RSV Prevention & Protection for Preemies #RSVAwareness #PreemieProtection
I participated in Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.
World Prematurity Day is November 17th! That might not mean anything to you, but it does mean something for many families all across the world who have a premature baby. You can help make life a little easier for them by being in the know about RSV Protection and Prevention!
I was born nearly 3 months premature so I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Preemies. I spent the first 3 months of my life in Brigham Woman’s Hospital with my mom who had transverse myelitis and was suddenly paralyzed from the lower chest down to her toes. I got sick several times while in the hospital because of my weak immune system and even though I have made an effort to strengthen my immune system my whole life, it is still compromised and I catch colds more often than other people I know.
I was lucky enough to carry all three of my children to 40+ weeks but not all babies are that blessed. (Read all about My Home Birth Story)
It’s important to remember that every baby is at risk of contracting RSV, but babies born prematurely are twice as likely as full term babies to contract RSV and be admitted to the hospital for RSV-related symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Severe RSV Disease?
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if they exhibits one or more of the following symptoms:
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• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
• Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
• Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F [rectal] in infants under 3 months of age)
You can help prevent the spread of RSV and protect your children from getting it too! Here are a few steps you can take in your everyday routine to help reduce the spread of RSV.
RSV Prevention Tips
WASH HANDS! And do it often! I always ask people when the last time they showed cold symptoms were before I even invite them over. I’m a fanatic. I also make sure everyone who enters my house immediately washes their hands.
HAND SANITIZER! I carry at least 2 bottles with me at all times when I’m not in the house. We use it after we come out of every single store and then we wash our hands as soon as we return home.
DISINFECT! Wash toys and anything plastic with bleach or something similar. Wash blankets, sheets and clothes on HOT water after an illness too. The RSV Virus lives on surfaces for several hours so spray Lysol is also helpful.
SKIP THE MALL! Best to avoid going to huge shopping malls during RSV season. Skip those playdates too. It’s just not worth it! Sometimes going out is unavoidable, but it is definitely best to stay put as much as possible during the winter months.
NO SMOKING! This should be a no-brainer but it amazes me how many times I see mothers smoking around their kids. Please, don’t do it. Second hand smoke impairs lung function which will make it that much harder for children to recover if they do get sick.
Even if you don’t have young children or babies, please take a moment to read up on RSV and RSV Prevention. Education is key to the prevention!