Do you find you get ill more often now you have children?

[Summerdays2014]

Hi,

I used to be quite proud of the fact that I hardly ever got ill, I'm a teacher and figured I'd got a bit of immunity from the kids! However, I now have a 21 month old son and I always seem to be ill. My son was sick a couple of weeks ago but fine now and then I was sick last night. Before I had him I can't remember the last time I was sick, but it's been 3 or 4 times since he's been around! Also full of cold just in time for half term and it seems to be one after another. Anyone else the same?

Yes, yes, absobloodylutely yes. But don't worry, it only lasts as long as they are living at home with you.

For a certain period, yes. The time from about 8 months until 3 was rough. I got sick so much. Last year though (dd is 4), hardly ever and this year again hardly ever. She also has been sick a bit less these past two years. I think probably we've gotten it all now and must have pretty good immunity!

oh yes - although, it was worst with dc1 for the first 3 years, it does stabilise - once you've had all the wretched bugs! start upping your trips to holland & barrett etc :) i don't think sleep deprivation helps!

Definitely.
I get the stomach flu at least once a year as opposed to the 'once in a lifetime' before kids. Ok that's not quite true, but after the age of 8 until I had kids, I think I had the stomach flu once, maybe. Now, I dread the winter- from October well into March, we have it once, usually twice a year in our household. DH is a GP and I swear we get more stuff from his surgery than school. I was a single mum until DC1 was around age 6. When DH came into our lives, we got a lot more illnesses (but it was worth it. Cue hearts and butterflies). But he literally has patients coming into see him, vomiting in his consultation room (gives me the rage because one patient passes it onto DH, his staff, it gets brought home, etc. STAY HOME IF YOU'RE PUKING). I clearly have issues with the stomach flu!

I noticed DC3 got everything before his first birthday from DC2 who was in nursery, whereas DC2 hardly got anything until she started nursery because DC1 was 8 years older and hardly got sick anymore. He was in year 3 when DC2 was born and I find that after year 1, kids don't bring home nearly as much because they're immune systems are stronger. Does that make sense?

I always prided myself on never taking antibiotics. In first year after DS was born I think I had 4 courses! When I commented to my doctor about it she said, half jokingly, "This is why your maternity exemption lasts throughout the first year after your baby is born. You get sick more."

I don' know that that's true, but without a doubt, my immune system was shot for the first few years. Lack of sleep and anxiety had a lot to do with it I'm sure and there's probably some actual medical thing happening too. I'm back to being my usual hardy self who never gets anything worse than an irritating cold which can make me feel off colour for a bit. Such a relief. I was a bit worried for a while there with all the antibiotics!

I get ill less! Or actually I might get ill the same but before I would drag it out a bit like "man flu", but now I have DD I just have to get on with it unless I'm really really bad.

I get ill less.

A long term condition I have suffered from for 30 years got considerably better after having children.

Very jealous of those who get less ill! I'm feeling sorry for myself today so I'm glad it's not just me!

Yes definitely get more often but less time to actually be ill!

Before children = days in bed recovering!

After children = still got to do bloody everything! 😂

A thousand times yes! My sickness absence since returning to work has been shocking. I've had: norvirus (twice), labyrinthitis (weird inner ear balance thing that developed from laryngitis), tonsilitis, some weird upper abdominal pain that got me admitted to hospital but then discharged with no diagnosis a few days later (suspected gallstones but couldn't find any)

Heartened to hear stories of folk bouncing back to their usual selves after the first few years!

I have never been as constantly unwell as DS1’s first year at nursery.

I thought I would have full immunity for DS2. However, he seems to attract different germs.

Oh yes, usually when somebody else is ill you stay away until they’re better, now you spend the day cuddling them! That’s my theory anyway!

What on earth is the stomach flu?

My ds is almost 10months old and since starting him nursery two months ago I keep getting ill. I'm a teacher and was quite robust pre ds. Now I'm on my fourth virus in 2months and have had a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics really hoping I start to feel better soon. Sorry to all those who are also feeling rough, although I am glad to hear it is a mum thing and not just my immunse system being bad.

I'm a teacher too and I seem to get more colds. DS is 12mo now. I figured it was just because I'm so knackered all the time...

Two important rules.

Never ever let them put their hands in your mouth, they love it, you will get sick.

Never put your own hands in your mouth (or carelessly eat with unwashed hands) and wash them more regularly than before. Kids are transferring bugs onto every surface imaginable.

I stopped catching stuff with the above two rules.

I haven't been poorly more often since having had children; what I have found though is that being ill is harder work, especially when you have to look after 2 young, needy children on your own all day when all you want to do is curl up on the settee with a hot drink, some painkillers and a hot water bottle and watch crap tv.

I went through a bad time with a hyper 3 year old, DH with chronic pain condition and clingy, permanently ill 8 month old. When I returned after second mat leave I was very low. This went on for 2-3 years.

Now they are 7 and 10 I probably get less ill than any time in my life as I get more rest and I'm not out burning the candle at both ends like I was pre DC.