It will be flu season...

marvan5 · October 2014

When our little ones arrive. Is anyone restricting visits because the visitors will not have had flu shots? My family and friends for the majority work with the public and last year the flu went around the whole community. I don't want to seem like an overprotective mom but I am no way exposing my newborn to even a sniffle. And wish me luck getting my husband vaccinated. Ugh. The flu season isn't over til what, April? What are you ladies doing about it?

southernyankeegirl · October 2014

We have hashed this over a few times on this board...

Just google "newborn flu death" and read a few stories to your DH (I personally know a friend who lost his little girl) - if he doesn't get his vaccine then, I'm not sure what else you can do except perhaps pull a Lysistrata (it's Greek play where women withhold sex to get their husbands to stop a war).

Because my child may have a compromised immune system due to a family history, we will absolutely be restricting all visitors until we can determine if he's got a normally functioning immune system. DH and I both have flu shots and DTAP, and my Mom who is coming down as soon as I go into labor also has her flu and DTAP. We have asked the rest of the grandparents to get those two vaccines, also.

If we determine that my child has a normally functioning immune system, we won't make a big deal about it after that - just no obviously sick people and washing hands before holding the baby for the first 4-6 weeks of life.

If my child has an immune issue, well, then I become a special snowflake and an agoraphobe until we get a handle on it. Literally no one will be allowed over to visit, and DH will have to take a shower upon arriving home from work before going near the baby. We are okay with my Mom being here regardless because she went through it with my brother, so she knows even better than us how to keep our kid safe. But literally no one else.

LadyXaverian · October 2014

We won't be playing pass the baby at church, but as long as close family and friends are healthy, we'll let them around her. We will ask them to wash hands and use sanitizer until flu/RSV season has passed.

lezlers · October 2014

Everyone that wants to be around her will have their flu shot. I'm a total vaccine Nazi and if I can't control the general population, you best believe I will control who comes around my newborn. My DH HATES getting flu shots but knows it's non-negotiable while we have a newborn in the house. He can suck it up and get the damn shot, as can everyone else who wants to see her before April.

luckylady18 · October 2014

No one who even has a sniffle will be allowed over to see the baby. If you dont get a flu shot, you cannot hold the baby or touch it (that's what my doctor suggested the rule be - sounds good to me). I will encourage people to get flu shot and Tdap but I wont force anyone - just explain my rules and it's their choice.

Samiantha101 · October 2014

CrazyMonkeyBear said:
Re: hospital visitors- I'm being strict on this; all must be up to date on their TDap and flu shots, no exceptions.

Re: outside of hospital- they all must have a flu shot or they won't see him until April-ish; those not up to date on the TDap can visit once he's had his first shot of it.

Do you plan on not taking him out in public until April?

Samiantha101 · October 2014

No, I'm not restricting visitors. Almost everybody we are associated with is mandated to get the flu shot. The only other visitor we expect to have is my mom.

samphil · October 2014

I personally will not be restricting family unless they are sick and friends can wait until later. I don't do passing around the baby and I plan on making sure everyone washes their hands. I do believe in vaccination but don't get the flu shot but don't fault those that do.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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MusicFanatic · October 2014

I'm not restricting visitors, unless she plans to come earlier than we hope and her immune system isn't up to par or something because she's early. Hoping we don't have that, though! And I've, personally, been restricted from my OWN visitors for awhile now. The hospital has shut down most of the floor from visitors unless they are immediate family because sickness/flu has been floating 'round here. I freaking MISS my friends and family so I want to see ALL of them after Zoe is born. I won't let anyone over if they don't feel well, and I'll make people wash hands? That's the extent here. I don't want to really live in a bubble since I've been in a bubble for 1 1/2 months.

TXUltraRunner · October 2014

My friends and family are smart enough to know how to wash their hands and not to be around a newborn if they feel sick. I do not feel the need to police people that I know well enough to have into my home. If they want to come to my home, they are welcome. This is assuming my child would not have any health issues or compromised immune system, then it might be different.

