Page 6 | To make visitors wear masks when holding our newborn

ElleGee1 · 16/08/2021 04:14

Also people who are saying risk to babies is low. If that was the case fine. Bit extreme here but yeah that’s fine, just let the parents catch it then. Just because people are vaccinated doesent mean you won’t be ill with it and then having to look after a new born

BritWifeInUSA · 16/08/2021 04:37

Another one who thinks an anti bacterial hand sanitizer will protect against a virus?

Hand sanitizing is not a bad idea at any time. Especially if people are coming into the house after being on public transport or at work. But YABVU if you think it will stop COVID.

Staryflight445 · 16/08/2021 06:35

You’re not being unreasonable at all, anyone with any respect for you would walk in and wash their hands regardless of covid.
My mil always did this when she came to visit our babies when they were ‘fresh’.

Staryflight445 · 16/08/2021 06:36

Without me having to ask I mean, I definitely would send a message when baby is here reiterating what would make you comfortable during visits to keep everyone safe, in particular your baby who is trying to get used to the surroundings outside of the womb and isn’t strong enough for many infections.

Ginfilledcats · 16/08/2021 06:39

Family wore masks the first time they met my baby but it was last year in the height of covid when it was illegal for my own mother to visit me after a traumatic birth. However by the second visit the masks went. But I will say family were very good about washing their hands and using anti bac and always wore clean clothes when they came. Over the passing weeks our nervousness relaxed.

supersonicginandtonic · 16/08/2021 07:02

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous! Covid is hardly a high risk to a newborn. Get the vaccination and Pass on the antibodies. The biggest risk to your baby at present is YOU catching covid and YOU being hospitalised due to a bad case, because YOU are unvaccinated. The baby is then at very high risk if being born prematurely.
I had my baby at the beginning of April and we were still being advised not to be vaccinated. A fellow expectant mum got covid abd was in ICU very poorly. She nearly lost her baby. She is now campaigning for mums to do their research and get vaccinated.
You need to let your baby build an immune system. Masks isn't the way to do that. There so many young babies, hospitalised at Present due to respiratory illnesses. This is being outdown to lockdowns abd people's immune systems being affected.
Also your pictures, your memories will look ridiculous

User5827372728 · 16/08/2021 07:37

I think MN gives unvaccinated pregnant women a hard time during this. I can understand why many women are unsure of the vaccine as it’s something that hasn’t been given to pregnant women before.

Especially black women, who already may have a lack of trust in medical staff and the Government.

Ticksallboxes · 16/08/2021 07:47

You are absolutely not being unreasonable.

I've been very relaxed throughout the pandemic but I would definitely limit visitors in the way you've suggested - I did in a normal year as I was exhausted.

I would also totally understand being asked to wash my hands and wear a mask to hold your baby. You can get some lovely photos a few months later.

Anything else just isn't worth the risk.

ttcsucks · 16/08/2021 07:51

For a start OP, masks provide limited protection and really only in crowded places. If someone is visiting in your living room say there for an hour and has Covid, the mask isn't going to do a lot.

As you asked for opinions I think you sound massively OTT and I'd do a massive eye roll if you were one of my friends or family members.

You probably ought to be more concerned ought to be more concerned about older family members getting Covid than your new born, they are the people at risk here.

Your fear is illogical and not based on any facts.

If anything perhaps ask them to get tested, I think that's more reasonable than asking for masks.

Arcminute · 16/08/2021 07:52

I had a baby last year. We didn’t really have any visitors because restrictions were much higher than they are now. But for those few who we did see I did not make them wear masks. We perceived the risks to us as a family and to the baby to be very different.

At the time, the risks were considered to be higher from us to other people because we had been in contact with HCPs and in medical settings and were far more likely to have picked it up there ourselves.

Aggy35 · 16/08/2021 07:58

I am not surprised at the comments as so many people have underestimated covid and/or disregarded rules.We were given 2 m distance to follow for all of us and yet golding the baby whilst breathing on it etc should be fine? I'm sorry nice pics comes last.If the baby catches covid he /she could be in serious trouble.I am not originally from UK and where I come from it is actually a custom only for the close family to visit new born for the first month exactly because they are so vulnerable and shouldn't be passed from hand to hands.

LagunaBubbles · 16/08/2021 08:00

Apart from hand washing very OTT. Do you have problems with anxiety in general?

