Prem baby and coronavirus

[Mammabee20]

Good Evening all! I hope this doesn’t come across as another annoying coronavirus post but i am just wanting some casual advice on whether I am personally being unreasonable or not.

I have a premature son who was born at 34 + 5, the doctors have since agreed that he was more like 32 weeks. He has been home for about two weeks since being in and out of hospital. He finally weighs over 5lbs and he is 9 weeks tomorrow.

I am so scared of anything happening to him, i won’t go in to it but the last half of the pregnancy was awful and I thought he was going to die numerous times. I don’t know if this is making me more fearful for his health.

Anyway my DP’s work have emailed to say that they are closing the offices and everyone is too work from home till next week, they will then provide an update on what is too happen going forward. As a result of this and the fact that I am currently isolating myself at home because I’ve got a viral throat infection which has caused blisters in the back of my throat (doctor confirmed just a normal viral infection- my daughter probably brought it back from nursery) I am keeping away from my son for the meantime & I have emailed her nursery to say I will not be bringing her in till my son gets stronger or the pandemic drops.

Nursery were very understanding and I have said I will keep paying her fees in order to hold her place there but we just won’t be sending her. I am now thinking of telling everyone not to visit the house and to stay away for a while. I am on maternity so it’s kind of the best time to stay in the house and not do anything

AIBU to go to this extent or is choosing to self isolate if possible the best thing to do right now?

It's difficult. My daughter was prem & SGA, she only weighs 5kg at nearly 7m old. She's had severe bronchiolitis 3 times since November and now has an inhaler. I question every day whether it's the right move to keep sending her brother to preschool. However we did a period of social isolation and it didn't really work because DH was still going out to work- she still got ill. Unless you are going to completely quarantine your whole family it's really hard to avoid things.

But also - your little one is stronger than they look, try not to panic before the worst has happened.

You are right it is so difficult to know what is right and what isn’t.. my DP has been told to work from home so I might just self isolate the family till my son is bigger. I think his work would rather him work from home rather than be off with sick children all the time.

They’ve been really understanding so far and they’ve requested he work from home next week so fingers crossed they keep allowing it

Do what’s best for your family, if you need to say no visitors say it

Well im in Ireland and at the moment everyone is doing what they feel comfortable with. They just shut schools, creches etc. One friend has sent her family a text saying we are staying put and don't take offence. (They have child with heart issues) A night some of us had planned tomorrow night was cancelled by the organiser as she's just had an op. My parents have hinted 'keep away' we are in the at risk category. Nothing is being taken as offence. Its absolutely suit yourself so you do exactly what you like

That’s what I am thinking.. I will do whatever it takes to protect my little one, he is so precious too me! My DD isn’t so old that she has a god immunity either though, she is 16 months old. They say a child gets its proper immunity at 2 years of age so I would feel more comfortable keeping her at home with me as well.

My son however has been in and out of hospital with no weight gain and they were testing him for birth defects so 2020 hasn’t been a fun ride so far without the threat of coronavirus leering.. every stay in hospital I was more petrified of him getting it, now I’m poorly I’m dreading it be me that causes him to catch something

Hi, @Mammabee20 - just to let you know that we're going to move this over to our Coronavirus topic now - we hope that you get some useful advice and support here.

Best of luck with your DS. Take care.

Just to reassure you a little there is research that shows that it is precisely because childrens' immune systems are immature that they dont get many covid 19 symptoms.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/2237259-why-dont-children-seem-to-get-very-ill-from-the-coronavirus/amp/

Having said that you are not being unreasonable in doing everything you can to protect your family.