Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and MedImmune. However all opinions are 100% my own and may differ from yours.
Sunday November 17th is World Prematurity Day and as a preemie myself I know just how much of a struggle these babies have. I have always been a bit behind everyone else in the growth category among other things that preemies can suffer from. However that is not the worst thing that can happen to your baby, RSV is!
RSV or Respiratory syncytial virus is a common seasonal virus that nearly all children contract by the age of two. For full term babies this typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms. However for preemies because they are born with underdeveloped lungs and immune systems they are more likely to require hospitalization if RSV is contracted.
Knowing the facts about RSV can help you prepare so that your baby can be safe. First RSV occurs in epidemics typically from November til March each year. That doesn’t mean though that it can’t vary from region to region or year to year. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization of babies in the United States during their first year of life.
So what can you do to prevent RSV? A few things actually! The biggest one is to wash your hands and ask other people to do the same. Don’t pass the baby around and let everyone hold and touch the baby. This spreads germs and increases your baby’s chance of catching RSV. Make sure you keep your baby’s clothes, toys, blankets,and sheets clean.
I know that it can be hard to not pass the baby around especially for a Latino family because everyone will want to hold the baby. We are so used to having everyone want to be a part of the baby’s first year and whenever someone comes over and wants to hold the baby we let them.
Learn More about RSV
Learn more at the RSV website and get tips from the infrographic below.
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My mom was a preemie and back in the 40s it was a huge deal. She was lucky to live. Seeing these babies struggle to live is heart wrenching. I had no idea about RSV ~ thank you so much for the information!
RSV is a very serious virus that occurs more often then most people realize. We had a little girl who was very small for her age, when she was 4 1/2 months old she caught RSV. Unfortunately even though she was in the hospital she passed away. This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Thanks for helping to spread the word about RSV.