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01-11-2013 at 11:33 PM
elizhope
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Bad flu/pertususs outbreaks...nurses at the hospital

Im already really worried about having a baby in the middle of this flu season. We are all getting our vaccines (even my parents) to protect baby. I even decided not to let anyone (neighbors, friends) hold her (much) until she can get her own vaccines. But I starting thinking about the people in the hospital.... what if one of those nurses has the flu or whooping cough and dont know it yet and are contagious? I heard the hospitals are swamped with all the extra flu/pertussis patients.It could sneak up to the maternity floor if these nurses are hanging out with ER doctors. Im being weird I know...

Am I being totally paranoid? Someone please tell me Im being paranoid and crazy. The more I think about it, the more I dont want anyone but us touching her, but I know that is 100% impossible. Makes me thankful my other two kids were born in spring/summer. Much less worrrying


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01-11-2013 at 11:37 PM
sucrets4
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My mom is a nurse and I'm pretty sure she used to have to get the flu vax.  I mean, maybe she could have opted out of it, but it was for her protection, too.

I do think you're worrying a bit too much about it.  I know it's really bad this year, but be vigilant about hand washing and you should be okay.  

Fwiw, I had my DD in April and she was a preemie.  It's scary, but there's only so much you can do. 


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01-11-2013 at 11:38 PM
2u2wow
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i hear ya - i'm paranoid for sure! DS and i haven't really left the house in the past couple weeks to try and avoid it! it's also freezing and i'm very pg but still...

not much you can do at the hospital - but you can always set up a sani station at home or as soon as anyone comes to the hospital just say, please go wash your hands before you hold her 'it's flu season!'

hopefully whoever is close enough to you that would come visit in the hospital wouldn't be offended if you asked them to wash first!

i know i will be saying that for SURE! 


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01-11-2013 at 11:40 PM
sararn2004
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Our hospital makes us(health care workers) get those vaccines...or at least requires the flu one, those who do not have to wear masks at all times around any patients and patient areas. Not just ER staff, all hospital staff. Our nursing supervisor of the whole hospital was wearing a mask his whole shift cuz of this. I'd rather just get the shot cuz I can't breath in those things. I had a patient on droplet precautions yesterday and I had to wear a mask when in his room and close to him...I thought I was gonna pass out after like 5 minutes. I wouldn't want that for an entire shift.

Most the staff will be immunized to the flu strains and pertussis.

Btw, not too many L and D nurses "hang out" or cross train in the ED, where most of the "nasties" come in. Maybe some do, but L and D nursing is a completely different animal than ED nursing, it's not the most common of cross training.


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01-11-2013 at 11:41 PM
elizhope
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Im not worried as much about my family and friends as I will be there to make sure everyone has their hands washed and doesnt touch baby on her face. But at the hospital, they take baby away randomly for newborn checks. Sometimes gone for up to 2 hours at a time. Who knows how many people handle her while shes in the nursery. I just really hope all the nurses are taking extra precautions....

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01-11-2013 at 11:43 PM
elizhope
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This makes me feel better. Thank you!! I wasnt sure if they required hospital staff to get the Tdap too

 

 

sararn2004:

Our hospital makes us(health care workers get those vaccines...or at least requires the flu one) those who do not have to wear masks at all times around any patients and patient areas. Not just ER staff, all hospital staff. Our nursing supervisor of the whole hospital was wearing a mask his whole shift cuz of this. I'd rather just get the shot cuz I can't breath in those things. I had a patient on droplet precautions yesterday and I had to wear a mask when in his room and close to him...I thought I was gonna pass out after like 5 minutes. I wouldn't want that for an entire shift.

Most the staff will be immunized to the flu strains and pertussis.


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01-11-2013 at 11:43 PM
himymlover
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Lurking, but I work in a hospital so I thought I could maybe help. We have to wear a lot of protective gear when going into rooms with people who have influenza. I can't go in them because I'm pregnant, but the people who do wear a lot. If a patient has the flu the nurse/nursing assistant has to wear a gown, gloves, and a mask with an eye shield. If the patient has pertussis then they have to wear the gown, gloves, and a respirator mask. We definitely are well protected when we go in those rooms, and not just to protect ourselves, but to also protect our other patients. Also, almost all health care professionals have updated flu shots. You should be okay, and if someone were to give you the flu it would be more likely you'd get it doing everyday things like grocery shopping or going to the playground. Hope that helped explain it a little bit at least!

