Would like your insight

Hi, In my husbands tradition they do what we call baby showers after the children are born. My sister-n- laws are pushing me for a date so that they can have it - so to speak -"written in stone" that they will give this gathering. I already know and told them that I will be inside healing and bonding with my babies for 6 weeks uninterupted well I did'nt say the uninterupted part to them but the only person besides my husband that I want to be bothered with is my mother who will be with me 2weeks before labor and 3 weeks after delivery. There will be alot of people at this gathering for my babies so I can imagine that there will be alot of ouuhing and aawing probably some wanting to hold them. I already plan to have a big thing of sanitizer for hands to be sanitized before my children are held which was also advised by my doctor.But I would like to know your opinions on this since you are also expecting moms-by the way this is my first pregnancy and I don't want the fact that I am usually paranoid or so to say overprotective about germs and airborne diseases to insanely alter my judgement. Thanks in advance for your input and again I am looking for what you think I have already asked dr., friends, parents so I just want to make a solid decision based on your input. How long will you wait before bringing your infants around a crowd of people?

 

I gotta tell you..... with my daughter (my first child) I had her in December, and didn't have her around people other than my parents and immediate family until she was close to three months. I just didn't want her exposed to winter viruses and germs. I was ADAMANT even after those three months that people wash AND sanitize their hands prior to touching her, until we hit about six months.

 

This is my 3rd pregnancy, I think I have a good judge of people when it comes to bringing my babies around "crowds"
Being that I also am of "advanced maternal age" :lol: I still have people asking me for advice. So, as far as your question, I know which of my friends/relatives can and can not handle a child... KWIM

 

I had my girls in December as well and my pedi said absolutely no crowds for us until after RSV season was well over with and after they were much more mature (they were a month early). Because they were preemies he did not want them around large crowds at all..so I guess it really will depend on whether or not they are preemies and how well they do after you have them and how comfortable you are with having them around a bunch of people breathing all over them.

I agree with pp, I had them wash and sanitize their hands before they were allowed to hold the girls.

 

DS was born in August, but we kept him away from crowds (no church, no lots of visitors, etc.) until he was 12 weeks old. I am NOT a germ freak in any way, but until little ones have their immune system fully developed (I think docs usually say 6 weeks for full term babies), I will keep my little ones away from any non-essential people. And since we're due Nov/Dec, we'll probably hae to hold out until end of flu and RSV season in April/May anyway.

And yes... hand washing is mandatory for anyone that wants to hold your little one.

 

I think that's a good point, to check with your doctor ahead of time. I have been to showers where the babies are less than a month old, but were born healthy and people were pretty careful about things... I think most people will respect a new mom's space pretty well!

 

I would say 6 weeks, but that's assuming they aren't preemies and don't have health issues. My twins were born full-term in November and we did let just about anyone handle them during that first winter, but not in crowds -- just a couple of people at a time and we always made them wash their hands. We also gave them sweatshirts to wear in case they had yucky germs on their shirts. But that would be hard to do with a ton of people.

They started daycare at 8 weeks, and I got a lot less careful about it then. I'm pretty much the opposite of a germaphobe though.

 

Awesome question, that I just spoke to my DH about, read him everyone's posts while he was cleaning the garage. And I think we agree, glad we do..
With my son, who is now 13, he wasnt around people (more than 3 people handling him in a day) until he was 6-8 weeks of age. I am somewhat of a germaphobe now, was younger then, and the way I think about it is this: You and your Hubby will be the ones who will have to deal with sick babies-up all night, trying to figure out what's wrong, footing medical bills, etc. And if you have to set up a "hold twins" area, with a plastic tent, ventilator, hose down area with lysol and all, then so be it. Because people like to kiss on babies, hug and nestle, smell them, touch their noses and mouths, if it's not necessary for people to be around your twinkies then have the baby shower when you feel comfortable, no pressure from anyone, and they will just HAVE to understand. If there are health issues or they're preemies, you can always make a video of the babies and play it during the baby shower--improvise, okay not the best idea but it's about your babies health, nothing more is my point.

 

We had asked the pedi the same thing when my girls were born. They were healthy, no NICU time, but she recommended waiting until after their first round of shots at 2 months.

 

My girls were preemies and born right at the start of RSV season, so it was quite a while before we ventured into big groups of people. I want to say they were about 6 months old (mind you they spent 2 1/2 months in the NICU, so they were only home for 3 1/2 months) before I allowed them to be around big groups of people and even then I was crazy about germs and making sure people had clean hands before touching them.

Could you have your shower without the babies there? It might be a bit more relaxing for you not to have to worry about the two of them. Good Luck!! I also wanted to congratulate you for making it to 28 weeks! That is a HUGE milestone!! :clapping: