When is it safe to take a newborn outside?

[ClarasMummy]

DS is ten days old and due to having swine flu and mobility problems I haven't been out of the house (except to the hospital to give birth) in three weeks.
When would it be safe to take DS out of the house? Not to anywhere overly crowded but maybe to soft play so DD can get a dew hours out of the house with me there.
Any help would be appreciated.

Oh you poor thing, that must have been awful!
Congratulations on your DS, hope you are feeling better.
Go out now :) If you have somewhere got DS to sleep and wrap him up warm.
That said, if there's another option (someone else taking DD to soft play?) I'd go for that option.

We took our newborn out at 3 days, just to do the school run to pick up DS1. We did our first trip "out" (to the supermarket) at 5 days.

I took DD out to the shops at 4 days old. I don't like being stuck inside.

a mum at a previous school had her baby at 10am, and was there in the playground that afternoon at 3, complete with newborn .

ahh that was what I wanted for the birth of DD - I had it all planned out.
8am drop DS at nursery on way to hospital
10am have baby
4pm pick up DS on way back from hospital

DD didn't see it that way :o

cat64 I dod think that but really the baby's not going to be put down, is he? He's hardly going to wading in the wee filled ball pit.

That said there would probably be plenty of germs in the air in the enclosed space filled with pre schoolers so you could be right

Agree that soft play wouldn't be my choice if you're recovering or want to avoid any germs. They're usually riddled. Mine always get something when they've been to one. Wrapped up wander round a park or, more appealing, visit someone.

I took my DD out for a walk in her pram the same day I got home :)

I had stitches and in between warm baths, the walking really helped me so I just went out. We lived in the country so it was only a walk to the local shop about a mile each way but at least it got me out the house.

I had dd at home in the evening, so had to go out for the hospital checks the next morning. Popped into Sainsbury's on the way back too as had no clothes small enough for her (estimated 9lb, born just under 6lb!)

Obviously, no other issues for me (swine flu and birth - respect to you!), but I'd recommend you go out as soon as possible, athough preferably with someone else in case you get tired quickly. I remember our first proper trip into town to visit the Christmas market when dd was about 3 or 4 days old. We went on the train as pram was too big to fit in the car boot and I vividly remember thinking I'd never make it back as we walked back from the station (10 min walk usually). I very suddenly was simply exhausted, luckily dh was with me and pushed dd while I hobbled along v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y

Thank you all for the input. I am just so worried about him this time around, he seems much more fragile than DD ever did, and with swine flu and everything going around. I may bite the bullet and take him on a trip into the town tomorrow, he's still slightly jaundiced so could use the light, very nervous about it though.

I took DD2 to tesco in a sling the day on the monday morning, she was born on the saturday night. I needed knickers and maternity towels and more chocolate than DH was providing

I have a friend who gave birth to DC no.6 at home in the early hours, after giving birth was so "high" that she had a shower made all the packed lunches and was at school with new DC and other children at 8.50 the same day while DH had a nap!

Having had swine flu I would avoid play areas but getting out will do both of you good.

Just wrap him up warm and take him for a short walk locally, DH took DD out for first time at 1 day old in the sling to McDonalds so I could catch half an hours rest and we all went to the park when she was 2 days old.

You are all showing off! I went to bed with DD and stayed there for about 5 days.