4 year old positive and symptomatic - we have a newborn

[ActonBell]

DS1 (4) started with a temperature and complained of headache and tiredness today. Tested positive. DH and I are triple jabbed and have tested negative.
DS2 is just 5 weeks old and whilst I know it tends to affect babies and children less I’m terrified of him getting it when he’s so tiny.

Some of the advice online says I should wear a mask whilst breastfeeding. Do I need to do this if I’m testing negative? I can hardly bear the thought of it as he’s just starting to study my face and attempt smiles. In any case DS2 is attached pretty much all the time so I’d never take it off.

We’ve opened windows and started talking to DS1 about not touching or kissing his brother but I don’t know how we’re going to keep them completely apart for a week. I could isolate with the baby except DH has work (from home) and besides DS1 would be inconsolable without me. He just wants his mummy when he’s ill.

Anyone have any experience of anything like this? What - if anything - can we do?
The other thing I’m dreading of course is DH and I getting really unwell and having to cope alone with the kids.

Can you and the baby go and stop elsewhere? This is one of those scenarios where there is no good option but I would be inclined to get your newborn out of there for the 5 days of isolation if you can

I have no experience, but if you are triple jabbed and breastfeeding, the baby will get some protection from your antibodies, so, a bit of a peace of mind.

Realistically there's nothing you can do, apart from accepting that there's a possibility with such close contact that DC2 may get it. Chances are though, if they do then their symptoms will be mild.

We're slowly moving in a direction of learning to live with this virus, as we do with many others. DC2 has to start building immunity to the most common ones eventually, so attempting to shield them from everything now achieves very little in the long term IMO.

I’ve just come out the other side of this - three year old positive, two week old baby. DH and I also tested positive. I decided against wearing a mask when feeding - just felt wrong. We also didn’t keep them apart - figured we’d all had enough upheaval with a new baby to cause three year old more upset/confusion. Baby has been absolutely fine, one day of a snotty nose and that has been it. And actually we’ve all been fine - DH and I had mild cold symptoms, very tired. Three year old was very sick one day (which is apparently a symptom), and again other than this has had a runny nose and cold. Fingers crossed it will be similar with you.

I don’t think there is much you can do, apart from accept you’ll all catch it. It’s a rock and a hard place.

@PotteringAlong

Can you and the baby go and stop elsewhere? This is one of those scenarios where there is no good option but I would be inclined to get your newborn out of there for the 5 days of isolation if you can

It'll be longer than 5 days. I don't know anyone who has stopped being positive after 7 days let alone 5. Especially as the DS will be unvaccinated so will probably be the full 10

Where you vaccinated while pregnant? Hopefully antibodies have passed through

@PotteringAlong

Can you and the baby go and stop elsewhere? This is one of those scenarios where there is no good option but I would be inclined to get your newborn out of there for the 5 days of isolation if you can

There’s no where we can go short of a hotel or something - which seems fairly high risk in itself. As I say DS1 cries for me when he has a temperature and won’t settle for his dad so it seems really difficult to contemplate separating from him.

@Daisydoor12

Where you vaccinated while pregnant? Hopefully antibodies have passed through

Yes - second vaccination and booster whilst pregnant. Fingers crossed.

@HDready

I’ve just come out the other side of this - three year old positive, two week old baby. DH and I also tested positive. I decided against wearing a mask when feeding - just felt wrong. We also didn’t keep them apart - figured we’d all had enough upheaval with a new baby to cause three year old more upset/confusion. Baby has been absolutely fine, one day of a snotty nose and that has been it. And actually we’ve all been fine - DH and I had mild cold symptoms, very tired. Three year old was very sick one day (which is apparently a symptom), and again other than this has had a runny nose and cold. Fingers crossed it will be similar with you.

Thank you. This is very reassuring.

For what it’s worth, when my 4 year old tested positive none of me, DH or my other DS’s caught it (although that was delta not omicron)

I think I’d carry on as you are, definitely keep on with good ventilation. Keep DC in separate rooms as much as possible and accept sometimes you won’t be able to. I’d only wear a mask to feed if I actually tested positive myself I think. I hope it all goes OK for you all!

Well, both DH and I have tested positive today. I have cold symptoms bad enough that I would probably stay off work a day or two if I wasn’t on maternity leave. DH has a very slight sore throat.

I don’t think I can mask because DS2 wants to be in my arms all the time so I would have to be masked all day and he is just learning to smile so I think it would be really unsettling for him. I’m going to hold off from kissing him and will wash hands regularly.

I guess there’s nothing much we can do now except ride it out and hope for the best.

One thing- how are you supposed to get your kid to school if you’re self isolating?!