Having a Cold

Updated on February 21, 2008
M.R. asks from Phoenix, AZ
15 answers

I im having my daughter on Friday and i just got over a real bad cold. My question is what do i do now that my husband and sister have this cold? Im so afraid that when i bring her home from the hospital that she'll get the cold right away with almost all of us coughing. I also have a three year old who might have it now too. what can i do?, other than get medicine and lots of rest

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Phoenix on

hello, M.! i can understand your concerns! i had a baby end of december while strep throat was going around my family. i had the worst case of it to the point where i had to go the hospital two days before delivery and was still on my antibiotics when i brought my son home. i have three other small children at home who, of course, wanted to touch, and hold and breathe all over the baby first thing. (they were still getting over their bugs too)
we put his bassinet in my husband and my room, so when he slept, we could close the door and not worry about the others getting to him. when he was being held, we had to wash our hands(dh and i) and the kids were not allowed to hold him or put their faces near his until they were better. everything we touched that baby would touch was washed first. if we went out anywhere we washed as soon as we got home.
we all had the nasty/cold flu going around and he got sick, but it wasn't as bad as all of us. i was told my breastmilk has antibodies to whatever i have had and that helps the baby's immune system fight off infection. he recovered fairly quickly as well. i had to nurse every hour to keep him hydrated because he was so congested he couldn't breathe to nurse. i put him in a bouncy seat to keep him more up right to help him too.
follow your instincts- take the precautions at home, and take him to the doctor if he starts to get sick.
congrats on your baby and i hope all goes well for you and baby!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Tucson on

One thing you can do is breastfeed your daughter right away. That way she gets all the immunity from you and since you have had that particular cold, she should be protected. You can also ask you family to wear masks. Also ask your doctor for how long a patient infected by colds stays contageous, in some cases it's only the first 48 hours. Good luck and don't worry!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.

answers from Albuquerque on

Have them start taking Airborne. It works wonders! I already had a cold and started taking it and it went away really fast...within 2 days. I keep taking it when others around me are sick and I've been able to avoid getting sick. We took the tablet and cut it in 4's and gave a little to our 2 1/2 year old also. It's all natural so it can't hurt. I've also heard that when you have a newborn, they don't catch your cold right away. It takes them a while before they get sick. I'm not sure how true that is. But honestly, try the Airborne. They have a 3 pak at Sam's Club or Costco for very cheap ($12).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.F.

answers from Phoenix on

I had the same problem 3 months ago when I brought my baby home. Just make sure you breast feed and everybody washes hands a lot!!!

T.C.

answers from Albuquerque on

M.,
Sorry to hear they're all sick. I'm sort of doing the calculations here in my head: colds last avg. of 5 days. Assuming they started getting sick yesterday, your family should be mostly okay by the time you get home, I think (?) Have everyone wash hands when they come to visit in the hosp (that goes for healthy people and doctors and nursing staff too - that's a big "No Duh," right?); and handwashing should just be a habit around your house.
Are you breastfeeding? All I hear is good stuff about how it'll help baby's immunity.
Good luck, and CONGRATS!!!!!
T

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.R.

answers from Albuquerque on

If you breastfeed you will give her a great advantage at not getting sick. I have my third daughter in Oct. and in December the rest of us all had horrible colds which caused my 2 1/2 year old to have an ear infection. The baby eventually did get sick but only slightly and didn't need any medicine. Also you probably will be in the hospital for 2 days which will give you and your family time to recover.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.J.

answers from Phoenix on

If you are breastfeeding intensely, she will have a lot of protection from your breastmilk. Not that it's 100% sure, but I don't think it would be too much to worry about. If you're using formula, though, all bets are off - no protection there.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.

answers from Phoenix on

M. M.! I know how you feel. My husband was sick and he passed it to my 4yr twin boys and now my 3 1/2 month old daughter was just diagnosed with RSV..What can you really do besides try and keep the sick away..ya know... try not to breath on her and WASH HANDS..spray door nobs.. but if she happens to catch it..she has a loving Mother and Father to love her back to good health! :) Congrats on your baby girl!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.C.

answers from Phoenix on

She likely has your immunity from the cold since she is still in your womb and you have already had it. If you breast feed her right away your immunity will be passed on through the milk. You probably don't have to worry. Neither one of my kids caught a cold until they were close to two months.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

Z.P.

answers from Phoenix on

When you breastfeed you are giving your baby all the immunities she needs to avoid this cold. Especially if you just had it. Breast milk is an amzaging thing!! However, still have them wash their hand often and maybe not get in her face.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My understanding is that if you have conquered the cold, you are now immune to that particular virus that causes that particular cold. If you breast feed your baby, she will be getting your immunity through the breast milk, so she should be fairly immune the your husband and sister's cold providing it is caused by the same virus. Also, colds are spread through contact. Your baby is too young to be putting things in her mouth, so if your husband and sister are just careful to wash hands constantly, refrain from touching the baby's face and hands, and maybe even wear those little masks (especially if they are coughing or sneezing), I think she should be fine. The most important thing, though, is washing hands all the time. It makes a huge difference. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi M....
My family just went thru this horrible cold! Unfortunatly my little guy (15wks) got it bad and had to be put on albuterol. The best thing I can suggest is have people wear surgical masks around the baby, keep your hands clean as well as clean hands for anyone that is in contact with the baby. My 3yr old was on Triaminic and it worked great! I would also have a friend or family member wash all the dirty laundry and used linen before you get home and someone can do a once over on the surfaces with a clorox wipe. Hope this helps! I am a 22 yr old mother of two boys in Gilbert!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi M.,

This sounds so familiar to what we went through when we had our 4th son. He'll be 1 next Thursday! Anyhow, we had all been very healthy, then the week that I was going to be induced, I came down with bronchitis and had to be put on antibiotics. Then, my husband and the boys caught terrible colds.
When you arrive at the hospital, you may want to ask for some surgical masks for your guests to wear when around the baby, and promote the washing of the hands:)
On a positive note, with all the germs that were going around when our son was born, he never caught the cold!
Good luck , and enjoy your new baby!

Jennifer S

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.C.

answers from Phoenix on

New borns have the greatest immunities when they are born. Just make sure they wash their hands, don;t cough or sneeze on her and she should be just fine.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.C.

answers from Phoenix on

I can relate to what you are going through. I was the same way with my Daughter when she was an infant. She is now 12. There is no real way for sure to keep her from getting the cold. Just make sure that you wash your hands and keep your house disenfected with Lysol. It is hard thing to keep from her. It would not be a bad thing if she did catch it. They say that it builds their immune system up. Try not to have the people who are sick handle her. Hope this helps... N.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches