Can we talk about isolation?

sail123

The post below about socialization got me thinking about isolation. I know some people on this board observe really strict isolation. My pedi says basically we can go out and socialize but we should use common sense (not let young children touch them, ask adults to wash their hands etc). He said once they have their 6 month shots we will be able to relax more (take them on a plane etc). He thinks socialization is important and feels that although we need to take all precautions (vaccinations, etc), the reality is that they will eventually get sick, just like non-preemies. 

I don't want to do anything to put my babies at risk but I also don't want to go insane being in the house all day. I think it is important for me and for them that we get out there. 

I am being ridiculously relaxed? Is my pedi way less cautious than other people's? Does the strictness of the isolation depend on the gestational age of the baby at birth?  

Piper345

You are not ridiculous at all. My pedi says the same thing, just use caution as you would any newborn...hand washing/sanitizing at all times, stay away from crowded places and sick people, do not let young children touch them, etc. The Neo and NP's in the NICU even gave us the same advice. I don't think it has anything to do with the GA. DS was born at 31 weeks. We can't keep our babies secluded from the world, but we just have to be a little extra cautious.

mrsV719

My pedi is pretty lax too. We take LO out and about (mall, zoo, stores etc.). We let lots of people hold him as long as they wash their hands and are not sick. 

 

I felt like we were taking him to the most germ infested places (docs, hospitals, specialists)... why can't we take him other places (as long as we use common sense)???

 

BTW LO was born at 28w4d 

caitdana

Im not sure if it was because I had 2 that made it differently for me but I was very laid back. When I had 1 home and the other in the NICU still my options were either leave S with family that had kids or take her to the dirty hospital to see E. When we had both out we had at least 3 appts a week. Ella was (still is at night) on home O2 so people would peak at her but they were really respectful not to touch. DH works afternoons/evenings and I work days so the girls dont have to go to daycare. So if I needed to go to the store in the middle of the week, I had no choice. I would throw a blanket over their carriers but I would lug them around everywhere. It was springtime in the south so it wasnt frigid. We had no problems thank goodness. I would enforce hand washing (still do to this day) and would leave them in their carriers around odd situations.

mrsbnlmel

Just like so many things around here I think it's different for everyone. If you are doing what the Pedi advises then you are doing the right thing. 

I don't think it's only about GA, though it would be a factor. DS was born at 35 wks in November 2009. We were in total lock down for almost 6 months. Everyone thought our doctor was crazy, but DS was small and contracted RSV very young. It did some damage to his lungs and we couldn't risk reinfection. We were very strict before and especially after. 

My friend had a 7.5lb. 36 weeker in April the same year. She uses the same Pedi. She was advised to keep him away from kids until 6 weeks old. So I think it's all situation specific. 

njdcgirl

Well, I do think that in some regards, yes, it does matter about GA of the baby. (as well as the issues they had during their NICU stay.)  My son was 23w5d, was on the vent for over a month, and had BPD.  Babies with BPD have significantly smaller lung capactity than full term babies, so a cold or RSV that ends up as a respitorty infection could be very serious for them.  My son didn't end up coming home on oxygen (but was on it until after full-term) and we did keep him on pretty close lockdown during the winter.  He also got synagis shots.  If your babies didn't have lung issues, then the risks of them getting very sick from a simple cold or RSV are much lower.

We made it through the winter with only one cold, which luckily wasn't too bad.  He did need a nebulizer every 4-6 hours for a week or so, and we've used it a few times since too (he just had a cold a few weeks ago again.)  Seems like as soon as the cold hits he begins to wheeze.  That being said, of course all kids are going to get sick at some point, but we wanted to do all we could to keep him out of the hospital again, and having him pretty isolated was the best way to do this.

Once RSV season ended, we relaxed a lot, and have been bringing DS out to restaurants, parties, the mall, etc.  Friends and family who want to hold him can (if they wash their hands) and now that he is crawling and putting everything in his mouth, I think the risks of him getting sick come more from that then from LOs.  We have a nanny now, and plan to keep her through at least next winter (one more RSV season) when we'll probably put him in day care.

damabo80

My pedi said it was fine to take her on a airplane at 6w adjusted...and we are. She'll have her 2m shots by then, and we'll just be smart/safe about it.

Million$$Baby

Given that it's not RSV season and your little one was not a micro-preemie, I think it's understandable that you can be a little more relaxed right now. You may want to up your precautions when RSV season hits, but for now as long as you're comfortable I think it's fine to be out and about.

We did full lock-down for the first 6 months my LOs were home from the NICU, but it was RSV season and they were 25 weekers so I was terrified of exposing them to anything. But once the spring/summer hit we started taking them out more.

ChickensFive

Our Neo's and nurses said to keep them away from kids until they are full term which will be July 26 and then just use common sense.

schenkertobe

My pedi is the same way. He said it was fine to socialize my LO, but just keep him away from all the babies and young kids. At first I was nervous about it, but now I don't think twice about bringing him out. But, we try not to let other people hold him when we are at bigger family events- we try to limit it to just the grandparents and my siblings.

SushiNoMore

For our 26 weeker, our pediatrician advised that we keep him home until the end of RSV season.  He was released on April 6th and we kept him home through the beginning of May(ish).  Now, we take him places, but we don't take him on random errands.  So, if someone needs to go grocery shopping, we do it when both of us are available so he can stay home with whichever parent isn't doing the shopping.  We try to avoid exposing him to germs unnecessarily, but we do take him around to friends houses and things.