But if someone had a kid and told me I could not visit because I had not had a flu shot even though I was otherwise healthy, I would laugh at them and wonder why I was even their friend. Then I probably would never try to visit them again. I understand mandating the Tdap but I just don't get mandating the flu shot because it doesnt protect against all strains. If I had a sniffle or cough I just wouldn't go around a baby. Same for people who have stopped me from touching their child before they SEE me use hand sanitizer. I'm smart enough to wash my hands without being told by someone to do it and I've never really wanted to hold a baby that badly anyway.

marvan5 · October 2014

I got the flu last year... Worst illness I have ever experienced. And I caught it from my mil and her bf... Who we live with. They were so offended this year when our cousin insisted anyone seeing her baby had a flu shot... And that was in June. In February it's a whole different story. I know my Dr recommended it so hopefully that will be enough to persuade them. If not... They'll be googling infant flu deaths like my husband. Everyone else can wash their hands... In March.

ECATX · October 2014

With DD, we laid pretty low until she had her first round of shots. My friends that visited washed their hands before holding the baby, and our parents all got the TDap vaccine. We'll probably do pretty much the same thing this time, except that we'll probably be making more trips to the park because of DD (we're in TX so it won't necessarily be really cold).

I'd be more concerned about the TDap vaccine than the flu vaccine, personally, but I also would assume that any friends and family that feel ill wouldn't ask to hold the baby!

honeybeee3 · October 2014

We will not be restricting visitors or requiring shots. Of course, we will ask people to wash their hands and to away of they are sick. I worry more about going out in public or taking my LOs to the pediatrician where there are a bunch of sick kids.

Samiantha101 · October 2014

CrazyMonkeyBear said:

Samiantha101 said:

CrazyMonkeyBear said:
Re: hospital visitors- I'm being strict on this; all must be up to date on their TDap and flu shots, no exceptions.

Re: outside of hospital- they all must have a flu shot or they won't see him until April-ish; those not up to date on the TDap can visit once he's had his first shot of it.
Do you plan on not taking him out in public until April?
Nope, I don't plan on doing that much if at all, actually. My FI hates grocery shopping so he'll stay home with him until then; that's the only real time we'll be going out anyway. It's one thing for him to be around people, it's another for people to come over and be in close proximity for periods of time

It's absolutely your choice. In my opinion it's absolutely silly to hole yourself up in the house for months, unless your baby has a compromised immune system. Do you plan on bringing him to his well baby checkups?

robsbabygirl08 · October 2014

Everyone I work with has had their Flu shot and both our parents have as well. I'm not that worried about it. My daughter will bring home more germs from Day Care than any of my friends or family will.

peggels24 · October 2014

Wait....what? It's going to be flu season in January? Why didn't anyone tell me?

lezlers · October 2014

TXUltraRunner said:

My friends and family are smart enough to know how to wash their hands and not to be around a newborn if they feel sick. I do not feel the need to police people that I know well enough to have into my home. If they want to come to my home, they are welcome. This is assuming my child would not have any health issues or compromised immune system, then it might be different.

But if someone had a kid and told me I could not visit because I had not had a flu shot even though I was otherwise healthy, I would laugh at them and wonder why I was even their friend. Then I probably would never try to visit them again. I understand mandating the Tdap but I just don't get mandating the flu shot because it doesnt protect against all strains. If I had a sniffle or cough I just wouldn't go around a baby. Same for people who have stopped me from touching their child before they SEE me use hand sanitizer. I'm smart enough to wash my hands without being told by someone to do it and I've never really wanted to hold a baby that badly anyway.

Laugh at me all you want. The flu is contagious before symptoms develop. I've had my MIL watch my son for the day, feeling fine, then after my son gets sick say to me "I felt fine when I watched him but the following day started to feel sick." That's how viruses work. Babies die of the flu. It's really nothing to blow off or make light of.

"The Flu Is Contagious. Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body."

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

marvan5 · October 2014

@peggels24‌ I hope the obviousness of this thread's topic will lend a hand in understanding from my DH and MIL when I ask them to get vaccinated. Thanks for your insight.

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