A friend told me that before she could go visit her SIL's new baby in the hospital, they made everyone get a flu shot first. With the outbreak going around, it's not a bad idea - but is this a little neurotic?
Would you make visitors get a flu shot before visiting you and your new baby in the hospital?
Jan 11, 2013You might also enjoy...
-
I would never require this of visitors, I would never impose on their health care decisions. Would I ask them to wash their hands and to not visit if they are sick-absolutly.
ETA_ I am a nurse in an ICU ,we were all required to get the shot and half of our staff is out with the flu, so even getting the shot isn't a guarantee.
-
No, I wouldn't ask family and friends that. Will make them wash their hands.
-
I don't get the flu shot and don't see myself starting so no, I would not request that of anyone.
-
We asked our parents to get flu & tdap shots since they will be around our LO most frequently. We didn't make it mandatory, but when we asked nicely and gave our reasons they were very willing.
-
It does seem a bit extreme but if i had a newborn during a flu outbreak, I probably wouldn't let anyone that isn't immediate family or that is ill see my LO. It's just way too risky to have a newborn get ill.
-
We live far from family and only had a few friends visit the hospital. The only person we let hold her was my BFF who is also a new mom and was fully vaccinated. For family who wanted to come stay before she gets her vaccines we insisted on flu shots and TDaP. If people didn't want to get the shots that would have been fine, they just would have to delay meeting her. No one pushed back at all.
-
I would never request this of anyone, but would make sure they wash their hands. I would ask if they felt sick, or were recently sick, that they wait to come and visit. I would probably limit visitors to just close family so the risk was lower, in a situation like now where there is a widespread outbreak. It takes a few weeks for the flu shot to get into your system anyway, so if I asked right before they came, it would be pointless anyway.
-
No, I would not ask this of anyone.
-
I wouldn't, but mostly because it would be hypocritical of me because I don't get them. I wouldn't let anyone sick visit, though.
-
My family will be the only ones around right after delivery. My parents got the pertussis vaccine but they weren't planning on getting the flu shot but in light of the seriousness of the flu this year, they've decided to get it. I really don't know what I'd do if we expected others at the hospital. It worries me to have potentially ill (or pre-ill) people around the baby but the rational part of me gets that it is difficult to tell someone that they must have a vaccine. The other part of me says it's their choice and if they don't want to get it, they can wait to see the baby.
-
I asked my mom to get the flu shot and tdap since she'll be staying with us for a bit after the baby is born but she would do it anyway. And I wouldn't stop her from visiting. I just mentioned it and asked her if she'd get those two, since my doctor recommended it.
-
I wouldn't ask anyone to get a vaccine personally. No one in our house got the flu shot this year.
-
no, i wouldn't ask them. i mentioned it to my mom and she told my dad to get it! she had already had it.
-
My mom and sister each stayed with us for 2 weeks and neither got a flu shot.
Dh and I didn't get one either -
No, I wouldn't ask. Everyone I know is great about staying away from the baby when they're sick and washing their hands.
-
Certainly not, I think that's asking way too much of people and vaccines are such a personal decision.
I would simply ask anyone who feels even a little bit sick to not come, and for everyone to wash their hands often.
I'm not planning on having many guests around the baby for the first six weeks anyway - there are other diseases besides the flu that can be spread, and even the flu shot is only moderately effective at stopping flu, so... I'd prefer to keep visitors limited to immediate family only (as in, my parents and sister).
-
We asked our close family to, but the main vaccine I wanted visitors to have was TDAP. I read a few horror stories about infants and whopping cough and I couldn't risk it..
Unfortunately the flu vaccine hasn't been very effective this year. Me, SO, and my sister all got the vaccine and still got the flu. Luckily it wasn't passed on to LO, but geez it was horrible.
-
If they were immediate family, and they were going to be around my baby a lot, then yes.
I saw on the news today that the vaccine is effective in preventing 90% of the strains of flu out there- that's enough for me.
Just like any other vaccinations, I can't help but feel that if more people got them, we would not have these horrible flu "outbreaks".
Most people who get the flu after getting the vaccine already had it when they got their flu shot. It's just their bad luck, not a bad vaccine.
As it is, too many of DH's family will still come out to family functions when they or their kids are sick or have colds- I can't trust them to stay at home or wash their hands. -
i didn't think about this. i wouldn't ask just anyone who was visiting, but i may ask my parents since they will be around the baby a lot helping out and i think they would be willing to get the shot (if they haven't already done so).
-
I didn't. Dh and i dont get it. Just used lots of anti bacteria gel.
-
My doctor actually told me that people should have a flu shot before spending any significant time with me or the baby. I won't ask people to get it for a quick visit, but I did ask my parents to get it and DH's mom will have it, too.
-
No way. No one in our family gets the flu shot...not me, my son, or my husband. When baby comes, she's not getting one, either (she will get her other vacs, though).
The flu vaccine doesn't prevent the flu. It just prevents symptoms of the flu.
I would never impose such a rule upon people that is definitely a personal decision,
However, in our area, the hospitals have imposed a "no visitors under 12" rule, to try and curb any spreading. I think they will also prevent you from visiting a maternity floor if you have any symptoms of the flu. If I had the flu, though, I would never go and visit anyone, hospital or anywhere else.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
22 comments