If you are due during cold/flu season

MelissaAB5579

Do you think you will be extremely overprotective of your LO & who he/she comes in contact with. My LO is due the week before Thanksgiving, and pending he arrives on time and I feel up to it I would LOVE to do dinner with the family. I know people are going to want to be holding him, and I am going to be the total overprotective Mommy.

Anna&Matt

I'm going to have to be a hermit this year since I'm allergic to the flu shot. I don't think I will be overprotective but I will definitely make everyone wash their hands and stuff prior to holding the baby.

HisKathy

one of my good friends had her baby last year at the end of September.  She required everone who wanted to hold him to use some of that hand sanitizing gel.  No one faulted her for it - if you wanted to hold the baby you put the stuff on.  I'll probably do the same thing!

ceramsey

I've always been a hand-washer/clean person but lately I've been getting a little crazy. Our little man is due at the beginning of December and I'm positive I will have hand sanitizer in every room. I'm nervous about traveling for Christmas and going to mass with tons of germ carrying people. I worked in a hospital for 3 years and saw so many babies in with RSD and the flu that I am a bit nervous about the cold/flu. AND, should he inherit my asthma, that could mean double-trouble. Oyi.

MrsGhappilyeverafter

HisKathy:

one of my good friends had her baby last year at the end of September.  She required everone who wanted to hold him to use some of that hand sanitizing gel.  No one faulted her for it - if you wanted to hold the baby you put the stuff on.  I'll probably do the same thing!

Everyone we know who had a baby recently is doing that too.  We will also do that.  I'm a big fan of hand sanitizer.

mrsandrews07

I know that DH and I will be strict with the hand washing and sanatizing thing before people hold Kate. I am already a clean freak as it is...but I dont want to take any chances....especially since she will be born around RSV season. Totally freaks me out. I have a feeling I will be over protective with her when shes really small..but I rather be safe than sorry!

easjer05

Ha, I posted a similar question on second tri this morning.

I do think I will be more cautious about being in public and careful about hand-washing and exposure to people with sniffles than I would be if the baby were born in the summer.

 

kristin7701

I was so laid back when DS was born in August. This time around, I know it's going to be different with Baby #2 expected in November. DS will be in pre-school (and can't get flu shots due to his egg allergy), and DH is a family practice doc and exposed to flu on a regular basis. I know I'm going to be a lot more protective this time around. I hate the idea of becoming a hermit but those first couple months are going to be tough.

yellowcar

***Jumping over from PAL***

I had DS on November 7th and I was an overprotective freak.  I made everyone wash hands/sanitize as soon as they came in our house, and when DD (who is 4) came home from preschool, she always had to scrub down before she could see her brother.

I didn't go to my mom's for T-giving because my step-family thinks nothing of coming with some highly contagious/extremely gross disease--they do it every holiday.  God forbid they stay home.  We joined my dad instead, who took us out to a restaurant where I didn't feel pressured to pass DS around.  I was this way until he had his 2 month shots, and it really irritated people.  My MIL actually said it was "Bullsh!t"  (she's a charmer, trust me).  I didn't care-- the three months I was home on maternity leave neither DS or I even got so much as a cold.

Now, the first week he was in daycare, he got a cold which turned into pneumonia, which was rough.  So, once they are not with you all day, there is only so much you can do.  You'll just do what you feel is best at the time.