I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
A few years ago Miss C contracted RSV and it was a very scary time for us. She was miserable and sick for what seemed like an enternity. We did not sleep a wink since her breathing was so sporadic and she was just so sickly. She definitely wanted cuddles and the security of her mommy and daddy. You can see in this picture we’re waiting at the doctor’s office while they get the results of the nose swab test which are horrible by the way. I had several when I was pregnant with her to test for H1N1 so I knew how uncomfortable and miserable she was. RSV just knocked her off her feet for a good week whereas a cold left her tired but still functioning.
Now I have my third child, Little C to worry about. Surprisingly, I feel like I don’t take him as many places as I did the first two. I have avoided places like the grocery store or taking him to some of my older kids school functions. As I write this, he does have a cold and is quite gunky. It could be RSV since nearly 100% (which I didn’t remember) of all babies do contract the virus before the age of two but I don’t think it is. It’s very hard making sure he’s not in contact with other kids since our house is the revolving door of the neighborhood.
Did you know 13 million babies are born premature? And of the 13 million more than one million die from medical complications. I find it amazing that the United States has one of the highest preterm birth rates at over 12%. Tonya’s twins were born five weeks premature almost eight years ago and spent a few weeks in the NICU. During that time it was very important to protect them so they didn’t become sick. Her boys were at a higher risk at contracting RSV disease than babies born full term. So for Tonya, RSV prevention was a top priority.
Help prevent your family from RSV by following a few tips and precautions:
- Wash your hand thoroughly and often. Have others do the same before touching your baby. I always have the kids wash their hands when they walk through the door. I also have sanitizer sitting on the table.
- Don’t smoke in your home or near your baby. There are a few people who smoke in our family but they are respectful and try not to smoke if they come over or they’ll bring a change of shirt.
- Wash toys, bedding and clothes often. Don’t forget your pillow!
- Keep your baby away from crowds and young kids. Unfortunately this is easier said than done. Especially if you have older children who are school age and they have school functions. Sometimes I ask the grandparents to watch the baby especially if we’ll be indoors.
The above infographic has great tips and information for RSV protection. What tips do you have to keep your family safe this flu season?
