Staying Indoors Post-Birth
- Thread starter SyL
- Start date
Kimmi
Registered User
I was all for taking my baby out just after 2 weeks and we did but now I think you should keep you baby at home for as long as possible as my poor little baby caught a nasty chest infection at such a young age. There is so many horrible things to catch out there an HK is so crowded and polluted.
carang
Registered User
i know that it's a chinese thing to stay inside for a month, but i had a dr friend in canada(an OBGYN) who said, if you take the baby home from the hospital, then he is already exposed to loads of nasties.
it doesn't really make much difference.
i never wanted to leave my son, so he came everywhere with me, including back to teh hospital when my incision got infected.
it doesn't really make much difference.
i never wanted to leave my son, so he came everywhere with me, including back to teh hospital when my incision got infected.
Well to be honest I kept my baby at home for a months. We went out to visit Dr and U.S Ambsy (passport issue) but nothing more... he always stayed inside. But I saw lots of mums these days already exposed their newborns baby in the malls,Mc donald, cafe and the beach--here in stanley . Suprised me they're fine with that.
barbwong_130
Registered User
When I had my last child she was quite ill and in the SCUB and pediatric ward for the first eight days. I asked the doctor the question, ?Should I keep her in more than I did with my other children?? But he misunderstood me and thought I was asking to go out that day. So he gave me a form to fill in and asked that I be back before his evening rounds.
I was surprised that it was fine to take her out for the afternoon as she was still a patient at the hospital but we went to the Galleria at the Peak, ate ice-cream and her older brother played in the playground there.
I must admit that a Chinese man I spoke to there was horrified that I had a week old baby out and about so I choose not to tell him that she hadn?t been discharged from the hospital yet.
I was surprised that it was fine to take her out for the afternoon as she was still a patient at the hospital but we went to the Galleria at the Peak, ate ice-cream and her older brother played in the playground there.
I must admit that a Chinese man I spoke to there was horrified that I had a week old baby out and about so I choose not to tell him that she hadn?t been discharged from the hospital yet.
If you are breastfeeding your baby it is actually ideal that the baby is always with you. When you encounter a germ your body will start to make specific antibodies for that germ. If the baby is always with you there is no chance that the baby encounters a germ that you don?t. Thus your milk will have all the antibodies to all the germs the baby comes across.
When the baby is separated from the mother it is possible that the baby comes across other germs. This is most serious for small premature babies kept in the hospital (hospital germs are usually much stronger than normal household germs). In fact some doctors recommend that the mother lick such a baby?s skin. This allows the mother to come in contact with the germs the baby has encountered and so make the specific antibodies for those germs in her milk.
Best wishes,
SARAH
When the baby is separated from the mother it is possible that the baby comes across other germs. This is most serious for small premature babies kept in the hospital (hospital germs are usually much stronger than normal household germs). In fact some doctors recommend that the mother lick such a baby?s skin. This allows the mother to come in contact with the germs the baby has encountered and so make the specific antibodies for those germs in her milk.
Best wishes,
SARAH
We kept our son home for about a week, and them had him out with us for short spells. I think it just may be a case of being careful where you take him (you can avoid MongKok or Causeway Bay, for instance) and keep the trips short and sweet. I don't subscribe to the theory to keep them home for months on end, the germs outside are no different than the ones inside, or the types he'll have to face up to eventually.
rani
Administrator
I stayed in for the first 8 weeks or so. It took me a while to get adjusted to breastfeeding, and D was nursing non-stop. I did take him to the supermarket once and a group of old ladies followed us, they wanted to touch him. I realised I made a mistake and rushed out.
At the hospital they suggested everyone wash their hands before holding the baby. We made that a rule at our house for a couple of months. I know I sound super-paranoid. Even after all of that, D got a chest infection at 8 weeks and he was hospitalised for a night.
At the hospital they suggested everyone wash their hands before holding the baby. We made that a rule at our house for a couple of months. I know I sound super-paranoid. Even after all of that, D got a chest infection at 8 weeks and he was hospitalised for a night.
I believe that you should keep the BB at home for the first 4/5weeks, just to let the BB settle into the world and familiarise themselves with people and so forth. Whether you are chinese or not.
As opposed to letting your BB start to immune from the germs in the environment and so forth... if you have your windows opened, they will still come in contact with the germs and pollution of the air, without close contact with people, and their germs, etc.
The Chinese believe that a BB in its first month should not (maybe bad luck) be allowed to leave its home, and to not go and visit/see people. That is why they usually hold a "1st month old" Baby banquet, inviting all relatives/friends to celebrate the arrival of the BB into the community.
Which is why the chinese man you met, barbwong_130, was sooo surprised.
Though, if you were the only person left in the house looking after the BB at home, and you had to see the Doc's or something, then you will have to take your BB with you. Ideally, best if you can arrange for someone to stay with the BB at home, whilst you're out.
As opposed to letting your BB start to immune from the germs in the environment and so forth... if you have your windows opened, they will still come in contact with the germs and pollution of the air, without close contact with people, and their germs, etc.
The Chinese believe that a BB in its first month should not (maybe bad luck) be allowed to leave its home, and to not go and visit/see people. That is why they usually hold a "1st month old" Baby banquet, inviting all relatives/friends to celebrate the arrival of the BB into the community.
Which is why the chinese man you met, barbwong_130, was sooo surprised.
Though, if you were the only person left in the house looking after the BB at home, and you had to see the Doc's or something, then you will have to take your BB with you. Ideally, best if you can arrange for someone to stay with the BB at home, whilst you're out.
