I'm not sure yet if my girls will qualify for the RSV shots (they're right on the edge of the qualifications according to what I've found online). I'm still going to ask the pediatrician to try to get it approved by the insurance company, but in the meantime, I'm wondering what precautions you all took your first season or what precautions you plan to take. I have heard that I shouldn't take my girls out -- not to the grocery store, not to the mall, not anywhere. So I guess that would mean that for five months, they're not supposed to leave the house except to go to the doctors? Also, that I should not allow them to be around other children. Right now we go out just about every day, either to run errands or to a friend's house for an hour so I get a little adult conversation. I can certainly stop doing this in November if necessary, but I'm wondering if the precautions I've heard about are really necessary, or just "worst case scenario". What do you all plan to do? Thanks!
How come you aren't supposed to go out. We have been going everywhere with our little girlies. When they were 3 weeks old we went to a softball tournament for my oldest dd. My pedi said that it was good for them and we shouldn't keep them trapped in the house. Missy
Missy, The restrictions are just for RSV season (Nov - March) for babies considered "at risk". Mine were born at 32.5 weeks so they're right on the edge of the "at risk" definition...
QUOTE(Trishandthegirls @ Sep 24 2007, 08:57 PM) [snapback]421540[/snapback] Missy, The restrictions are just for RSV season (Nov - March) for babies considered "at risk". Mine were born at 32.5 weeks so they're right on the edge of the "at risk" definition... oh ok thanks for letting me know that. I was getting kind of worried. So do I not have to worry about it since we were born at 38weeks Missy
In the summer it's good for them to get out in the fresh air, but in the winter you go somewhere and your indoors with other people and the germs just stay all inside the building. Plus every where you go you pick up germs. My MIL saw somewhere that said that after someone sneezes or coughs the germs stay in the air for like 20 min. I plan to keep mine home, it's already cooling here and the kids are back in school (which brings home a ton more germs). I hope I don't get to crazy, I hate being cooped up at home. I also plan to keep them home from DH's family Christmas party (this is aunts, uncles, cousins, etc...) because they always have a lot of sick kids they don't keep home, hope they don't dis-own us. A few years ago we left the party early because the kids were really acting up and tired, and his grandma was mad that we didn't stay. Mine do qualify for the RSV vaccine, but it doesn't keep them from getting it, it just helps reduce how serious it will get.
Missy, My dd who is 2 now, got RSV when she was 2 mos. She was born at 40 wks, so you always have to be careful, but I think with your's the risk will not be as great as with preemies. If you don't have older kids then you'll probably be ok as long as you wash your hands a lot and make others wash their hands also before holding the babies.
QUOTE(dannlori @ Sep 24 2007, 09:16 PM) [snapback]421564[/snapback] Missy, My dd who is 2 now, got RSV when she was 2 mos. She was born at 40 wks, so you always have to be careful, but I think with your's the risk will not be as great as with preemies. If you don't have older kids then you'll probably be ok as long as you wash your hands a lot and make others wash their hands also before holding the babies. know I am going to freak out. we have a 16 dss & 11 dsd & 11 dd.
my boys qualified for the vaccine, even though they were born 100% healthy at 34w1d, so you might push for it. Even so, we will be taking basic precautions -- lots of extra handwashing, limiting visitors, hand sanitizer bottles sitting around. We will probably continue to take them out, which we really only do once or twice a week, but will be extra careful not to let strangers anywhere near them. We mainly only take them out to eat with us and when we do, they sit next to us, kind of sheltered so I don't see any need to stop that. My infrequent trips to the mall with them will stop, though.
Good posting! I'm wondering about this as well. My boys were born at 37 weeks but I'm still paranoid about taking them out because of RSV. I called the pedi last week to ask about the Synagis shots and we don't qualify. I know even full term babies get it, it's just probably not as severe. I'm thinking of going back to the gym after I put them down at night so I get to go out sometimes.
My understanding is that basically all children have been exposed to RSV and had an RSV infection by the time they are 2. But for preemies, the weakened immune system makes the disease more serious and it can easily lead to pneumonia and hospitalization, whereas with full term babies, the disease causes nothing more than cold-like symptoms. My 34 weekers also qualify for the vaccine, but I am still waiting on my insurance to approve it. We have only taken our babies out now a few times to Target, church and the doctor. I do worry about what to do this winter at family gatherings and holidays. I don't want them to miss out on the fun and visiting with family, but I also don't want them sick. I also don't want to stay home from church for the entire RSV season. Does anyone know if RSV always progresses to more serious symptoms, pneumonia, etc in preemies?
I'm confused. How do people who bring their babies to daycare not take their kids out in the cold? It seems INSANE to me that people can go 6 months without taking their kids out of the house. How is that even possible?
We were also told to try to stay away from public places (e.g., grocery stores, malls) during RSV season. Since they've been home (late July), we've only taken them to doctor/PT appointments and to family members' houses. I think Target and Walmart can wait til my husband comes home to watch the kids! I don't think all this would be possible, though, for single parent households. I just figure we all do the best we can....
