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Covid

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Original poster

Tiny baby in a house with Covid

28 replies

BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 21:34

Baby only a couple of days old and her father has just tested positive.

I know children aren't generally considered to be at much risk but what do we know about new borns? Would you be having either mum and baby or the father move out for a while?

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/11/2020 21:35

Do you have somewhere dh can abscond himself to inside the house, a spare room?

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 21:35

I should say, moving out would mean moving in with GPs, so far from ideal.

OP posts:
Original poster
BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 21:36

It's not me, I'm trying to say something helpful/comforting to a friend.

OP posts:
Kayjay2018 · 21/11/2020 21:38

If the baby is only a few days old, they will still be under the care of the midwife. There should be a number to call if they have any baby related issues, they might be able to advise what is best

covetingthepreciousthings · 21/11/2020 21:39

Is there anyone else in the house or just Dad, Mum and baby?

I think if moving out isn't an option then I would have dad isolate in a room & deliver food to the room etc. With bathroom if only one i would get him to clean it after he uses it inc door handles.

Such a tricky situation, I'd also ask midwives / ward for advice since baby is still so tiny.

NameChange30 · 21/11/2020 21:42

Is the mother breastfeeding? If so that should help baby's immunity.

I think they should all stay, but the dad should try and stay apart from mum and baby if at all possible.

Mum should take vitamin D (or a postnatal multivitamin including vitamin D).

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 21:48

Yes, just the three of them, breast feeding, no spare room.

OP posts:
Squintybumcheek · 21/11/2020 21:50

I would definitely have mum and baby or dad move out. My friend has is a nurse in a children's hospital and they have had a few babies admitted with covid. All were fine thank goodness but you would obviously want to avoid it. Such a tough situation though as I am sure hormones and emotions are running high.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/11/2020 21:52

Dad stays in the bedroom with food put at the door at intervals. Mum and baby have the rest of the home.

When dad needs the bathroom he can text so they can stay away and he can antibac wipe down when he leaves the room.

NameChange30 · 21/11/2020 21:53

Ok, so breastfeeding is good and will help.
No spare room - are you saying they live in a one bedroom home? If so, maybe the dad should move out temporarily (but where to? As surely he shouldn't be infecting anyone else either? Are his parents or in laws in a vulnerable category?)

If they have two bedrooms perhaps they could rearrange things so he could stay apart from them.

PrivateD00r · 21/11/2020 21:54

Aw no, how flipping stressful! The dad definitely needs to take himself off and isolate from mum and baby, even into the spare room. How awful for the family though, my heart goes out to them! I would be more concerned about mum than baby, she is more at risk. Also will be really tough for her having no help and support. I hope it all works out ok for them Flowers

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 21:55

Yes one bedroom. His parents have said he can go there, they're not especially vulnerable but they are elderly. Mum , understandably, isn't too keen on the idea of being left on her own with baby.

OP posts:
Poppystars · 21/11/2020 22:06

Could the midwife or HV advise, as I am sure this is something affecting quite a lot of new parents.

PrivateD00r · 21/11/2020 22:09

I wouldn't say moving out is a great idea as that is putting others at risk. Unless someone has a spare room that he can go to? Mum still wouldn't be able to have visitors though and to be honest she will get minimal visits from her mw, it is totally crap for her.

jomaIone · 21/11/2020 22:10

I'd likely go into isolation at my parents house if this was me.

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 22:12

NHS advice is that the household must isolate togethet and no one should leave.

OP posts:
PrivateD00r · 21/11/2020 22:19

@BecomeStronger

NHS advice is that the household must isolate togethet and no one should leave.
Yeah, I am a midwife and if she phoned me for advice, I would have to advise that they stay at their own home. Really as a pp said, he needs the bedroom and she needs to sleep on the sofa Sad Awful I know, though to be fair I know lots of people who have done things like this in shifts so someone gets sleep when there is a new baby. It really is awful.
jerometheturnipking · 21/11/2020 22:21

I think at this point there’s not much to be gained by them staying separately - they’ve already been well exposed to him. I’d focus on the household hygiene (including having windows open where possible to change the air), not spending time together and finding a way to sleep separately.

carly2803 · 21/11/2020 22:21

iwould say dad needs to stay in the bedrom, use the bathroom and wipe down after.

mum and baby - rest of the house

Essexgirlupnorth · 21/11/2020 22:24

My colleague tested positive he isolated in one room food dropped at door, cleaned the bathroom after he used it and his wife and 2 year old didn't get it. So is possible to be in the same house and not get it.0

covetingthepreciousthings · 21/11/2020 23:27

I think at this point there’s not much to be gained by them staying separately - they’ve already been well exposed to him.

Isn't this to do with viral load though? That it's better to try isolate from other family members as best as possible to try reduce this.

goodnightsugarpop · 22/11/2020 09:22

God how stressful for them all. It's really good that the mum is breastfeeding, I've heard several stories from breastfeeding mothers who had covid and their babies never showed any symptoms, including co-sleeping families. So i think its very likely that either the baby will get immunity from antibodies in the milk and not catch it at all, or the baby will have an asymptomatic case.

It's extremely extremely rare for babies to become very ill with covid, though I know that's of limited comfort when it's YOUR tiny vulnerable newborn that you're worrying about amid all the new baby hormones & sleep deprivation.

Personally I wouldn't have anyone move out because I think that would be even more stressful and tbh mum and baby have probably already been exposed. The advice about cleaning & keeping windows open & dad sleeping separately is good. But also the early days with a newborn are so hard and the family need to do what they feel is best, for their mental as well as physical health. I hope they're all feeling ok.

jerometheturnipking · 22/11/2020 09:31

Isn't this to do with viral load though? That it's better to try isolate from other family members as best as possible to try reduce this.

That would be achieved by isolating within the house. They're already exposed and at this point would risk spreading it by going to another household.

Delatron · 22/11/2020 09:46

I would also air the house frequently, so windows open whenever he has moved about.

unchienandalusia · 22/11/2020 09:52

Surely breastfeeding is only helpful if the mother has covid antibodies?

Anyway to the question. Yes keep him in his room and mother and baby have rest of house.