I mentioned our winter quarantine the other day and a few people had questions about it so I thought I’d write a little post to explain what that means for us. I like to call it our “hibernation” because that sounds cute and cuddly like, you know, um, grizzly bears. Maybe I should rethink that logic.
Anyhow, we knew before we brought Scarlette home from the NICU that we would be in a pretty strict quarantine for most of her first year. The fall/winter months are the most dangerous for micro-preemies because of it being flu/RSV season. RSV is our big worry.
Scarlette’s lungs are still not fully developed and so they are just not equipped to handle any sort of respiratory illness. She is doing remarkably well for a baby with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia but having had it so badly meant a lot of tissue damage to her lungs. And being on the ventilator caused a lot of scarring. In addition to all of that, the best “treatment” for Scarlette’s lungs is simply for her to grow and develop new tissue. The problem is that Scarlette’s digestive system still has a lot of issues and so she is smaller than her adjusted age of seven months. Her lungs are only the size of a four month old baby, with a decent bit of damage. It is a miracle that she isn’t requiring any extra oxygen support at home.
From October to April we are supposed to keep Scarlette home as much as possible. Shopping trips and such are out because the recycled air carries so many germs, plus the risk of people coughing/sneezing/etc. around her. We also have to limit visitors to the house and have a strict visitation policy that includes flu/pertussis vaccines for family members and no contact with other children who go to daycare/playgroups. Visitors have to be symptom free and can’t hold/kiss her. And also? LOTS of hand washing and house cleaning.
We are about to start monthly Synagis shots to help give her extra antibodies as a preventative measure. For a baby like Scarlette, RSV means a direct trip to the PICU and intubation. I never want to see my baby on a ventilator again and I’ll do whatever our doctors want to prevent it.
So this year we’re hibernating. We won’t be attending family celebrations such as Thanksgiving or Christmas or having a 1st birthday party. We won’t run errands with the baby in tow or have play dates with friends. We’ll miss out on a lot. And yet it will still be a million times better than last winter.
Now was cutting out cable really the best idea before I’m stuck at home for the next 6 months? Probably not. But you seriously don’t even want to know how much those shots cost. Praise the Lord for Pinterest. I plan on crafting my way through til spring 🙂
