[Satay chicken]

I just saw my Ob this morning for my monthly check up and he really drilled into me about making sure that family and friends have the Whooping caugh vac before visiting the baby.. He said that the amount of babies with Whooping caugh is now getting serious.

So, how do you go about this? Family and friends are going to be coming and wanting to see the baby but I don't feel I can say to people that they are not allowed to see the baby until they get immunised..

Agh, more things to think about..

This post has been edited by Satay chicken: 28/12/2012, 10:10 AM

[Waiting ...]

Thank you for posting as I have been wondering the same Satay Chicken! We educated both grandparents with a pamphlet and they went and got their shots updated but for other people I would feel pretty rude asking. We have a friend whose baby almost died from whooping cough though so while it may seem overly "precious or cotton wool" to some, it is very serious!

I am thinking that most people who will visit in the very early weeks would be close enough friends/relatives that we can comfortably discuss and then I will keep it very polite but assertive with others, explaining that we are not trying to be offensive but would prefer they wait until after bub has had vaccinations to come if they have not been vaccinated. Some people will probably not like it but what can you do.

[jmaz86]

My midwife said the same to me. I just came straight out and told some of the family. I would just explain that there is increased prevalence of whopping cough at the moment and it is your decision that people who are to visit need to have the vaccine. I have an issue with sil as she is of the anti vaccine camp and has not had her son vaccinated...it is her choice but she will be made aware that I don't want to be visited by them until such point as my child has immunity to the level I am satisfied with.

[elizabethany]

I said that anyone who wanted to spend a reasonable amount of time near the baby needed to be vaxxed and anyone who is not vaxxed recently wasn't allowed to visit if they had any signs of a cold (as whooping cough in adults can be very mild). The vaccine is free to parents and grandparents of newborns, and some states will allow you to vaxx earlier. It can also be included on request free of charge if you get a tetanus shot (along with diptheria).

Remember also that the vaxx is not 100%. Despite being vaxxed, my DH caught whooping cough in October, but the fact that I and my DS were vaxxed meant we were less likely to catch it, and we didn't.

You have every right to dictate who sees your baby, and I see no problem with excluding people who knowingly risk such a lethal infection.

[Moo point]

We encouraged all the grandparents to have it done, they all did as did BIL. SIL did not have hers done and was happy to wait until DS was at least 6 weeks old.

We emailed everyone else before DS was born and said we would prefer anyone who had signs of illness or who hadn't had their booster to please wait until DS had had his first vaccines. Not one person had a problem with it, whether they had been vaxxed or not. Another friend had a cold on and off so waited until DS was 12 weeks old just in case.

Your baby, your decision. We didn't keep DS at home, we still ventured out, but close friends and family are more likely to hold the baby close and share germs than people on the street.

[Cyaira]

I asked my mother and she flat out refused! She's supposed to be helping me out in the early days and later on caring for our baby (due march). She says I'm paranoid and even gossiped about me asking to other family members and they all started laughing at me behind my back!!

She does the same with pregnancy food safety, saying I'm paranoid.

I tried saying there's lots going around, etc etc. nope. Apparently I'm crazy and because she's had it before she can't pass it on, she knows 'all about it' because she worked in childcare, 'I'm going to isolate myself from everyone over something stupid'.

I didn't really see why it was such a big ask! I offered to pay for it of course. MIL on the other hand was only too happy to get the shot.

[Jemstar]

Cyaira, I would ask your MIL to help after baby is born then.

My DH, eldest and youngest children had WC last year. The kids we fully vaccinated, DH not because he can't have vaccinations, it was pretty awful for them and it was a mild dose they all had.

I would put it out there to close family and friends that WC is a real problem at the moment and that you're sure they will understand you asking them not to visit if they have not been vaccinated and/or show any signs of a cold like illness, no matter how mild.

[Lightning_bug]

Then I would be asking your MIL to help and explain to your mother that given she's already disrespecting your parental decisions perhaps it would be best if she only visit occasionally until bubs is stronger.

There's no excuse. Both my parents are pretty anti-vax but didn't hesitate.

OP, dont' be shy and don't feel bad. WC is insidious and in an adult can be very mild but for infants it racks their whole body.

It's as simple as... do it or don't come over until bubs is vaccinated.

[Kay1]

We sent an email to our family asking them to consider having a booster (set out the reason why first). We then asked that regardless of whether they decide to or not that they not visit if anyone in their family has a cough.

Most of our family were happy to have the booster. Some did not. We did not ban them from seeing the baby but we were very careful about keeping anyone remotely ill away.

Having said that the day we brought DS3 home from the hospital DS2 had a horrible, hacking cough which I was so worried about. He had it for weeks. We tried to keep him away from DS3 as much as possible but it was so hard. Fortunately DS3 didn't get it.

This post has been edited by Kay1: 28/12/2012, 11:05 AM

[BBV]

I have been thinking a lot about this too...both grandparents will be vaccinated, my sister and DH/myself. I'm thinking about sending email/SMS similar to what some of u girls have about not visiting until X weeks if u have a cough/cold, I assumed most ppl wouldn't visit if they felt like this BUT some people don't seem to care. It's a tough one, I'm really dreading some of the reactions I may get from some people like ur mum Cyaira. You must be very disappointed with ur mum, I would ask ur MIL to help you out...if ur mum can't respect ur wishes re vaccination I don't think I would be asking for help.

This post has been edited by BBV: 28/12/2012, 11:39 AM