Faraway ILs, newborn, and germs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

Be sure you ask your OB and all hospital personnel if they have just come back from vacation or if they know anyone or if there is anyone in the hospital, or who has been in the hospital as a patient, visitor, delivery person and, if so, well you better find another hospital. Do you now see how ridiculous you are being? It has long been established that simply washing your hands is the most effective method of stop spreading germs.

[Anonymous]

Newsflash, OP, Covid is over!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, all we asked was that people were not sick and washed their hands before touching the baby, and not to kiss the baby's face. This was all reasonable and normal. During the height of covid, in 2020-2021, of course things were different. But now, things are back to how they were. You could ask your MIL to take a covid test prior to coming over if you are worried about covid. But the other stuff- colds/ flu/ rsv- they are the same now as they were in 2019, and the same general precautions as listed above are fine. No sick visitors. Everyone washes their hands. No one kisses the baby's face.

From what I’ve seen, people behave much more differently post covid and not in a good way. More people than ever get on flights visibly very sick and proceed to cough all over their seat mates because “freedom”.

That’s nothing to do with OPs question, because again- she isn’t going to let her in laws visit if they’re sick. It doesn’t matter who else around them was sick if they themselves are not sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, all we asked was that people were not sick and washed their hands before touching the baby, and not to kiss the baby's face. This was all reasonable and normal. During the height of covid, in 2020-2021, of course things were different. But now, things are back to how they were. You could ask your MIL to take a covid test prior to coming over if you are worried about covid. But the other stuff- colds/ flu/ rsv- they are the same now as they were in 2019, and the same general precautions as listed above are fine. No sick visitors. Everyone washes their hands. No one kisses the baby's face.

From what I’ve seen, people behave much more differently post covid and not in a good way. More people than ever get on flights visibly very sick and proceed to cough all over their seat mates because “freedom”.

That’s nothing to do with OPs question, because again- she isn’t going to let her in laws visit if they’re sick. It doesn’t matter who else around them was sick if they themselves are not sick.

Actually it’s exactly what OP is fretting about. Re-read the post. She is worried about MIL unknowingly picking up something on the plane and visiting with baby before the illness shows up in her.

[Anonymous]

So many reckless, short-sighted people on this thread. So much talk about “pre-COVID” and “post-COVID.” COVID IS STILL WITH US. I had it three weeks ago. A friend had it this week. I understand if you’re a healthy vaccinated adult and don’t want to take any further precautions as a personal matter, but for unvaccinated newborns, literally nothing has changed as far as COVID goes. The accute phase of COVID could land that baby in the NICU, not to mention the unknown long-term harms that could result from having a serious infection like that in the first days of life (read up on increased risk of asthma, diabetes, neurodevelopmental issues, heart/kidney/liver issues in pediatric populations). That’s not even taking into account flu, RSV, + a zillion other viruses MIL could pick up in travel. All you folks talking about how the hospital will be more dangerous - doctors and nurses still mask. They are vaccinated. And OP has no choice but to be in the hospital. This is one vector she can control, very easily. You would seriously rather put your defenseless newborn baby at risk than potentially offend your grown-ass MIL? For what reason exactly? To feed your delusion that COVID is over? Bizarre behavior frankly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

both our families are local but we made them do a 5 day quarantine before coming inside with the baby... (and no one else was inside with baby, just outside... for first 6 months/until covid vaccinated).

it may be nuts but very grateful my baby has stayed healthy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

Be sure you ask your OB and all hospital personnel if they have just come back from vacation or if they know anyone or if there is anyone in the hospital, or who has been in the hospital as a patient, visitor, delivery person and, if so, well you better find another hospital. Do you now see how ridiculous you are being? It has long been established that simply washing your hands is the most effective method of stop spreading germs.

this is the dumbest shit i've ever read... airborne illnesses are alive and well. a mask and ventilation go quite far! and yes i'd ask all my health care providers to mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think if you also had a 3 year old going to pre school etc and a 5 year old in kindergarten.

It's not at all the same as having other kids. Presumably MIL doesn't work at a daycare.

OP, you are being really crazy on this one. You ask her to wear a mask and wash her hands. Simple.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Unreasonable. If she isn’t sick, then it’s fine. You will be exposed to so many more germs in the hospital. And the grocery store and target. Planes aren’t particularly germ factories. Ask her to wash her hands before she holds the baby. Before Covid this never ever would have been a thought.

I had a January baby with a preschooler and elementary schooler. Did zero hiding away, baby never got sick.