Arcminute · 16/08/2021 08:02

Limiting visitors when the baby is tiny and you have only recently given birth is completely normal and common. We kept things pretty quiet when I had my first pre-covid. Asking those who do visit to wear a mask is another thing. I don’t judge that decision, I made a different choice for my own baby and circumstances.

m0therofdragons · 16/08/2021 08:05

Where I live cases are high and quite a few of my friends have covid so I actually think it’s reasonable to ask people to wear one - take photos outside without masks but inside ask them to wear one. I’d personally not go for masks but ask for lateral flow tests on the day of the visit.

SeoultoSeoul · 16/08/2021 08:07

Well, as someone who nearly lost DD as an infant to Herpes Simplex (the coldsore virus) I would actually say YANBU.

m0therofdragons · 16/08/2021 08:08

Oh and you don’t have health anxiety - it’s a pandemic and it’s perfectly normal to be anxious under these circumstances. Tiny newborn babies need protecting - your baby is likely to be fine but you don’t want to catch covid and be unwell and unable to enjoy the first few weeks of your baby’s life.

PalmsandCharms · 16/08/2021 08:13

I can see the OP coming on here in a few months with a thread whining that nobody is bothering with their darling child...

MaryShelley1818 · 16/08/2021 08:15

YABU and really ridiculous. I think you'll look back on this and cringe with embarrassment.

I have a 6mth old so my baby was born when it was still illegal for anyone to come to your house. She did however meet Grandparents and I didn't ask them to do anything (they're not idiots and would have cleaned hands etc).
Since things have opened up she's met friends, been to baby classes, had trips away, been to the Zoo, farm, parks....all things that are normal for babies. Her big brother goes to nursery so she's had a few colds/bugs.
Exposing a child to germs is what allows them to build a healthy and functioning immune system. (Obviously while exercising a degree of common sense).

stormy11 · 16/08/2021 08:29

You are definitely not being unreasonable! Hand washing before hold a newborn is common sense and this is what midwives advise. And no-one should be kissing a new born apart from the parents.

I really don't get why people would be offended by these requests! Surely they wouldn't want pass on nasty germs to newborn babies that aren't their child?!

Hollywolly1 · 16/08/2021 08:35

I think you need to protect your little newborn and not allow any visitors,maybe just immediate family to be fair to your baby.

Newmum29 · 16/08/2021 09:01

This is a thing in Australia because of whooping cough. My SIL had a no mask no holding rule. I didn’t hold her baby as I hadn’t had mine (was pregnant and not allowed it at that stage of the pregnancy). FIL refused to have the vaccine so didn’t hold till 6 weeks either. When ours was born I said it was fine for visitors not to wear mask but many insisted anyway.

EmmaJR1 · 16/08/2021 09:16

You can place whatever restrictions you like on who sees your baby.

However I deeply rolled my eyes reading your op and instantly thought you were bring precious. It does read like you want a reason to keep specific people at arms length.

Washing hands and sanitiser. No people with colds or illnesses, fair enough.

Full on masks all the time , maybe not...

User5827372728 · 16/08/2021 09:40

What’s the point in washing hands for an airborne virus if the person is going to hold baby and breathe at the same time?

Ozanj · 16/08/2021 09:56

@pearlsandpetals

Hi everyone! I'm currently pregnant and due later this year.. I've started thinking about what measures to put into place to keep our baby safe, particularly if covid cases are high at the time and also because it will be the middle of winter and cold/flu season. I'm thinking that anyone who wishes to hold our newborn baby should have to wear a mask and sanitise hands first. My partner disagrees with the mask wearing and thinks that it's not fair to ask family to wear them, as they will want nice photos with the baby. I also think want there should be a limit on the number of visitors until our baby is at least a couple of months old. I want just close family members and people who have been played a part during the pregnancy to visit. Are these things unreasonable? I don't want to be made to feel like it is OTT but I just want to do everything I can to make sure our baby is safe and healthy whilst her immune system is so fragile.

Newborns have the best immune systems unless their premies. By not exposing them to a wide variety of germs from birth you’re going to set her back in a major way. Being exposed to a wide variety of germs before 1 helps to fight some childhood cancers.

8dpwoah · 16/08/2021 10:12

Would probably take your comment with more than a pinch of salt if you didn't refer to 'germs' @ozanj

Covid is a bit different to the normal sniffles that people worry about around brand new babies. And 'before one' is not the same as 'as soon as they're dry'.