Need help-germ exposure digeorge

telfakaye

My daughter has digeorge syndrome and her immune system is compromised as a result of this (her thymus is absent and she has a low t cell count). The immuno,ogist advised us to keep her away from school aged kids and out ofnpublic as much as possible. I have only taken her to dr appts and once to an outdoor coffee shop (shes 2 months old) heres my dilemma: dh eants her to meet her cousins... They are all under 12 and in school... I know taking her to the dr exposes her to many diff germs but i either keep her outside until she is called back or request an exam room right away. I have to go back to work in the beginning of January and we will need a few different people to help us with watching her then so i know she will be exposed to new germs then to and have a higher risk of getting sick. It's obviously the holiday season, we sat out thanksgiving but dh wants us to to his parents house for xmas (and not ket the kids touch her) what do you guys think? I feel so torn, of courde i want her to meet the rest of her family but i also need to protect her from getting sick. 

Florak8

Sheesh, that is tough. My DS was a preemie this time last year and I struggled with this issue as well. The NICU doctors all said to keep him home until his due date, and even then I was nervous about cold and flu season.

I will tell you this-- he never had a cold until he started day care a short while ago. And he has had one ever since. Kids are just germy. And kids love babies. So I think it could be a pretty stressful Christmas trying to share your new baby without having any germs shared with her.

Is there any way you guys could go to your DH's parents for Christmas eve or a time when the other kids would not be there? Or have them come to you?

I know how hard it is-- usually the DHs push for taking the kid and we moms have to push back. It took my DH quite a while to accept that his preconceptions about parenting might not all apply to a SN kiddo.

I hope your extended family understands the risks and is not pressuring you one way or the other! Good luck making your decision. 

Zeidy01

Hi there!

 This must be so hard for you, especially during winter time. I had preemie twins in the months of July and we went in lock down until the next summer. No stores, malls, grocery stores, church or large family gathering. We limited the amount of visitors and never allowed anyone that was sick in the past 48 hrs. We kept a large bottle of antibacterial by the front door and we also go a sign that we used on their car seats and stroller.

https://www.MyTinyHands.com/shopping/store.htm

I made sure to change my clothes when I got home from work and washed my hands and then used antib liquid. 

You may want to ask over at the preemie boards, moms there can help you with more tips. 

GL and I hope things get better.  

telfakaye

Thanks FloraK8! I hope your DS is feeling better now! I think nDH's point is that he wants his nieces to meet DD and i know she will be exposed to other kids/germs shortly after xmas but they won't be school aged kids:( you're right we do have to push back when DH wants to take them out. It's still a littlw tough for me to accept that our DD isn't "normal" and that we have to do things different.y thamm we would like to. 

telfakaye

Zeidy01- thanks dor the tips! We have a born early RSV wArning sign on our stroller that we got from the hospital, thou DH says the look on my face when someone approaches her pretty much tells people not to touch her;-) good idea posting this on the premie board! How was it for you when you were able to take the twins out in public? I'm sure you were still nervous about germs.