just practice good hand hygiene and let DH do the majority of the baby wrangling where he can!

I’ve been in your shoes OP my twins were premature and for the first year I had to battle against my constant fear I might make them poorly if I had a cold, stomach bug and what have you.

I wasn’t BF as my milk didn’t come in - and I just continued to practice the neonatal units hygiene advice as much as I could at home. Hand washing with anti-bacterial soap before handling DC, ensuring bottles (in my case) were freshly sterilised, disinfecting preparation area for bottles - and it seemed to work for the majority of the time.

Also if you do avoid kissing as well it can help - I struggled massively with that one so settled with kissing the tops of their heads or their toes when they were very little as they weren’t reaching for either area yet 😊

I'm not bf (I did want to but it just wasn't happening!). So at least there should be slightly less risk from that POV... and I'm getting DP to do all the feeding! And she had her first vaccinations 2 weeks ago, so I wouldn't think it is related to that... but who knows, I guess it could be?

I'm basically keeping antibacterial wipes at hand and wiping everything I touch! And I'm making sure they're not using any towels or anything that I'm using... I keep thinking it's wearing off but as soon as I have a drink or anything I'll be throwing up again. It's just grim, I haven't had anything like this for aaaaages. I am just praying that I haven't passed it on! I want them to go to DP's mum tomorrow (although it probably is too late) but DP is worried...

Thank you so much for the replies, really really appreciate it.

Did she get the rotavirus vaccine? Is it possible you've picked that up while changing her nappies? Although I'm sure it's just a bug. Just keep an eye on it if it lingers

Yeah, she did - but I really hope it is just a "normal" bug, which is what it feels like tbh. I'm a bit sleep deprived, so maybe that's why it's hitting me a bit harder than I'd expect!

I had a couple of bouts of D&V in my DS' first year. He wasn't ill at all.

Practice good hand hygiene and bleach things like the toilet flush and bathroom door handle. Change the hand towels regularly. I think you're system is so run down from pregnancy/giving birth it makes you more likely to pick up bugs. Hope you feel better soon.

Your baby will be totally fine.

Thank you for the reassurance! I hope so.

Anyone you live with is going to get your germs. They will already have been exposed. You're honestly fine OP - it's quite common for new parents to get bugs because they're so tired and run down.

Yeah, you're right - I'm definitely being a neurotic mother!

And I heard that it is very normal for new parents to get bugs too - plus, I have lupus and it affects my white blood cell counts, so my immunity is a bit rubbish anyway!!

Still dithering! Not sure any of us got any sleep last night...! DD is out of routine, DP was stressing a bit (poor thing- home for the weekend and has to deal with all this!!) and I was sick all night! I still feel like it would be better (nicer) for them to go to his mum, so I'm going to try to push it :)

Still no better, BUT at least neither DP nor DD seem to have caught it (yet - famous last words). Cannot believe how long it's going on though!