F/u to travel Q & my OB is hilarious

sanae78

I'm still planning to ask the docs at work, but I wanted to share what my OB said.  She said she asked her mom (a pediatrician) and her baby's ped if it was okay and they both recommended not traveling before the first shots.  But she did it anyways because she figured when else would she have a chance to let her family/friends see the baby?  She said to just make sure if anyone is sick not to let them touch the baby and make sure everyone washes their hands. And then she said, "Just don't let anyone lick the baby or anything."  LOL!  She is so funny!  (FWIW, her baby didn't get sick when she traveled and visited family/friends.)

MauiBride2008

Lick the baby, hahahahaha!!!  That's funny!!

mrspresley

that is so funny

FWIW my DH said he doesn't want anyone who isn't vaccinated with both flu shots to hold the baby when we visit the family.  it sounds harsh but really when they are that small (we plan to travel around 4-5 wks) their immune systems can't take that much

Kalani

on your OB's comment.   But isn't the flu transmitted mainly via the respiratory route and possibly via contact/touch?  So if someone doesn't touch the baby, but coughs or sneezes, the virus can be inhaled.  I thought that's what made people sick on planes (because the air is recycled).

sanae78

Viruses are in droplets.  So if someone coughs or sneezes and the droplets get on you and you touch your mucous membranes, then yes, you can get sick.  But it's not like you can get sick from someone just breathing on you.  In fact, your breathe is sterile.  (In my microbiology class, our prof had someone breathe onto a petri dish and cultured it - nothing grew.  But if you spit on it, that's another story.)  More often than not, people sneeze/cough into their hands and touch things.  The viruses can live on objects for some time.  So you touch an object that has a virus on it, touch your nose/eyes/mouth and you can get sick.

I suppose the recirculated air doesn't help but I never got sick when I was a flight attendant so I think hand washing/hygiene are the most important thing.

Kalani

Thanks for the clarification.  I guess I've had some bad experiences; one in which a young boy coughed right in my face and I got really sick later that evening.  I think since that time, I've really been aware of people who cough and sneeze around me especially.

sanae78

UGH.  I hate that.  I hate when people don't cover their mouth.  Especially adults.  Kids I can excuse, but then I get irked with their parents!  Haha. 

The best thing is to sneeze/cough into your arm so that you don't spread germs yourself.  (Also recommended by my microbiology prof.)

MrsNFB

Kalani:

  I thought that's what made people sick on planes (because the air is recycled).

Recycled air on airplanes is not like it sounds.  Air does go in and out of a filter however outside air is constantly being mixed with the recycled air.  It's not like the same air is in the airplane from the moment the doors are closed until they are opened again at the destination.

I mentioned in another post below (I think Amy's) that people on planes get sick from touching something that an infected person has touched, not really because of the air.  This is why wiping down your area with antibacterial wipes is especially important during flu season.   

sanae78

Yikes.  That's too long a flight for me, I think.  At least Hawaii is only one nonstop 5-6 hour flight.  I don't think I'd go if it was that long.  (Just cuz I already hate those long flights - I think I'd go crazy!)