Tested positive with 6 mo and 4 year old at home - unable to isolate from them

[GardenMama91]

Firstly please note i am diagnosed with Post partum OCD/depression, which i try so hard to overcome concerning germs and my sons, since having my second baby. Iykyk how hard tackling the intrusive thoughts can be. I am being treated/drs aware etc.

I felt rundown with a tickly throat about 5 days ago but carried on as nomral. However, when i was out with my baby and friend i nearly passed out which obviosuly concerned me. Once home i decided to test for covid as had some tests left over (work in admin NHS but on mat leave). It came out positive and ive been trying to not breathe all over my sons since (i started to get worse quickly and now quite unwell) Baby and 4 year old both showing symptoms now and my mind has been whirring with worry.

Looking for some reassurance regarding babys/young children with covid. Also for future reference, do other parents carry on just looking after their children if they have covid or do you isolate in 2024 from family/get help with children if able to? My husband works so cant fully rely on him most mon-fri hours.
I'm anxious i should have done more to protect them from it, especially ds 6mo. Both fully vaccinated but not from covid. Also my oldest, caught measles in Jan/feb and theres been a q of his immune system being weakened slightly from that. I just worry and wish i could switch off my mind sometimes.

My family tell me to stop worrying, easier said than done with mental health condition, frustratingly.. Though they said i should continue as normal as they do this.

Sorry to hear of your worries. I'm sure you will all recover from covid quickly. Plan a duvet day with them but I think it's ok to just care for them as normal.

My whole family had covid last month and my 2 year old son and 11 week old at the time also caught it. My baby was in hospital for two nights due to high temp but that's because he was under three months. He was actually ok in himself. I seemed to have suffered the most symptoms. Just make sure the children are topped up on Calpol and yourself on paracetamol. You will get through it but it's bloody hard with little ones. Sending hugs

And to answer your question, you can't really isolate from you mr children they're bound to get colds and things so lots of cuddles with mum is just what they need when you're all poorly

Just try your best use separate towels and wash hands more etc

Your husband will have to step in and care for you all if you are unable to , he has parental responsibilities too

The children probably gave it to you. They will be fine, no young children I know had any symptoms at all. Firstly they are completely fine, they probably already have it and you do not need to isolate.

Regarding the thoughts, imagine you are sitting on a lovely bank of a river and those thoughts are just the water rushing by you. They don’t mean anything and have no connection to you, there is nothing you can do to control the flow, just let them wash past you.

You are ok.

Thank you all for replying to this, it has definitely helped to reassure me, knowing you have been through similar.. i will give them lots of cuddles. Think i need them myself too!

The river idea for the worrys, i will also be trying to do! Thank you!

If you want to reduce the risk of passing your COVID onto your kids, get a HEPA filter or two for your home. They're good things to have anyway, as they improve your indoor air quality, and they actually do something to reduce the risk of airborne transmission.

Sorry my post was very brief, I was typing under the covers as I'd woken in the night and was having a MN to try and go back to sleep

Hope you're all feeling better soon - def just take it easy for a few days and see how you feel.

I think Covid is now one of those things we just have to treat like many other illnesses and get on with. It inn feels different because we have the tests and obvs the whole lockdown thing.

Take care

Second this and lots of ventilation to reduce the viral load in the air. Hope you all feel better soon.

I will look into the HEPA filter now! Thank you