New Baby questions

[kasar]

Just wanted to do a little informal survey about how you feel about newborns and going out/exposing them to possible germs, etc.

For us, I had severe "get-me-outta-this-house - itis". We were out with the stroller very soon (a couple of days) and we went to the mall after about a week or so. With DD #2, we went to DD #1's playgroup about a week and a half after delivery. I wanted to see my friends and wanted to keep DD 1's schedule pretty much the same. Those poor second (and third, fourth....) babies have to just go with the flow, don't they? They were both full-term, healthy babies and we just took them everywhere we went. Luckily, everything was fine.

SIL just had #2 and doesn't want to expose the baby to anyone for a couple of weeks. I understand and I think everyone should do what they're comfortable with, I just know that I would have gone crazy.

It got me to thinking that maybe I was out too soon. I don't remember the pediatrician saying anything one way or another. How soon did you go out and would you do the same thing again?

 

[JetMom]

I was told, "unless your house is connected to the hospital by subterranian tunnels, you've already taken the baby out" and I pretty much agree with that.

I was like you and took my DS's out as soon as I felt up to it -- about a week or so--and had lots of visitors. I never had an trouble.

I also agree that everyone should do what makes them feel comfortable.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

older dd -- I had a house full of people the day after I brought her home. within a week I ventured out, just for a short walk down the block. we went to my parnets' house when she was 2 weeks old -- it was thanksgiving, and they had a house full of people.

younger dd -- she was born in july. we were living in an apartment, and I liked taking older dd to the playground, so within a week or so I just put younger dd in the carriage and went.

they're 11.5 and 13 now. I don't think it caused them any harm to be out at such a young age!

 

[KiminChicago]

Well, my DH's grandmother went into the hospital ICU just two days before my son was born, her heart was starting to shut down and we really had little hope that she would recover. I really wanted her to see my son so when he was two weeks old I asked my pediatrician what he thought and he told me that as long as she wasn't ill with something contagious, he saw no problems with my taking him to the hospital to meet his great-grandmother (she was in a private room too). Unfortunately, the hospital didn't see it the same way and made me stay in the waiting room with him. To this day I'm still angry that she never got to meet him, she died two days later. My own grandmother died suddenly just one week after my son was born and I didn't think twice about taking him to the wake and the funeral. Poor little guy wasn't even a month old before he'd been to two funerals -- funny thing is, he's always been an amazingly healthy little boy. I think sometimes we worry over much about exposing babies to germs, and they never get a chance to test out their immune systems.....

 

[Ellester]

I am definitely not in the "keep them sequestered" camp. I've had a differerent pediatrician at the birth of each of my three kids and have never had one tell me to keep them out of public. But, I know some pedes do recommend limited contact for a while with newborns. My second dd was at a birthday party being passed around at 3 days. My lastest (one month old yesterday) has been to church, the mall, many restaurants, my oldest's Kindergarten class, my 2yo's Kindermusik class & playgroups, a baby shower, etc. My kids have all been very healthy and have all been breast fed, which I believe, makes a huge difference. If I had a preemie or an immune compromised child, it would be different. But, if your baby is full term and healthy, I say get out and enjoy the attention!

~Ellen

ps-I have had some less than approving looks from people who don't agree with me, usually from other cultures where babies seem to be more isolated as newborns.

 

[Idaho]

I took my son out when he was only 2 days old because I had to go and have my blood pressure checked, and my dd went to the mall with us at 4 days old. My doctor basically told us that places like stores, malls, etc. aren't a problem because people aren't right up close to your baby. Places that should be avoided, especially in the winter months are places like church or large gatherings of people who know you and would want to touch, hold, breathe on, your baby.
Also, we all know about the evidence that being too germaphobic is what is causing the increased allergies and sicknesses in our kids, and I definately agree with that. Exposing kids to mild germs is healthy for their immune systems.

 

[mommytotwo]

I was also told that once you leave the hospital, that you are already taking the baby out. I had a healthy baby and the weather was nice, so we took her out when my in laws came which was a week or a week and a half after her birth.
Now if the place that we were going had people that I knew were sick or what not, then I would have avoided those places.

 

[TerryKitten]

Since my DS was born in the mits of the Flu season he warned me about letting to many people _handling_ him right away. He didn't say anything about taking him there... just people handling him. So we had people wash their hands for a whle.

It was about a week before we took him out to do shopping, etc (because mom wanted to see something other than the inside of her house )

 

[Growin'upDisney]

I have not had children yet but I had a friend who had a 3 month premature baby at Stanford Childrens hospital. After 24 hours we were allowed to visit the baby in a non-ICU type nursery without any protective gear on. We were allowed to touch the baby while she weighed only 1.5 pounds. We asked about germs and such for such a prematrue baby and the nurses assured us that being touched by others and feeling people around here was exactly what she needed to get stronger.

So if was OK for a 3 month preemie to have contact and exposure I have to think that a healthy full term should be OK "out of the house". I do understand that a hospital is a more controlled environment but we did not have to wear any special gear or anything. Just my thoughts.

 

[skuttle]

We had lots of visitors the first few days of DS's life. It didn't bother me at all...as long as everyone was healthy. We went out to Target after a couple of weeks...before then I still felt too weak/sore to walk around much.

DS was a month early, but didn't need any special treatment in the hospital so that didn't affect anything for us.

 

[CamColt]

DS#1 was born 12/18. On 12/20 I had him in my office at our Christmas party, and out visiting family. Not long after that I had him at the mall getting a picture with Santa. We went to a couple gatherings on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. We definitely didnt stay in.
With DS#2, there wasnt as much to do in January, and with 2 kids, getting out was more difficult. But I definitely wasnt against going out with him.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

No kids of my own, but have four DGoddaughters, two of which live with me. When they were born they were out and about soon after, although everyone was asked to wash their hands first before holding them (same with the newborns I've nannied for), just incase. Jaden who was in the NICU born at 24 weeks, was allowed to have visitors the same day without gowns, gloves, etc. Just hand washing and no catchy coughs/etc... common sense stuff. She never got an infection (other than the one the Hospital gave her) from being around visitors. I think a healthy baby like the previous post stated would be fine. Just watch the sun exposure, its' getting close to summer and the high low temps... Babies get hot and cold fast. The only people I would limit him/her being around are other children unless they are not at all sick or have no chance of being sick (around people recently who were) kiddos tend to pass things easy.

 

[MelessaG]

I had my DD#1 out within a week or two-I still felt awful, but it was Christmas and we had to make the family 'rounds.' DS#1 was born 10 days before Easter, so same story with him-only I felt much better than I had after my first delivery. DD#3 was born at the end of Jan., and taking out three kids ages 4 yrs. and under overwhelmed me. So, we stayed in and the baby caught a bad cold from her older siblings (notwithstanding my efforts to keep them away from her) and would up in the hospital with RSV. For us, staying in proved worse. (She was fine and back home quickly) So, in my opinion, it's more based on what Mommy feels up to doing after baby comes than worrying about "exposure" because that can happen at home too.

 

[Pembo]

Sequestered Mom here! Ds#1 was born in Feb. We didn't venture out much. I did have a c-section so that probably contributed to our staying in.

DS#2 - Didn't go out much for the first month. Walks outside but no shopping or church for 6 weeks.

DD - Again walks outside but no shopping or church for 6 weeks.