I bring my BB out about 2 weeks after birth and we've went to the doctor in the island hospital for check ups every weeks as my baby has jaundice.
We lived in island so in the afternoon we went for a bit walk. And most all old woman saw our BB with shock, coz he only a few weeks old and they kept telling me how bad it was to bring your baby out when he was very small.
Untill now some of them still remembered how small my BB was. And at that time I couldn't out too long coz I wasn't confidence with myself feeding him at public places.
In my origin country the tradition is not allowed mother who just given birth out from home for about 40 days and not allowed do any household jobs (and put those long tummy belt so your tummy will back to original state). Which I didn't do after I've my BB. Maybe next time will ask my mum to come over to help me out
We lived in island so in the afternoon we went for a bit walk. And most all old woman saw our BB with shock, coz he only a few weeks old and they kept telling me how bad it was to bring your baby out when he was very small.
Untill now some of them still remembered how small my BB was. And at that time I couldn't out too long coz I wasn't confidence with myself feeding him at public places.
In my origin country the tradition is not allowed mother who just given birth out from home for about 40 days and not allowed do any household jobs (and put those long tummy belt so your tummy will back to original state). Which I didn't do after I've my BB. Maybe next time will ask my mum to come over to help me out
I took both my children out 10 days after birth. But we were either in the car or just going for a short walk. my babies were jaundiced so doc said take them out to get some sunshine. in taiwan, i put my little one in a maya wrap in public places or everyone touches her. if people come too close or we use the elevator, i can cover her with the sling. it's also good for nursing. it's really hard fir me to stay indoors so the walk was good for my mental health 
We had to go back to the hospital for day 5 checkup at Queen Mary. So the hospital are obviously not expecting people to stay indoors!
If you don't want strangers touching your baby (and they will), pop baby in a sling such as the Mayawrap. It covers most of the baby up, so that people hardly notice you are carrying a baby.
If you don't want strangers touching your baby (and they will), pop baby in a sling such as the Mayawrap. It covers most of the baby up, so that people hardly notice you are carrying a baby.
I agree
I went out (other than the dr) after about 2 weeks, but That was less abut the baby and more about me. It is hard to get yourself organized with 2 children by yourself, and BF and move around with a 3 degree tear, all by yourself. Many times I attempted to get ready to go, but had to give up and try again another day.
cyberashlee
New member
It was interesting reading about your views on staying indoors or not after brith. Aside from germs, it seems that a consistent routine especially while breast feeding, stay in a calming quiet environment, all the while allowing your body to heal and dealing with this new person seems to be the way to go. I am just about 4 months along myself, so I will see when I get there.
Also, I just have to ask, who keeps touching your babies?? Is this a cultural thing here in HK? How do you all handle it without seeming like a crazy new Mom? People need to keep their hands off!
Good Luck Moms!
AshleeRae
Also, I just have to ask, who keeps touching your babies?? Is this a cultural thing here in HK? How do you all handle it without seeming like a crazy new Mom? People need to keep their hands off!
Good Luck Moms!
AshleeRae
The touching thing is definitely cultural. Something about lack of personal space boundaries. It is even worse in mainland China. Same issue in the hospitals: medical professionals sometimes come and prod you here without announcing who they are or what they are going to do.
I was in a shop the other day and my baby was fussing so I took her out of the sling to have a look around. Somebody next to me in the shop, without making any conversation with me, tried to disentangle a hair from my baby's hand!
You can go one of either two ways, (a) keep your baby covered up (in slings, or strollers with mozzie nets/rain covers on), and try to anticipate situations where people are going to want to touch your baby, or (b) go with the flow, accept they can catch germs from the air and sitting next to people even if they don't touch them, and they will gain something from the social interaction. I veer between the two depending on what mood I'm in.
I was in a shop the other day and my baby was fussing so I took her out of the sling to have a look around. Somebody next to me in the shop, without making any conversation with me, tried to disentangle a hair from my baby's hand!
You can go one of either two ways, (a) keep your baby covered up (in slings, or strollers with mozzie nets/rain covers on), and try to anticipate situations where people are going to want to touch your baby, or (b) go with the flow, accept they can catch germs from the air and sitting next to people even if they don't touch them, and they will gain something from the social interaction. I veer between the two depending on what mood I'm in.
That's sometimes I hate when they touch my baby without concern. But I just cannot tell them not to touch him. So what I did was asked my hubby to carry our baby and he was really straight told them not to touch the baby!!! A bit extreme I knew but we told them as well it was for hygiene. It was like paranoid 
but that was when he was very small.
I followed like JennyB (a) n (b) option. Just see the situations when I used those options.
but that was when he was very small.I followed like JennyB (a) n (b) option. Just see the situations when I used those options.
i stayed indoors for 40days as per chinese doc recommendation. (except for the doctors visit, where i was covered up head to toe (literally), it was the coldest time of the year. i was struggling with bf-ing for the first 4 mths, so i had to stay at home where it's peaceful to keep myself sane, plus my baby was crying a lot. whenever i brought her out, she'd cry. i finally brought her out when she was 5 mths, to go where there were fresh air & not a lot of people. i was paranoid to let people touch her even when my friends were visiting me at home, so when we went out i didn't lt anyone touched her (a little crazy looking back). If someone would approach me, i would step back, or bring baby way. thank God she's now 19mths & people still wanna touch her, so i just wipe her ace/hands/wherever with disinfecting wipes afterwards.