QUOTE(caba @ Sep 25 2007, 03:51 PM) [snapback]422670[/snapback] I'm confused. How do people who bring their babies to daycare not take their kids out in the cold? It seems INSANE to me that people can go 6 months without taking their kids out of the house. How is that even possible? i AGREE. i AM A WORKING MOM AND HAVE OLDER CHILDREN. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN STAY HOME FOR 6 MONTHS. MISSY
Preemies shouldn't really be in a daycare setting, especially during RSV season. My pedi called daycare a breeding ground for RSV. I will be a working mom starting next week and my babies are going to be watched by someone who only cares for one other baby. I did not want them to be in a center with lots of children/babies for this reason.
What does that mean when people say "preemies" shouldn't be in day care. My kids were born at 36w3d at 5lbs and 5.8 lbs. Now they weigh 20 lbs (DS) and 15 lbs (DD) ... are they preemies? Are preemies considered preemies forever? I mean, if your kids were born early, but are now 6 months old, and a good weight, are they still preemies? I don't think anyone would put their 4lbs babies in daycare ... so when do preemies stop being preemies? I think there are a lot of people who NEED to put there kids in daycare. Maybe these are all just precautions ... I admit, I don't know much about RSV ... is it just a worry when the kids are under 1?
QUOTE(caba @ Sep 25 2007, 01:25 PM) [snapback]422911[/snapback] What does that mean when people say "preemies" shouldn't be in day care. My kids were born at 36w3d at 5lbs and 5.8 lbs. Now they weigh 20 lbs (DS) and 15 lbs (DD) ... are they preemies? Are preemies considered preemies forever? I mean, if your kids were born early, but are now 6 months old, and a good weight, are they still preemies? I don't think anyone would put their 4lbs babies in daycare ... so when do preemies stop being preemies? I think there are a lot of people who NEED to put there kids in daycare. Maybe these are all just precautions ... I admit, I don't know much about RSV ... is it just a worry when the kids are under 1? I don't know when a preemie stops being a preemie. According to the March of Dimes, even late preemies (34-36 weeks) have immature immune systems and are at higher risk for infections, especially RSV. Mine are still young and only around 6 weeks adjusted age, so I am following my pedi's advice and not putting them in a daycare with lots of other kids. I also needed to go back to work, so I had to find some way for my babies to get cared for. It was hard, but I found a situation that I hope will work and keep them healthy. My friend had 31-weekers (who are now 2) and was advised not to put them in daycare settings until 2 years of age. However, one of them had respiratory complications after birth, and both have been hospitalized with pneumonia the past 2 winters. I am trying to prevent infection as much as I can, but I also know that they're going to get sick as we don't live in a bubble!
I've also read that preemies should ideally not be in a daycare setting until 2 or 3 years of age. As for RSV, it is a concern for the first 2 years if your child was born prematurely. Ours were born at 32 weeks in June so they'll need the shots for two seasons. Oh, and the shot is not a vaccination. It's a shot of antibodies that the mother would have provided if not for premature birth.
I never worried about RSV with DD, but somewhat do with the girls. They were born at 36w5d. Claire weighed 4lbs 5ozs and Carlie weighed 5lbs 7ozs. Do I need to worry? I obviously will not qualify for the shot. I know I cannot prevent them completely from getting sick since DD is in school and I work in the schools. They will not be in a daycare this year due to my job situation, but maybe in private care in January. Right now my mom and MIL will be taking care of them during th day. April
My boys were born at 34w6d and did qualify for the RSV shots and were easily approved by insurance. The normal "cut off" is 34w6d- at least that is what 2 different insurance companies and our pediatrician said. Their lungs were not fully mature at birth, which made it a no-brainer that we'd be approved. Anyway, at 32w, your babies should get the shot and should easily be approved, but you need to get the process underway now. The shots do not contain preservatives and are manufactured only as needed and are dosed according to weight, which is reported each month to the maker so they can send the right dose out to your doctor (can we say run-on sentence?). So, to get the shot in November, it must be approved and ordered in October. As for staying home all winter, our twins basically did just that last winter. They do have an older brother that attends preschool, so they were technically at risk for catching things anyway, but we did all we could to reduce the risks. The main reason we did this was because they had tons of respiratory issues last year and were hospitalized twice last winter. Neither time was RSV (they say) so we really didn't want them to catch it if a typical cold made them so sick. They were also on nebulizer treatments most of the winter due to wheezing and to try and prevent the horrible lung inflammation they were getting. So, you see they did get sick even with reduced exposure to stuff thanks to the 3 yr old mostly. The only things we did bring them to did not include a bunch of children and were always in someone's home. They NEVER went to the store, mall, restaurants, etc. That often meant shopping after DH got home at night or sending him out for things. We are very fortunate that we do have an au pair and she would watch them some days when I had to get out in public or when I needed to do something with our 3yr old. I do not know how it could have been done if we did not have her help. I probably would have lost my mind, but it would have been worth it in our situation. If your babies were born with developed lungs, you may not have the breathing issues ours had. I still won't put them in preschool until after they are 2 and winter has passed. I do not want to spend more than an hour twice a day every day doing breathing treatments or going to the ER at 1am if we can help it this winter! Talk with your Dr's and get more information about what you can do to help prevent this issues and do get those shots! Kelly