Edited to delete quote



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01-11-2013 at 11:46 PM
elizhope
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himymlover:

Lurking, but I work in a hospital so I thought I could maybe help. We have to wear a lot of protective gear when going into rooms with people who have influenza. I can't go in them because I'm pregnant, but the people who do wear a lot. If a patient has the flu the nurse/nursing assistant has to wear a gown, gloves, and a mask with an eye shield. If the patient has pertussis then they have to wear the gown, gloves, and a respirator mask. We definitely are well protected when we go in those rooms, and not just to protect ourselves, but to also protect our other patients. Also, almost all health care professionals have updated flu shots. You should be okay, and if someone were to give you the flu it would be more likely you'd get it doing everyday things like grocery shopping or going to the playground. Hope that helped explain it a little bit at least!


Thank you for sharing! I feel tons better after hearing from you girls who work at hospitals. Im just being so nervous about little one getting sick. 


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01-12-2013 at 12:16 AM
ah625
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There's nothing wrong with making sure that nurses and doctors wash their hands in front on you when they come into your room.

Despite what's already been posted, nurses do transfer flu and WhoopingCough to healthy patients. Sometimes they see patients who don't realize they're sick. 


 
01-12-2013 at 12:17 AM
GeeksWithS...
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For what its worth DH works in a hospital and it is mandated in their contracts and by the unions that they have to get their vaccinations. If they refuse they either can't work there, or they have to work in a department where they don't deal with patients!

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01-12-2013 at 5:07 AM
ally2011
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elizhope:
Im not worried as much about my family and friends as I will be there to make sure everyone has their hands washed and doesnt touch baby on her face. But at the hospital, they take baby away randomly for newborn checks. Sometimes gone for up to 2 hours at a time. Who knows how many people handle her while shes in the nursery. I just really hope all the nurses are taking extra precautions....

I have specifically requested that all newborn care be done in our room, and if for some reason, something absolutely cannot be, that my husband go with her and stay with her the whole time.  


Expecting our second baby on February 7, 2013. Trusting Him whatever comes our way.

We lost our first daughter, Hannah Grace on May 4, 2011 at 20 weeks. She was buried on May 14 during a beautiful service at my home church. We are grateful that if she could not be here with us, that she is healed and whole with the Lord. We look forward to the day when we will get to meet her. We love her so much.

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01-12-2013 at 6:55 AM
ByeByeBooz...
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My DH works in a hospital and they mandate that everyone gets a flu shot. As said above, if you don't and even if you have NO patient contact, you have to wear a mask at all times. He did a rotation through a children's hospital too and they made him get a pertussis vaccine before starting. If it'll make you feel better, talk to your doctor or call the hospital and ask about staff vaccinations.

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01-12-2013 at 7:18 AM
SarahRae85
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ah625:

There's nothing wrong with making sure that nurses and doctors wash their hands in front on you when they come into your room.

Despite what's already been posted, nurses do transfer flu and WhoopingCough to healthy patients. Sometimes they see patients who don't realize they're sick. 

In my experience, at least at the nice hospital I delivered at during the H1N1 outbreak, the nurses and doctors would walk in and immediately wash or sanitize their hands at the pump available right inside the door. Every single time. It must have been routine for them, because I never requested it. They just did.


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01-12-2013 at 8:01 AM
spainy17
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I am an ICU nurse and while we are not required to get the vaccines, almost all of us do because it would be stupid for us not to.  We also have been begging people not to have many visitors and to take teens/young kids home so they are not at risk.  The hospital has been limiting visitors as well and I would assume the nursery would practically in lockdown.  The flu is transmitted via droplets so washing you hands does not always cut it because you can cough/sneeze/etc. and infect those farther away from you.  That being said, the flu can live on surfaces for up to 8 hours so hand hygeine is essential.  I am giving birth at the same hospital I work at and my DH and I are already talking about limiting visitors and not letting anyone unvaccinated hold the baby.  If you are worried about the health care personnel, I would just ask for cares to be done in the room or remind them to wash.  Don't feel bad doing it, we the RNs are surprised at how many people are not watching out for their children during this outbreak so we are happy for those that do. 

