Bringing preemies out and about?

CTbride79

I am just curious, for those with preemies born very early, did you adhere to your doctor's orders about when to bring them out and about once they reached full term gestational age?  i.e. to a store, etc.? 

The NICU doctor, who admitted he was conservative, said we should wait to bring him anywhere 'public' until he was about 2 months old adjusted age, although his first week home he had us bring him to multiple doctor appointments, including one at a children's hospital (not the hospital he was born at) which I'm sure was crawwwling with germs.  Our pediatrician said he would wait til at least May because of April being the end of flu season.  I guess I am confused about what makes preemies more susceptible even after they hit their due dates?  If born now, DS would have been full term (he was due this Tuesday).  He had no major health issues in the NICU (born 32 weeks), he was just small for his age (IUGR).  He's now over 5 lbs. 

I certainly don't want to jeopardize his health by bringing him to really germy places (i.e. the mall) but we feel like we are a bit trapped right now by feeling like we shouldn't bring him into a store, even for a few minutes. 

I guess I'm wondering, did you strictly follow your doctor's recommendations about waiting to bring out your LO? 

spain116

The NICU gave us pretty strict instructions about staying home and avoiding germs, but our pediatrician said that we should occassionally go to a restaurant, shopping, etc.  We've been out for a total of three lunches, all after the busy hour, leaving LO in her carseat.  And, we go for a walk in the neighborhood every day.  So, to answer your question, no we didn't follow the NICU instructions exactly, but we have the OK from the ped (who worked in the NICU for a few years).

nayandjosh

I would just say to use common sense.  My sis had a 32 weeker and the day they left the NICU after 19 days they went to eat at Outback!  But her DD had no issues whatsoever and now she's 8.  We knew that if my 27 weeker DS got sick it could send him back to the NICU or now the PICU and back on oxygen so we were on lockdown primarily by choice.  I was fortunate enough to stay home with him, or have people bring me things I needed. But you have to live your life and sometimes you can't avoid outings.  As cliche as it sounds, every baby's situation is different so just use your instincts! Thank goodness RSV season is over! 

HJOHNSTON411

My LO was only 5 weeks early (severe IUGR), and he was a summer baby.  He came home right around his due date, and the NICU said "Doctor's office only until his 8 week shots."  We stuck to that, and actually I think my first trip out with him was around 10 weeks (and it was just to grab a sandwich at lunch).  I really didn't take him anywhere very public (Target etc) until he was 3-4 months.  That's probably conservative, I know, but I had my Mom or MIL come one afternoon a week to watch him so I could do any errands during that time. 

Mrs. Alice

We were never given strict instructions about "lock down".  That being said, they didn't go out too much during the winter and cold/flu season.  We were definitely not super strict though.  We did the occasional trip to the store and just used common sense.  They had 7 months of Synagis to help protect them from RSV and so far have only gotten the sniffles just once (from their cousin).  Otherwise they've stayed very healthy since being home.  I am just starting to take them out and about on short outings almost every day now because we all get bored just staying at home and they actually behave for me now

JuliaJAG

We are still at least a week or two (or three) from being discharged from the NICU, so no one has given us a recommendation, but our plan was to keep him somewhat quarantined for at least a couple of months. (We'll take him to church and the doctor's office, but I'll be wearing him in a Moby wrap while at church so that germy hands won't be tempted to touch him! Our pediatrician has a separate entrance and waiting room for newborns.) Every day that he gets bigger and stronger is another day his immune system will be that much stronger. 

snoangel79

Hey lady, we have a similar story with the IUGR and I plan on taking them out in the summer. I'm kind of a freak when it comes to being over protective of my own health and now my LO's though. Doctor said no public for a bit though especially since they don't have vaccinations yet. I can walk around my neighborhood with them though in the stroller which I plan on doing as soon as the sun comes out again... Also, I'm sort of annoyed about how many people want to visit (haha I sound like a b*tch! first of all I'm tired as heck second I don't want germs around my kids of many people (some of my friends have kids in daycare and would bring them) now I have to basically be 'the crazy" and tell them they cannot bring their kids! I cannot wait!

