Preemie question

Hi everyone,

My twins are 3.5 months old. They were born at 36 weeks and spent 18 days in the NICU. My DS was on a vent for a few days and then c-pap for a few more days. Most of the time they were feeding and growing. As of now, they have no residual health problems. My DS weighs 15 pounds and my DD weighs 13 pounds.

Our pediatrician says to avoid malls and large enclosed spaces (to avoid risk of RSV). I've been really good at following this rule for the past few months. Emotionally, I'm having a hard time coping with the isolation. I used to be a really social and active person, and I feel so restricted. I spent 3 months on bed rest prior to their birth, and had a lot of health complications. I really want to get out and be a 'normal' family. When I read everyone else's posts about getting out in public with their twins, I feel jealous and sad.

This week I broke the rules and went to Target and Borders with the babies. I kept them covered the whole time to avoid contact with others, but I know the RSV virus is airborne. They don't seem sick at all, but I feel guilty that I took this risk.

I have a sitter a twice a week so I can get out for an hour or two. My DH can watch them for a few hours on the weekend. I'm happy to get out for an hour or two, but it always feels so rushed. My GF's were excited to come over and visit when they babies were first born, but now we don't get as many visitors. We have no family in the area. The weather has been rainy lately, so I haven't been going for walks anymore.

If you have preemies, do you follow all of the RSV restrictions? How do you deal with this emotionally?

Thanks for letting me vent, I'm feeling kind of down today. Beth

 

do they have you on RSV restrictions because of your son's intubation at birth? Mine were also born at 36w and quite honestly at 3.5 months DS was 10 lbs and DD 8 lbs and we had no restrictions so I took them everywhere (and I'm on the east coast where people get a lot sicker in the winter time...

I'd think if you keep them covered and get those signs that tell people not to touch you should be able to get out and about without too many issues...just don't make eye contact with too many people and try to stick to mornings or afternoons when most people are working and won't be shopping...

 

Congrats on your babies!! It is hard to be sittting at home and in the long run, its better to have them away from the public during rsv/flu season. I was lucky that my girls were prem enough to qualify for the rsv vaccine. I did go occassional to the mall and like you said, they are covered up in the stroller and wash hands wash hands wash hands...BEST preventative possible really!

How about a walk in your neighbourhood with them bundled up?? I think its great that you have a sitter that allows you to get out some time for a break. I did find the first 4mth were crazy...but I was breastfeeding as well and it all seemed to be in a constant state of busy!!!:smile:

 

My twins sound similar to yours as far as the preemie, vents, on cpap, now healthy. Like you, I was on bedrest for 2.5 months...let me tell you I am really hating the walls of my house!! My pedi told me the same thing about large open space, but mostly said don't take them to walmart and walk around for five hours and he made it a point to tell me to keep them away kids birthday parties, gymboree, etc. He said I could take them grocery shopping and to run errands as this shouldn't be a problem. When I do take them out I try to go when it's not so crowded such as weekday mornings. The grocery store is a ghost town at 7am during the week...it's kinda nice and I don't feel bad about spending some time there. Most of the time I just deal and stay at home. I live in Massachusetts and it has been one snow storm after another. I had to run out for formula the other night with the girls and it was NOT fun. I also invite people over all the time, but lately it seems like EVERYONE is sick and can't come. I keep sane by just thinking it will be so much better in the spring...just make it to spring. By March they will be 6 months old and RSV season will be almost over, the weather will be nicer (I hope) and I can get out again.

 

My twins were born at 35w3d (after 14 weeks of bedrest) and both had some NICU time. My insurance won't pay for the RSV vaccine if they were born after 35 weeks. I was told by my pediatrician to keep them out of crowds and away from children, especially ones in daycare/school. But I take the advice pretty seriously. I'm a doctor. In the winter, they open of whole wards of children's hospitals just for babies/toddlers with RSV. If they get it, it can be very serious, with a likely hospitalization. I'm just not going to take that risk with my kids, we did the NICU thing already and it was horrible. I figure, it's only until April. Until then, we're only doing walks around the neighborhood or visits with adult friends (with lot's of hand washing).

 

We're dealing with a similar situation as mine were in the NICU a month and I was on bedrest from 24 weeks, but I do go to work part time every day. My babies just turned six months old and I haven't taken them anywhere other than to the doctors or to my friend's house a few times. We said we were going to take them out to lunch yesterday to finally break the monotony and were looking forward to it all week, but at the last minute we decided to avoid the germs and stay home. Mine are on the RSV shots, but I don't want to risk exposing them just yet. My pedi said to tell everyone we'd see them this spring, when they turned one.

Your babies weren't as premature as mine, and are a lot bigger (mine are 15 lbs @ 6 mos), so you might be fine getting out a little. Your sanity is very important too! Someone somewhere recommended the mosquito nets for the car seats for taking them out in the winter so people can't see them as well and they definitely can't touch their hands.

I really miss having our neighbors over for cookouts and socializing with friends. We used to do that twice a month, and we've done it two or three times since the babies were born. Once they get a more stable bedtime routine, I'll feel more comfortable having our friends over for dinner and that will surely help the feelings of isolation and winter blues!

 

My boys were born at 35w 1d in January and our pediatrician also said no to shopping malls, grocery stores, etc. until April. It killed me, but I followed his "rule" and waited to take the boys out until then. We also limited the people that visited us. It was difficult, but not as difficult as having a baby hospitalized for RSV or the flu. One thing I did that made it much easier was I packed up our stuff and the kids and stayed at my parents house a few times over the course of those 4 months - for 5 or so days at a time - and it just gave me a change of scenery plus I had extra help and it allowed me to get out of the house more as my dad is retired and my mom took time off, so they could stay with all of the kids while I took off for a few hours just to get out of the house.

I know it is difficult - and many of us have been there. :hug: While you hate to wish the time away, it is so hard not to be counting down the months until Springtime! :hug: Hang in there!

 

Mine were born at 32 weeks and came home 2 days before Christmas (during RSV season). I kept them home unless we were going to the Drs for 3 months. I did have help so I would either take them and run some errands and leave them in the car with my friend or just go alone. It is very hard to keep them at home. I wanted to go and do and I just couldnt. It did make me crazy, but they never got RSV (we did get the Synagis) and that was soooooo worth it. Hang in there.