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01-12-2013 at 9:09 AM
JenS2203
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ally2011:

elizhope:
Im not worried as much about my family and friends as I will be there to make sure everyone has their hands washed and doesnt touch baby on her face. But at the hospital, they take baby away randomly for newborn checks. Sometimes gone for up to 2 hours at a time. Who knows how many people handle her while shes in the nursery. I just really hope all the nurses are taking extra precautions....

I have specifically requested that all newborn care be done in our room, and if for some reason, something absolutely cannot be, that my husband go with her and stay with her the whole time.  

This. I love that my hospital does absolutely everything with baby in my room. Maybe this is something you can request? DD2 left my room once because I asked the nursery to take her for a few hours. Otherwise she never would have left. They even did her bath right there. You can really minimize contact with other people that way.


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01-12-2013 at 9:30 AM
Pearls+Oys...
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From experience, I've gotten sick from other patients, but never from nurses/doctors before. Patients don't seem to care much for masks and such, while the medical staff is, some out of habit, most out of concern for their own health and their family's.

As for the vaccines, where I live they are mandatory for all the staff, medically trained or not (ie janitors get them as well). It's safer, and let's be honest, more logical to protect your entire staff from getting sick... while you're dealing with a flu outbreak.

So no, I wouldn't be worried. 


 
01-12-2013 at 10:09 AM
dande2129
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elizhope:
Im not worried as much about my family and friends as I will be there to make sure everyone has their hands washed and doesnt touch baby on her face. But at the hospital, they take baby away randomly for newborn checks. Sometimes gone for up to 2 hours at a time. Who knows how many people handle her while shes in the nursery. I just really hope all the nurses are taking extra precautions....

Nearly all newborn checks can be done in the room at your request in the hospital that I am delivering. I would check with your hospital, and only allow your newborn to be whisked away if it's absolutely necessary. 


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01-12-2013 at 12:02 PM
nyki06
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When our daughter was born (Feb 2011, which was also flu season) we kept her in the room with us the whole time. Our hospital actually doesn't allow overnights in the nursery, which I thought was great. All checks were done in our room and the one time we actually had to leave (to do the newborn tests before we could leave the hospital) I went with her. 

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01-12-2013 at 2:30 PM
Courtneybe...
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I am pretty sure it's mandatory for hospital staff to get vaccinated... however, this does not protect your LO from airborne virus/germs when you are in common areas with other patients. Just require everyone to wash their hands before touching her, and to keep their hands and mouth (no slobbery kisses) away from the baby's face. I am personally more worried about my family passing something to my LO, than the staff at the hospital.

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01-12-2013 at 3:16 PM
mistressco...
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Yes you are being totally paranoid.  Nurses are required to either get the flu shot or wear a mask at ALL TIMES while at work if they opt not to get the shot.  Yes there is a chance that they could be sick, but there is actually more risk that a fellow mom that is in the unit will come in unvaccinated and sick than the nursing staff.  (Think about it-if you have the flu and go into labor the L&D unit can't turn you away, so there is a chance that moms will be sick and in labor and there's just not much that can be done about that.)  

As for the L&D nurses "hanging out with the ER docs"-that really doesn't happen.  For the most part units stick together and hang out/stay in their own areas.  The only exception I can think to this is when I worked at a TINY hospital, if L&D had an emergency the ER crew would go up to help, but otherwise L&D and ER don't tend to mingle much.   

Ultimately if you choose to give birth in a hospital you are taking a risk that infection could reach you/your baby.  It's where sick people go, that's just how it is.  For the most part L&D units (and post partum) are really good about keeping a "clean' environment (infectious patients are not admitted to those units), but with the amount of people that go in and out (between patients and MANY visitors) there is a chance you or your baby will catch something.  The only way I see to avoid it is a home birth.  

Just remember hand hygiene (washing your hands).  Even above wearing a mask or getting a flu shot hand hygiene is the number one thing that people can do to prevent spreading illnesses.     


