Confirmed flu...

jg1011

My poor little guy....

Now the question is...how do I avoid getting it while taking care of him? And if I do get it, how bad is it for baby/pregnancy?

LBStewart

Poor guy!!  I hate to be a downer, but I think you have a pretty good chance of getting it too.  I'm not a fan of the flu shot (and didn't get one).  My ob/gyn was pretty skeptical and warned me about the flu not being good to get while pregnant.  I'd probably call your doctor and get some feedback.  Good luck!

shaunnna

I'm so sorry!

Kmartinrvt13

Poor V! I'm so sorry hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery

jg1011

@uconnhuskie007 I can't get flu shot because it messes with my autonomic/heart stuff too much. I haven't had the shot in years after a horrible reaction that first year.

I've been scrubbing like mad and keeping him in one room as much as possible. Have a call into my OB but office is closed today because of the snow storm. (have I mentioned I'm over the snow?)

winecastle14

So sorry!!

Take Elderberry Syrup (all natural, you can take while pregnant), drink a ton of water, eat high vitamin c foods and avoid processed foods and sugar. That'll give your immune system the best chance at avoiding it or at least help you recover faster if you do get it (afraid it's probably too late to boost immunity in hopes to avoid since you've already been exposed). Oh, also lavender essential oil is great for fighting viruses.

So sorry that you guys have to go through another illness

shella923

I'm so sorry!!! I would say wear a mask but that might scare him. Poor baby and mama. Speedy recovery. Ps glad to see I'm not the only one whose LO still loves her paci.

kerrigrooves

hope he feels better soon~ wash those hands!

techg0ddess

Poor V and you. Hopefully with lots of hand washing you'll be ok. Maybe gloves and face mask? Hopefully the doc can give you some more pointers. 

jg1011

@AmberEA14 just wrote all that down and am sending DH to the GNC around the corner.

 @Shella923 my boy loves his paci. He usually only has it for bed and naps, but yesterday and today are exceptions. Will go full force on getting rid of it in June in prep for new baby.

shella923

@Jg1011 of course it's an exception!! Awwww...be careful if you go out tomorrow. I hope you have a good amount of sick days.

jg1011

@Shella923 I wish! I have 2.5 family sick days left. I have 22 regular sick days. I'm trying not to take the regular sick days as I will need them to get paid while on leave when the new baby is born.

Oh how I wish our country had better maternity leave policies.

shella923

Ugh!!! Did you use a lot when V was born ? They roll over right? Yes I agree about better maternity leave.

jg1011

@Shella923 we used to have an "undefined" sick bank, meaning we took what we needed...no counting. Then about 14 years ago, we went to a sick bank policy. Except instead of just starting fresh they retroactively gave us 10 days a year for our years of service and then deducted what we used. So I started out at 0 since I would have been negative as that was the year I got sick. Then the following year, I used my ten and then some (they had to create an emergency bank at people donated to in order to get me through the rest of my time out before a short term disability was established). I was out almost that entire year (back and forth to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and to a specialist in Toledo, Ohio). So from that point on, I started saving days in my bank. I think I had 54 days when I had Vincent (Would have been more but they made me use probably about 10 sick days for Fifths Disease scares) The district makes you use any remaining sick days when on maternity leave. They grant you 12 weeks FMLA, but you need to use sick days to cover either 6 for natural delivery of 8 weeks for Casearan. So I started out this year with 22 (10 left over from maternity plus my 12 for this year). 

Every time I've needed to be out, whether for me or Vincent) I try to use my "Family Illness" days. I get 8 of those a year, but they don't roll over. So I'm down to 2.5 of those. If I don't use any of my personal sick days this year I will have 34 days to get me through maternity. That means I would get paid from Sept till about 3rd week of Oct. I'd be without pay till end of Nov. (and without sick days other than my 8 family illness days) till end of year. 

DH and I are looking into having me go out on short term disability for beginning of year till I return. I have to look to see how that works. I know I would need to pay full cost of medical, so I am not sure we could swing that and keeping V in daycare for minimum to hold his spot. Either that, or I will have to return to work sooner than I'd like. We think my MIL will keep baby home till about 6 months. So that will help with daycare bill once I return.

Too much to think about.....

Gargita

I hope V feels better soon, and that the flu passes you by. Hugs!

kjmommy1214

@jg1011 I hope that the rest of your family stays healthy. You could all use a break. Hoping for a smooth recovery and no more sickness.

mrscutforth

What a sad, pitiful face. Feel better V.

maven212

Man, that is a bummer. Poor kiddo. Poor you! Hopefully he will feel better soon.

Re: the shot. In the future do you think you could take the intra-nasal vaccine without ill effect? It's a little spray they shoot up your nose. It likely costs more, but it's specifically designed for people with complex health issues that respond poorly to injection (e.g. albumin/egg allergies, in the case of H1N1 shots - pregnancy). Of course, if the mere immune response to the vaccine is what's tripping up your ticker, then an intra-nasal spray won't be of any use to you.