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Original poster

Protecting a newborn

31 replies

Waiting4baby2 · 12/12/2021 13:42

My due date is a couple of days before Christmas and I’m getting more and more stressed about the pressure to see family. I’ve made it clear that they need to count us out of any celebrations/ gatherings this year but it’s falling on deaf ears…
I’ve been looking for advice about what to do with a newborn in the house to protect them, particularly now from omicron and I can’t find anything. Some American sites say get people to test and wear masks or even not let anyone else hold the baby for the first month or so, does anyone have any advice? I don’t want to offend people but it’s more important that I don’t take any unnecessary risks for both me and the baby, whether it’s Christmas or not…

OP posts:
daisydoh · 12/12/2021 13:43

It's a real tough one OP I feel for you. I don't have children but I wouldn't like this scenario either and there are no easy answers.

Sorry, my post is completely not helpful!

I'm not sure it's rude to just distance yourself from people for the first month

Notbluepeter · 12/12/2021 13:53

I had my baby in feb. I did not tell my extended family when I went into labour which took some of the stress off. Gave us a couple of days to settle. When I told everyone I said. LO arrived Sunday night, safe and well. Before arranging to visit please know we will not be having visitors who are unvaccinated or unmasked to the dangers of coronavirus.

SnugKnights · 12/12/2021 13:56

I’d be asking people to take an LFT before visiting, wear a mask if holding baby and wash their hands first. I’d also keep a window open a tiny bit to let some fresh air into the room when other were visiting.

Original poster
Waiting4baby2 · 12/12/2021 19:40

Thanks for your replies! I know people (in laws) will be saying I’m the over anxious mother if I ask them to wear masks but it’s the right thing to do… news not looking good on the spread this time around…

OP posts:
MultiSkills · 12/12/2021 19:46

My friend had a baby in May. Anyone who visited was asked to do an LFT and to wear a mask when holding the LO. After around 4 weeks they relaxed the mask requirement, but we still do LFTs before meeting up to keep everyone safe. They meet up outdoors with people who won't wear masks or do tests.
I'm not sure how much difference the mask wearing would make, but I do think LFTs are worth doing.

rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 12/12/2021 19:53

It looks like the baby gets covid antibody through placenta and breastmilk from mother.

This article is quite old, but sounds promising. And there must be other newer studies too.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/study-shows-covid-19-vaccinated-mothers-pass-antibodies-to-newborns/

But if it was me, I would take any possible protection/precautions until we know more about omicron.

GuidingSpirit · 12/12/2021 19:58

I had a baby in June and most people offered to wear a mask when they visited and volunteered to do LFT before we even asked. Are your family and friends generally mask compliant / vaccinated? If so, it might be less of an issue than you think.

HairsprayBabe · 12/12/2021 19:58

My first DS was born in the first lockdown midwife at hospital discharge encouraged us to have a support system of one other household who were able to hold and handle the baby normally, but to practice social distancing with everyone else. We didn't make people wear masks etc. around him.

Due my second in January we will be doing much of the same I expect.

Chillyjellytotty · 12/12/2021 19:59

I had a baby lasts September (before vaccinations) but we were told to treat baby like a vulnerable premature baby for the first month of life.

FelicityBob · 12/12/2021 20:01

Have you had the vaccine? That will make a difference.
I’d definitely be asking people to keep their distance. If you can’t keep them away, keep baby in a sling so they can’t hold baby

PuzzledObserver · 12/12/2021 20:07

My niece had a baby in May. When we went to visit, she told us they were asking people to do LFT’s before coming and not handing the baby round for cuddles. We were fine with that. We also met outside, but that was July.

I don’t know if they were even allowing grandparents to hold the baby - I didn’t see them doing so while we were there.

Landof · 12/12/2021 20:09

People I know who had babies in 2020 were more strict but everyone I know who has had a baby this year has allowed family and close friends to have a hold.

Whathefisgoingon · 12/12/2021 22:08

I had my first 2 week before the first ever lockdown.

Whilst in hospital covid hasn’t erupted quite yet, so I allowed my close family to visit but once we were gone and in a full blown pandemic, nobody was allowed round or anywhere near the baby apart from the grandparents, once, when they met him.

I actually kept it that way for a very, very long time!

And if anyone chimes in to tell you that your baby will have problems because of the lack of socialising, just know it’s absolute rubbish. All newborns need are their parents.

Mine is almost 2 now and the happiest, friendliest and most social little boy.