 
01-12-2013 at 8:57 PM
mtm0109
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sararn2004:

Our hospital makes us(health care workers) get those vaccines...or at least requires the flu one, those who do not have to wear masks at all times around any patients and patient areas. Not just ER staff, all hospital staff. Our nursing supervisor of the whole hospital was wearing a mask his whole shift cuz of this. I'd rather just get the shot cuz I can't breath in those things. I had a patient on droplet precautions yesterday and I had to wear a mask when in his room and close to him...I thought I was gonna pass out after like 5 minutes. I wouldn't want that for an entire shift.

Most the staff will be immunized to the flu strains and pertussis.

Btw, not too many L and D nurses "hang out" or cross train in the ED, where most of the "nasties" come in. Maybe some do, but L and D nursing is a completely different animal than ED nursing, it's not the most common of cross training.

 

this! I work in 2 different hospitals and we are required to get the vaccine or sign a declaration and wear a mask all season. And it is ALL hospital employees not just nurses.

Germs are everywhere and always will be. Don't worry too much! 


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01-12-2013 at 11:13 PM
haileyq
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A lot of people are talking about the flu vaccine, but honestly, the biggest thing you can do to protect your baby is make sure everyone that has contact with LO has a pertussis vaccine, which is in the tetanus booster. Pertussis is on the rise because people AREN'T vaccinating, and even vaccinated kids have been getting pertussis. In adults, it may seem just like a little cold but in babies it can kill. Any family members that are going to be around your LO should have updated Tdaps. Where I work, we are required to receive both vaccinations, you can't even opt out and wear a mask. Additionally, OB nurses take infections in neonates very seriously, and I'm sure you'll see they're always doing hand hygiene before contact with the baby. If not- remind them, that's okay! Also, ouch regarding the "mingling" between nurses and doctors...
 
01-12-2013 at 11:57 PM
wells2010
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To work in the hospital, you must be vaccinated. Recently, a few nurses have lost jobs because they refused to do this. In the rare instance that they can't be vaccinated against the flu, most hospitals will require them to wear masks.

The best way to protect your baby is to make sure everyone washes their hands as they go in and out of your room. Even if someone is vaccinated, they can still carry the flu or pertussis (or another nasty germ) on their hands. I would go as far as to yell at a nurse if you don't see her wash her hands coming into your room. 


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01-13-2013 at 6:09 AM
watermelle...
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wells2010:

To work in the hospital, you must be vaccinated. Recently, a few nurses have lost jobs because they refused to do this. In the rare instance that they can't be vaccinated against the flu, most hospitals will require them to wear masks.

The best way to protect your baby is to make sure everyone washes their hands as they go in and out of your room. Even if someone is vaccinated, they can still carry the flu or pertussis (or another nasty germ) on their hands. I would go as far as to yell at a nurse if you don't see her wash her hands coming into your room. 

There was a bumpie who posted above saying that she works in a hospital but is not required to get vaccinated. That rule must vary from hospital to hospital. 


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01-13-2013 at 5:29 PM
Bride-hild...
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The flu shot doesn't cover this outbreak! I had the flu shot, and then, guess what, I got a cold, and then a month later, guess what? I got the flu! 

The good news is, baby's are tough, tougher than us anyway. But there's no way to protect against this flu. It's going to get you, and it's going to last forever!

(Sorry, I've been sick for a week and a half and I've lost all hope of EVER recovering.) 

01-13-2013 at 8:17 PM
FreyaWin23...
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Okay, to begin with, take a deep breath.

Next, I hate to break this to you but those illnesses are everywhere (not just in the ER...and your comment about "those maternity nurses hanging out with the ER doctors" as a nurse cracked me up). Just be sure that everyone entering your room (including healthcare workers) is using good hand hygiene every single time they enter your room and touch you or your child. This is also something you should tell any visitors or family. 


Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic First BFP! 9/5/11- M/C 9wk5 1st U/S, no HB. Forever loved, little bug. Second BFP: 1/13/12. 2/13/12: Blighted Ovum diagnosis. Chromosomal testing showing complete tetraploidy. We'll miss you, little monkey and wish we could have known you. Two babies never to be in our arms, but always in our hearts. Third BFP: 5/4/12 EDD: 1/12/2013. Our rainbow baby, W, born 1/16/13 a healthy little boy!!! We love you honeybadger and are so so blessed to have brought you home! All "after loss" board ladies (PgAL, TTCAL, PAL, MC/PL) always welcome to post! 
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