Living in Isolation - Flu and RSV Season with Preemies

Spring has finally sprung which means the bubble we have been living in has been popped! Since Jack came home in late November we have been hibernating and isolating our medically fragile preemies from the world of germs outside. During those 5 months we didn’t take the boys outside of our safe space unless they had an appointment and we also limited the amount of visitors we welcomed. The biggest change for us though was that both Josh and I took remote positions so that we could work from home and limit our exposure to coughing and sniffling co-workers.

One of the things you hear most when you move into isolation is “Your baby needs to be exposed to germs to build their immune systems”. Lets go ahead and debunk that myth right now. Babies’ immune systems mature with time, not exposure and if a premature baby catches a bug they are at a significantly higher risk of re-hospitalization and death than a full term baby. I did my research y’all, you tend to have a lot of time on your hands when you are stuck at home for 5 months. In the simplest terms preemies are more likely to be infected because their little systems are immature. Mothers pass on antibodies through the placenta however, this transfer does not take place until the third trimester. Also preemies have difficulty producing white blood cells which help our bodies ward off infection. The best way to avoid getting infected are…

• Isolate – avoid large crowds or gatherings especially people who have been or are sick.

• Immunize - if approved, preemies can receive the Synagis Vaccine which helps to decrease the likelihood of your baby contracting RSV. Also ensure that anyone your child is exposed to has had the flu shot.

• Keep hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE - good hand hygiene is key.

• Keep your home shoe free – shoes carry more germs than most other things coming in and out of your home.

• At the doctor keep your baby in the stroller and bring your own toys and if ANYTHING touches the floor pack it away and do not let the baby come in contact with it again until it has been fully sanitized.

While living in isolation can be agonizing for the parents who start to get cabin fever almost immediately, the babies had no idea what they were missing out on. They don’t know that they could be out on play dates, or riding around Target in a shopping cart. They just want to be fed, diapered and cuddled and those things can all be easily accomplished in the safety and comfort of their home. So while interacting with other adult humans may sound like fun it is not worth the risk of exposing your sweet little one. And for us it was all worth it because we survived Flu and RSV season intact! So now that the sun is shining and the trees are blooming, dont mind us, we will be spending every available moment outside of the confines of our home… until our next hibernation that is.