Whathefisgoingon · 12/12/2021 22:10

Oh, and if I was in your position now - I’d be asking family to PCR prior to their visit and isolate until they see baby. Probably ask them to wear a mask, and it goes without saying (even in non covid times) no kissing baby etc

jessicalouise95 · 12/12/2021 22:16

Ah I feel you and your worry!
Tbh I will be asking everyone to do a Home test and still wear a mask and sanitise and if they feel remotely unwell or anything ask them not to come. I will also ask them not to kiss her too due for covid and the herpesvirus.

I've said to my partner I don't want anyone over until I'm ready and okay . I don't care who it is or who kicks off they have waited 9 months they can wait a week more if that's what I decide.

They should respect your boundaries and wishes

X

firstimemamma · 12/12/2021 22:18

I'm due a baby and couldn't care less about he or she getting covid and neither could my medical dh.

DancingintheSpoonlight · 12/12/2021 22:24

My DS is 3 weeks old. I had both vaccines and he had expressed breast milk for the first week so am happy he has SOME protection. We haven't had many visitors (very close family) and have asked them to take LFTs first, before visiting. Noone's said anything negatively but I couldn't give a toss if people think we're being over cautious. This set up is what we're happiest with at the moment.

WoolyMammoth55 · 12/12/2021 22:25

Hi OP, my baby was born in January in the middle of the second wave...

I had the vaccine ASAP and breastfed, I believe and was told that my breastmilk would have given him some antibodies.

I also had no compunction in setting strict rules and not caring what anyone thought. I remember telling one family member that only women who had given birth during a global pandemic were allowed to have an opinion of my choices :)

We strictly limited visitors, bub met 3 close family outside of our home unit in his first month. They all had to wash hands and wear masks around the baby. Short visits, windows open for ventilation.

Do whatever you need to do to feel safe and well - those early weeks are tough and you don't need to be worrying about anyone except you and baby and the people that love you will be supportive of that. Best of luck!

Greenmarmalade · 12/12/2021 22:27

As you may well still be pregnant over Christmas, or just given birth, you would be very wise to keep contact to a minimum. Breastfeed if you can, even for a day.

PizzaCrust · 12/12/2021 22:33

I had my second baby in the middle of the first lockdown. We ended up picking my parents to ‘bubble’ with, and everyone else had to keep their distance for a few months until restrictions relaxed. My parents are self employed farmers so they weren’t exactly going to be mixing with many people so as safe as you could get, plus it was my only other source of company as I was at home with two under two.

If I was doing it again, I’d do the same. Pick a set of people who are happy to test and then ask everyone else to keep their distance until baby is a bit older and things calm down, maybe spring time. They can still meet baby, but in their pram outside rather than holding baby in a living room, etc.

You have to do what’s comfortable for you.

mswales · 12/12/2021 22:34

Newborns are very unlikely to get anything more than mildly ill if they catch covid aren't they? I'm due in Feb and hadn't worried about this at all before seeing this post! Babies are passed the antibodies from the mother and incidences of serious illness in young children are so rare. I'd be more worried about me getting it and then not being fit to care for my baby.

Tickly · 12/12/2021 22:43

I had DS3 in June 2020. We only saw people outside and noone held him for absolutely ages. It seems a bit mad when I write that down but actually the idea of having Covid myself with a newborn to manage was enough to make me very determined. He's absolutely fine and perfectly social so it did no harm.
Personally I would just say that because it would be very hard to let the I after a baby if you get Covid and rates are so high, plus baby will be vulnerable when only a few weeks old you aren't seeing people except and insert who you actually are willing to see. People will get over it.

supersonicginandtonic · 12/12/2021 22:51

I had my baby in April. Carried on as normal. I work for the NHS.

Original poster
Waiting4baby2 · 12/12/2021 23:16

Wow thanks for all the replies! I’ve never posted before so have no idea how to reply individually.
I am basically going into a family lockdown from next week to try to avoid being ill for actual labour (not just covid, also have a toddler who comes home with a lot of bugs from nursery!!) and am planning to breastfeed.
I have had the two doses of the vaccine but it hasn’t been 3 months yet since second dose so not eligible for booster.
On the question on covid impact on babies, hopefully like other variants it’s unlikely to cause serious illness but there’s still so much they don’t know, I’d much rather they didn’t get it when their immune system is so underdeveloped… would also be worried about getting it myself and being too ill to look after them.
Quite worried about the hospital scenario too, to be fair that’s prob our biggest risk of getting it, more than visitors… but not much we can do about that :/

OP posts:
Notdoingthis · 12/12/2021 23:23

I'd be more worried about RSV. Forget masks and LFTs, just ask people with colds to stay away.