Prevent RSV with Baby Etiquette

I’m still in awe with Sawyer. I can’t believe he’s almost two weeks old and while every time I look at him I see the miracle that he is I also fear all that he can catch. It only took 9 days for us to have our first sick visit with the pediatrician and start our first round of antibiotics. It makes me worry about all the things that can go wrong. Johnny, my first born, was born without an immune system and while he is fine now and lives a normal life the first two years were horrible. Right from the start he caught a cold that progressed into pneumonia which quickly turned into a hospital stay with RSV.

When Gavin got through the first year without any serious illnesses I felt I had escaped it all. Then when he was almost two years old he fell really sick and lethargic. I ended up bring him to the hospital as his fever grew higher and higher. We discovered after testing that even though he was almost two years old he had RSV. It had made him so dehydrated that before they admitted him they had to put an IV in through his scalp to help him! It was terrifying as a parent to watch my little one have such a procedure done and not even whimper because they are so sick.

Now that Sawyer is here I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep him healthy. I’ve seen what RSV can do to my babies and I see how it’s now always going to attack only in those first few months.

So, when you visit a baby please don’t make the mom have to ask you over and over again for simple etiquette. It really only makes sense that EVERY one should know enough to at least walk into the room and immediately wash their hands.

If you need a few reminders of other baby etiquette tips here are a few that are really helpful to new parents. Honestly, while we love our new baby and we love you we hate being put in a position that also makes us drill sergeants at the door. So make it simple for us and do these simple things without making us ask. It will mean so much to us.

A few tips to remember when a loved one has a new baby:
·    Call before you visit. New parents need time to set up a routine and bond. By giving them time to do so before you visit, you are respecting the new family.
·    Postpone a visit if you feel that you may be getting sick, have recently been ill or exposed to illness.
·    Remember that parents know best. If you feel they are being overprotective or overly cautious, just consider that only they know what’s best for the health of their new son or daughter.
·    Offer to do something to ease their responsibilities as they spend time as a family, such as laundry, cooking or dishes. Sleep-deprived moms and dads will appreciate your help!

If you do schedule a visit with a new baby:
·    Wash your hands frequently—upon entering the home and especially prior to holding the baby. Parents, and the new baby, will appreciate it.
·    Leave toddlers at home, especially during the winter months. Young children, especially if they attend day care or preschool, often carry germs and viruses, like RSV, that are easily spread.

A few facts about RSV that all parents, caregivers and loved ones should know:
·    Almost every baby will contract RSV by age 2, but only 1/3 of moms say they’ve heard of the virus.
·    Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year.
·    RSV occurs in epidemics each fall through spring. The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
·    There is no treatment for RSV, so it’s important for parents to take preventive steps to help protect their child (e.g., wash hands, toys, bedding frequently; avoid crowds and cigarette smoke).
·    Certain babies are at an increased risk of developing serious RSV infection, so it’s important to speak with a pediatrician to determine if a baby may be at high risk for RSV, and discuss preventive measures.
·    Symptoms of serious RSV infection include: persistent coughing or wheezing; rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths; blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails; high fever; extreme fatigue; and difficulty feeding. Parents should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.

To learn more about RSV, visit www.rsvprotection.com.

Remember it doesn’t take much for such a precious small baby to pick up a germ and while our bodies can handle it- their can’t. Help our babies grow up to be big and strong. After all, its what all of us really want anyways, isn’t it?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.