Pure Parents

Question:

>If you come early and nicely explain your >concerns, most likely the teachers will advise you if one of the children >is sick.

When I read this part it brought up an issue for me.  It is one thing to send your child to school not knowing he/she is sick…it is another if you send your child to school sick and the teacher notices and the child stays for the day.  Children belong at home when they are sick…both for their own well being as well as others.   Yeah yeah yeah…I continuously hear.."what else can I do, I have to work"…well, for those of us who diligently try to keep our kids healthy…why should we suffer the consequences (our kids getting sick) because someone chooses to send their child to school sick?  Again…I understand that sometimes a child gets sick at school…obviously this cannot be helped. This is an issue that really upsets me…and it not one of selfishness either. I feel awful for the child who is ill and is forced to be in school.  How unfair!  I assume that I will be flamed for not caring about the parent’s who have no alternatives and that I should be more understanding.  It is hard for me to be understanding when my child is up late at night vomiting…There is nothing more pathetic than when your child is sick. Rant over!  Thanks for listening. Regards, Debra

Response:

At the end of your pregnancy you and your baby are less at risk that in the first trimester. When you bring your child to school, it will be impossible to oversee that you are pregnant. If you come early and nicely explain your concerns, most likely the teachers will advise you if one of the children is sick. Since it is only nursery school, it is not so important to see that your child attends every day (although she might be very disappointed). You can improve your chances by feeding your child healthily, with lots of fresh veggys and fruits, milk and meat, to help her immune system be top fit. I have less faith in just taking bottled vitamens, but if you do also supplement, remember to use child vitamens. And by doing the same (eating healthily) you will benefit from maybe not getting the cold and you and your baby will benefit from the healthy food. Dorothy

Response:

Minimize your volunteer time at the school. Don’t avoid school events, but your daughter has probably 13 years left in the school system for you to get involved in. Along with handwashing, don’t forget all those nifty new antibacterial hand lotions available.

Response:

I am a teacher and have a 5 year old in his second year of pre-school and a 9 month old.  I think the worst months for diseases going around schools are January and February, but as soon as the windows can be opened, they seem to lighten up.  With my oldest, I had three bouts of flu–one in each trimester–and actually had a pretty nasty cold with a fever the week I gave birth.  The guidance counselor "nicely" told me my baby would "probably" be born with brain damage because of the fever.  Cody was and is fine, of course. With Josie, I went through the windshield of my car 3 weeks into my pregnancy (that is how I found out I was pregnant–they gave me a pregnancy test in the ER–SURPRISE!!) and had surgery for 5 hours.  This worried me much more than being sick–especially after the anethesiologist told me the baby would probably be deformed or I would miscarry–and my second baby was fine as well.  I had a terrible pregnancy worrying that Josie would be somehow wrong.   I would agree to wash your hands a lot and maybe use that germ-killing stuff when you can’t get to the bathroom.  I keep a bottle of that stuff on my desk. Good luck with new baby kendra

Response:

The only diseases that your daughter would be likely to catch at nursery school that I know have a negative effect are German Measels & Fifth’s Disease. However, if you are due in October you are approx. 7 mos. pregnant, ( as am I!) and so you shouldn’t worry too much.  My doctor tells me that the danger period has passed for both diseases, meaning exposure wouldn’t necessarily result in fetal death. Relax!  Melissa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My daughter will be starting nursery school in a few weeks (3 days a week >for 2 > hrs each day). She has had all of her shots, including the first in the >series > of the chicken pox vacine. I am due with another baby at the end of >October. I > was just wondering if anyone out there has been in the same situation at >any > time, and come down with an illness, either a cold or otherwise, and >continued > with their pregnancies with no problem, and had a healthy child. I know of >only > one pretty unbelievable, but true happening of a woman who picked up an >illness > in the elementary school where she volunteered, and unknowingly passed it >on to > her unborn child, who unfortunately succumbed to the infection and died in > utero. I guess it is just making me a little nervous, and I’d like to hear >from > some of you who might have caught a cold or otherwise, while pregnant, and >been > perfectly ok. Also, if anyone took any added precautions, I’d like to hear > about that, too. (I have already talked to my daughter about the risks of > putting her hands in her mouth, sharing straws, food, etc. when one of them >is > sick.) Is there a particular time during the school year where illnesses >are > most pronounced (Nov/Dec-Feb?) I know things tend to "clear out" around the > spring. > Thanks, > Susan

I worked in a school while I was pregnant and worried about the same things that you worried about.  I found that frequent hand washing…and I mean frequent, with an antibacterial soap kept me from catching every passing germ. I also ate extremely well and worked out 5 days a week in a gym.  The handwashing is a biggie..I find that it even works when my daughter or husband have a cold…I keep washing my hands…almost to the point of emulating OCD. Here’s to good health…. Oh…and by the way…21 years ago, I had strep throat during my first pregnancy.  The doctor told me that I would run a higher risk of fetal damage by NOT taking antibiotics than by taking them.  My son is 20 and so far, I see no ill effects of the antibiotics )  Well, perhaps the fact that he is nocturnal has something to do with it. Regards, Debra