May524

We still haven't taken LO out much.  We spent 101 days in the NICU so we definitely don't want to be back in the hospital.  My nieces/nephews haven't even met LO yet.  I plan on taking him to our March of Dimes walk in April.

urbanflowerpot

I agree with PP's - just go with what you're comfortable doing. Your LO was small but not micro and you don't list any lung problems so - just go with it. We were on a monitor so that was a huge pain plus I didn't really feel like going to malls and such when I got out of the NICU. I just wanted to be with him at home. Then the bright summer sun came along and it became a game of hiding from the heat.

urbanflowerpot

urbanflowerpot:

I agree with PP's - just go with what you're comfortable doing. Your LO was small but not micro and you don't list any lung problems so - just go with it. We were on a monitor so that was a huge pain plus I didn't really feel like going to malls and such when I got out of the NICU. I just wanted to be with him at home. Then the bright summer sun came along and it became a game of hiding from the heat.

Oops - read the weight wrong. Sorry, had a birthday party and someone got us all sick - see how that goes? Now I'm all achy and fuzzy brained. Just sayin'...in the beginning it really doesn't hurt to be careful. Returning to NICU sucks.

CTbride79

Thanks for sharing everyone! 

We still plan on playing it safe for the most part, and plan to bring him out only once in a while until he's a little older and flu season is over (i.e. May).  We decided to bring him into one store this afternoon, where we were for only about 15 minutes, and of course didn't let anyone touch him, and then at the second store, DH went in while I stayed with DS in the car, and at the third stop I went in and DH stayed in the car.  He did not have any breathing issues at all when he was born, he really was/is just smaller for his age.  He is getting his first shots next week so I think we will feel much more comfortable taking him out a little more after he gets those, but even then I want to play it safe for a few more weeks, and won't feel comfortable bringing him to a restaurant, etc. for a little while.   

adrielegorburu

DD was micro - born at 22 w 5 d - on a vent for a long time and 117 days in the NICU - we were on LOCKDOWN and stayed that way for a long time! she had her RSV shots every month and other than doctors appointments we werent supposed to take her out from July when she came home until March (end of RSV season) - we did eventually start to take her out but just to walks, the park, and a store or two but never anywhere busy or crowded - she started daycare in Februrary so of course it ended our lock down - shes been sick every day since!

 

staceylynn1229

Each baby is different, as you know. If your baby had major health issues from being born early, I would be very conservative about taking him/her out.  My 32 weeker was actually very healthy.  She came out breathing on her own.  We had a 5 week NICU stay so she could grow and learn to eat.  That being said, it took me a while to get over the "fear" of taking her out and risking getting her sick.  We did not take her out until she got her first round of immunizations, and by then it was winter and cold/flu season, so I was really scared, but we started taking her out in November.  I usually wore her when we were at the mall or grocery, just so people could not get close to her and touch her or breathe on her.  When we would go out to eat, we would sit at a booth and I would put her against the wall in her car seat so people could not hover over her.  She is now 7 months old and I take her EVERYWHERE!  We have been very fortunate and she has stayed very healthy all winter!  That being said, use your mommy instinct, for sure!  I still do not let people touch her or get up in her face.

shanlubey

Each baby is different and every parent is different. One week after Sam was discharged (a year ago this May) we went out for Mother's Day with a rather large group of people. They knew not to touch Sam and he didn't get sick. We continued to be more relaxed (despite being on O2) per our pedi and our neos. He's 11 months adjusted and growing strong. We didn't quarantine or have any kind of lock down this winter. If you were sick, you didn't come over. That was our only rule. 

But that being said, that was only our experience. Everyone is different. Take it at your own pace.