Xmas or no Xmas...that's the ?

MADforever2009 · December 2010

Boys will be 2 weeks and 2 days on Saturday. We knew from day one we wouldn't be doing anything on Xmas or new years this year... But now I'm thinking, what about just an hour at the ILs? It's a 10 min drive. Won't be a lot of people an we can keep the boys in their seats and ask them not to be handled? Worth it? Not worth it?

mmbench · December 2010

If there's a quiet place where you could keep them away from lots of people, I'd say go for it. Are they still sleeping most of the time?

It would give you and DH a chance to feel human for a bit since it will be a while before you can get out again.

#1_BadgeBunny · December 2010

thats a hard one. My feeling is 2 sick babies is NOOOO fun so i tend to be overly cautious.

I doubt you will get people especially the ILs to keep thier hands off.

If you do decide to go you can ask everyone who touches the baby to wash thier hands or bring hand sanitizer and keep i near the baies. early on i asked people to put a recieveing blanket between them and the baby incase they had something on thier cloths.

It might be nice to get out? I cant speak i have been alone every xmas since i got married sooooo im not a good person to give and opinion bc i would kill to be with family on holidays.

GL

Temp6313048411121614 · December 2010

How many people and who will be there? We had IL's come to our house for Christmas Eve last year (they celebrate CE), and my parents came to our house Christmas morning. We opted to skip the big family Christmas at my mom's house later in the day because there's always around 30 people there. If it's just IL's and a sibling or two I think you should go and have a good time, if there's going to be 5+ people there in addition to you and babies, then I would skip it. GL, I know it's a tough decision. I was so bummed to miss Christmas last year.

atc282 · December 2010

I think I'd call and ask their pedi.

Were they born with any health issues? And I'd also make sure with your ILs that no one is/has been recently sick before making the trip.

My DDs were about 3 weeks when we did Thanksgiving with my sister and her family/ILs last year. People respected that the babies (even though very healthy) were so little/new and they didn't get passed around. I was glad to spend the holidays with family.

GL!

amanda31H · December 2010

If no one at the house is sick/has been sick, I would totally go. You can wear the babies if you don't want people holding them (I don't know what you were told when you left the NICU. We didn't have extended family over until after 2 weeks).

Have a good meal (hopefully), have a glass of wine, socialize, and leave when you want! I think it would be good for both of you, especially DH. I know it was a big change for us to be home with 2 babies and not going out to dinner, drinks, out with friends, etc. It's nice to get out and see people when you can. Plus...it's Christmas.

Hibiscus2007 · December 2010

I vote go! Take hand sanitizer and just make people wash their hands. I bet they will sleep most of the time and you can just leave them in their car seats...I'd only stay for a few hours though!

Haven1 · December 2010

Maybe time has clouded my memory, but I would have totally taken them to Christmas at 2 weeks. (Granted it was July.) Mine came home from the NICU at 10 days and 13 days, and while I wouldn't have taken them just anywhere, there's no way I would have missed Christmas. Even if it was just for an hour or two. I vote you go!

blondek8 · December 2010

Everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to their newborns. DH and I took our boys to a family Thanksgiving when they were 5 days old. They got passed around a bunch of people and didn't get sick. Mine were full term and both over 6 lbs at birth though so maybe I wouldn't have been so non-chalant about people holding them if they were smaller or preemies. I say go for it. I need to get out of the house on a regular basis. Especially since winter is here.

benkari · December 2010

Mine were home from the NICU a month (32wkers) and we brought them to my moms and MILs. I was never overly worried about germs.

MrsLnt · December 2010

I'd ask their ped's opinion but, if you know 100% that nobody who will be there has been sick, it would be nice to get out.

I'm probably a little over-the-top in terms of being germaphobic but I've barely taken my 37 weekers (no NICU time) anywhere. We've been to church 3x (where we sat in the back), the grocery store 1x (and that was just this weekend, and they stayed covered the whole time) and the ped's office. We're skipping large family gatherings this year just out of an abundance of caution. We figure that we're the ones who've just had twins - people can come to us.

McKenna04 · December 2010

I would go for it. Stress hand washing and anyone with a cold or flu within the past two weeks is off limits.. they can just look from a distance!! It might be nice to get out of the house and eat some Christmas dinner!! The babies will probably sleep the whole time.

janjag · December 2010

I had to take my 33 1/2 wkers to my step-mom's memorial at my dad's house when they were about 37wks gest age. There were relatives from around the country. I had to yell across the room once, "No touching the babies!" Ha ha, I don't care if they thought I was crazy

So, if you can make it clear up front that you don't want anyone else handling them, and just as importantly, do not want any grief from anyone, then IMO go for it. Keep them separate from the group and enjoy a little bit of normalcy.

tSquared1987 · December 2010

We are in the same boat as you this year. But since having the boys I have turned into a germaphobe. I told all of our family (inlaws and mine) that we won't be at any xmas's this year. I'm too freaked out to even attempt it. Ultimately it's your decision though and what you feel comfortable with.