Response:

During second pregnancy (twins) I got various colds.  The last one was at its peak (congestion, cough, etc.) right when they decided to induce me due to pre-eclampsia.  Both babies were fine – my biggest concern was sharing my cold with the newborns. My son was in preschool during this pregnancy. The best thing you can do is wash your daughter’s hands well when she comes home, and teach her to do the same throughout the day. Good luck, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My daughter will be starting nursery school in a few weeks (3 days a week for 2 > hrs each day). She has had all of her shots, including the first in the series > of the chicken pox vacine. I am due with another baby at the end of October. I > was just wondering if anyone out there has been in the same situation at any > time, and come down with an illness, either a cold or otherwise, and continued > with their pregnancies with no problem, and had a healthy child. I know of only > one pretty unbelievable, but true happening of a woman who picked up an illness > in the elementary school where she volunteered, and unknowingly passed it on to > her unborn child, who unfortunately succumbed to the infection and died in > utero. I guess it is just making me a little nervous, and I’d like to hear from > some of you who might have caught a cold or otherwise, while pregnant, and been > perfectly ok. Also, if anyone took any added precautions, I’d like to hear > about that, too. (I have already talked to my daughter about the risks of > putting her hands in her mouth, sharing straws, food, etc. when one of them is > sick.) Is there a particular time during the school year where illnesses are > most pronounced (Nov/Dec-Feb?) I know things tend to "clear out" around the > spring. > Thanks, > Susan

Response:

Susan — I am a teacher and have 2 kids.  While pregnant with my daughter I was sick with a bad head cold on the order of once a month — I kid you not!  My daughter is a bright, happy, very healthy 3 year old.  While pregnant with my son I was sick a little less, but then I was on bed rest for some of the time, cutting my exposure.  Again, a healthy, happy baby. Good luck! Devorah —

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My daughter will be starting nursery school in a few weeks (3 days a week for 2 >hrs each day). She has had all of her shots, including the first in the series >of the chicken pox vacine. I am due with another baby at the end of October. I >was just wondering if anyone out there has been in the same situation at any >time, and come down with an illness, either a cold or otherwise, and continued >with their pregnancies with no problem, and had a healthy child. I know of only >one pretty unbelievable, but true happening of a woman who picked up an illness >in the elementary school where she volunteered, and unknowingly passed it on to >her unborn child, who unfortunately succumbed to the infection and died in >utero. I guess it is just making me a little nervous, and I’d like to hear from >some of you who might have caught a cold or otherwise, while pregnant, and been >perfectly ok. Also, if anyone took any added precautions, I’d like to hear >about that, too. (I have already talked to my daughter about the risks of >putting her hands in her mouth, sharing straws, food, etc. when one of them is >sick.) Is there a particular time during the school year where illnesses are >most pronounced (Nov/Dec-Feb?) I know things tend to "clear out" around the >spring. >Thanks, >Susan

Hello Susan, One thing is to be sure you have been immunized for German Measles. Contracting them during pregnancy can be detrimental to the baby, but if you have been immunized you should be okay. During my last pregnancy, I had the flu twice, and a sinus infection. I did get a mild antibiotic for the sinus infection, and there was no harm to my baby. Keep your immune system strong by taking your vitamins and getting plenty of rest. You might also make sure your daughter washes her hands upon coming home from school to help keep germs from spreading to your home. Good luck! Lynn Parent of 3 boys, 17 yo., 8 yo., 3 yo. Also the Parenting Babies and Toddlers Guide http://babyparenting.miningco.com Weekly Features, Resource Library, Free Newsletter

Response:

My daughter will be starting nursery school in a few weeks (3 days a week for 2 hrs each day). She has had all of her shots, including the first in the series of the chicken pox vacine. I am due with another baby at the end of October. I was just wondering if anyone out there has been in the same situation at any time, and come down with an illness, either a cold or otherwise, and continued with their pregnancies with no problem, and had a healthy child. I know of only one pretty unbelievable, but true happening of a woman who picked up an illness in the elementary school where she volunteered, and unknowingly passed it on to her unborn child, who unfortunately succumbed to the infection and died in utero. I guess it is just making me a little nervous, and I’d like to hear from some of you who might have caught a cold or otherwise, while pregnant, and been perfectly ok. Also, if anyone took any added precautions, I’d like to hear about that, too. (I have already talked to my daughter about the risks of putting her hands in her mouth, sharing straws, food, etc. when one of them is sick.) Is there a particular time during the school year where illnesses are most pronounced (Nov/Dec-Feb?) I know things tend to "clear out" around the spring. Thanks, Susan

Response: