Experts encourage 'vigilance' from parents of newborns during flu season

Experts encourage 'vigilance' from parents of newborns during flu season

(Steven Tew, Intermountain Healthcare)


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RIVERTON — Months ago, nurses at Intermountain Riverton Hospital picked out fabric and sewed 240 oversize Christmas stockings for babies born in December.

Seven babies born at the Riverton Hospital lay nestled in their bassinets Tuesday, their heads poking out of the white tops, with several inches of limp, excess fabric below each baby's feet. Each stocking was embroidered with the logo "Intermountain Riverton Hospital: Healing for life."

Two dads came to visit their newborns, one with a video camera in hand. Both proudly held their sons, born within the past two days, while visiting.

Aaron Anderson, whose son Lucas was born Sunday, said he appreciated the "personal touch" and saw the stockings as an "extra effort to make it special" for the families.

"They get blankets all year, but at Christmastime it's got to be something better," said Jeanna Hollingshead, a registered nurse at Intermountain Riverton Hospital who helped sew the stockings.

The stockings also serve to protect the newborns from the cold. Seizing the opportunity to teach parents how to protect babies from illnesses that abound in colder weather, pediatrician Sadie West shared two keys to safeguarding babies: reducing their exposure and illness prevention.

During a baby's first month, the lungs are still small and their immune system susceptible to disease. Babies remain vulnerable until their second month, when they are able to receive their immunizations. Because of this, West recommends that parents cocoon their baby by limiting its exposure to people during the first two months and making sure all who are with the baby are healthy.

"In general, despite it being the holiday season, we want our babies to probably not go to Christmas parties, probably not go around large groups of people. Parents, if they're going to be out and about with their newborn, should probably keep that car seat cover on. That way an inadvertent cough or sneeze doesn't end up right in their face."

Parents can also protect their babies from illnesses by staying current with their immunizations and vaccinations, washing their hands and encouraging those who come in contact with the baby to do the same. She encouraged parents to be "vigilant" and to ask questions about others' illnesses, especially with the arrival of influenza A and the flu season.

"That's why it's OK to be the mom that says, 'I know you want to come see my new baby, but you're going to need to wait a while,'" West said.

For more information on baby care, visit Intermountain's women and newborn services website.

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