Breastfeed if you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, all we asked was that people were not sick and washed their hands before touching the baby, and not to kiss the baby's face. This was all reasonable and normal. During the height of covid, in 2020-2021, of course things were different. But now, things are back to how they were. You could ask your MIL to take a covid test prior to coming over if you are worried about covid. But the other stuff- colds/ flu/ rsv- they are the same now as they were in 2019, and the same general precautions as listed above are fine. No sick visitors. Everyone washes their hands. No one kisses the baby's face.

From what I’ve seen, people behave much more differently post covid and not in a good way. More people than ever get on flights visibly very sick and proceed to cough all over their seat mates because “freedom”.

That’s nothing to do with OPs question, because again- she isn’t going to let her in laws visit if they’re sick. It doesn’t matter who else around them was sick if they themselves are not sick.

Actually it’s exactly what OP is fretting about. Re-read the post. She is worried about MIL unknowingly picking up something on the plane and visiting with baby before the illness shows up in her.

And I'm saying that unless it's covid SPECIFICALLY that she is worried about, it's the same as it was pre- covid where no one cared if you were recently maybe exposed to someone who was coughing, because if YOURE not sick, youre fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

Be sure you ask your OB and all hospital personnel if they have just come back from vacation or if they know anyone or if there is anyone in the hospital, or who has been in the hospital as a patient, visitor, delivery person and, if so, well you better find another hospital. Do you now see how ridiculous you are being? It has long been established that simply washing your hands is the most effective method of stop spreading germs.

this is the dumbest shit i've ever read... airborne illnesses are alive and well. a mask and ventilation go quite far! and yes i'd ask all my health care providers to mask.

But did you used to? In 2017, did you ask all of your doctors and nurses to mask up? Don't lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

both our families are local but we made them do a 5 day quarantine before coming inside with the baby... (and no one else was inside with baby, just outside... for first 6 months/until covid vaccinated).

it may be nuts but very grateful my baby has stayed healthy

OMG do any of you people have good relationships with your families? This is beyond the pale.

Hand washing, nobody visits sick, that’s it.

[Anonymous]

Lol. Hand washing does not prevent the transmission of airborne respiratory viruses. As for whether OP would have done this in 2017 - wtf does that matter? It’s not 2017. COVID is currently circulating and dangerous to infants. And we’ve learned a LOT about how to prevent the spread of viruses since before the pandemic. The depths of people’s denial is truly staggering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

Be sure you ask your OB and all hospital personnel if they have just come back from vacation or if they know anyone or if there is anyone in the hospital, or who has been in the hospital as a patient, visitor, delivery person and, if so, well you better find another hospital. Do you now see how ridiculous you are being? It has long beeniop established that simply washing your hands is the most effective method of stop spreading germs.

this is the dumbest shit i've ever read... airborne illnesses are alive and well. a mask and ventilation go quite far! and yes i'd ask all my health care providers to mask.

But did you used to? In 2017, did you ask all of your doctors and nurses to mask up? Don't lie.

We didn't know anything about airborne transmission in 2017 so no.... but actually yes I masked up in 2013 when my micropreemie niece and nephew were born. . We now know a lot more about how viruses spread then we did in 2017 or 2020 ( hence the mask and not obsessively wiping groceries) and also know a lot more about long term risks of viruses beyond covis such as rsv ( asthma) ,ebv ( ms, diabetes, celiac and a host of other autoimmune disorders)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

Be sure you ask your OB and all hospital personnel if they have just come back from vacation or if they know anyone or if there is anyone in the hospital, or who has been in the hospital as a patient, visitor, delivery person and, if so, well you better find another hospital. Do you now see how ridiculous you are being? It has long beeniop established that simply washing your hands is the most effective method of stop spreading germs.

this is the dumbest shit i've ever read... airborne illnesses are alive and well. a mask and ventilation go quite far! and yes i'd ask all my health care providers to mask.

But did you used to? In 2017, did you ask all of your doctors and nurses to mask up? Don't lie.

We didn't know anything about airborne transmission in 2017 so no.... but actually yes I masked up in 2013 when my micropreemie niece and nephew were born. . We now know a lot more about how viruses spread then we did in 2017 or 2020 ( hence the mask and not obsessively wiping groceries) and also know a lot more about long term risks of viruses beyond covis such as rsv ( asthma) ,ebv ( ms, diabetes, celiac and a host of other autoimmune disorders)[/quote

a micropremie is a totally different scenario.