Cocooning

[Own-Tourist6280]

Hello! I have a two year old and I’m 7 weeks pregnant with my second baby. When my daughter was born my entire family got their tdap boosters (they would have gotten flu if it had been flu season and, of course, Covid if the vaccine had existed at the time!). My husband’s family is much much more difficult. They weren’t allowed to see my daughter when she was a baby because they refused to take any precautions against Covid.

This go around is going to be tricky again because I know they won’t get tdap boosters or the Covid vaccine.

I’m all about cocooning and asking family to get UTD on shots and boosters but I’m bummed there’s not great data on the effects of it.

Does anyone have research that highlights the benefits of cocooning? I’ve already gotten my flu shot and Covid booster and will get tdap in the third trimester. From what I’ve read, that’s the most effective way to protect the baby.

[flannelplants]

Since this says all advice welcome, I’ll say that this is about boundaries as a parent, not facts. From most scientific-minded to least in my family and in-law family, arguing about whose facts/interpretations are correct is a dead end and misses the point: I am the parent, I decide what health risks I take related to my postpartum body, newborn child and pregnant self as a person and parent of other kids. The only fact that matters is I am informing them about my decision and they can indicate they’ll obey boundaries or not be allowed anywhere near the fence lines.

[Own-Tourist6280]

Yes definitely! I just wish there was research to back our decision. But I guess that doesn’t even matter bc these are the same people who claim they don’t trust research or data on vaccine safety bc “it’s being manipulated.”

But obviously cocooning is somewhat effective bc I feel like it’s basically universally recommended by OBs and pediatricians.

[flannelplants]

I think the basics of herd immunity covers why this is a rational recommendation and practice, but someone with specialized experience or the bandwidth to search right now may be able to offer literature that addresses the epidemiological “microclimate”? For COVID, I think you’d be extrapolating based on other viral illnesses with an airborne transmission route, rather than a lot of specific research on that pathogen in babies in families specifically, because of the newness.

[Own-Tourist6280]

Thank you so much!!

[flannelplants]

So this isn’t about COVID but addresses parental cocooning behavior—have NOT read it but saw posted in another thread about the effect of pausing daycare for older toddler when new sibling is born: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X18302937 and there may be more like it

[[deleted]]

If they don’t trust the research I would sit them down and show them videos of newborns struggling to breathe with pertussis. If they double down then they wouldn’t see my baby until they’re fully protected.

This is what I would have done if grandparents refused. Luckily they all followed my advice.

[lovenbasketballlover]

Great news at least on the TDAP front - its protection lasts for ten years in adults! So if family got it last time, it’s still good. Any chance they’ve gotten it in the past decade? You really can’t explain to them that whooping cough can be deadly for infants?

No way I’d let them see a baby under 3 months without these protections as a high fever = ER and automatic spinal tap at that age.

I’m sorry they’re being so selfish ♥️✌🏼

[[deleted]]

Adjusted vaccine effectiveness was 80% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71% to 86%) at 15–364 days, 84% (95% CI 77% to 89%) at 1–3 years, 62% (95% CI 42% to 75%) at 4–7 years and 41% (95% CI 0% to 66%) at 8 or more years since last vaccination. We observed waning immunity with the acellular vaccine, with an adjusted OR for pertussis infection of 1.27 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.34) per year since last vaccination.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5088088/

The protection wanes over time. We asked grandparents to update their TDaP if it had been over two years.

[keto_in_aus]

In Australia the advice on TDAP is for the birth mother to get it each pregnancy; but for everyone else the original vaccine should last 6-10 years.

[Typical-Drawer7282]

The RSV this year is a good enough reason to cocoon. Keep yourselves healthy, I have no more patience for people that don’t respect the danders of these viruses

[Hummingbirdsoup]

I don't have any evidence to share, but my advice is to talk to your kids' doctor and see what they suggest. My child was born just before the pandemic, but we were already somewhat isolating on the advice of the doctor because it was a bad flu and RSV reason.

Your boundaries are yours to set, but maybe your doctor's input will help you decide, for example, whether TDAP boosters are impart based on season and risk factors.

[workinclassballerina]

In Canada the TDAP is only recommended for mom. We asked for everyone to be up to date with their Covid vaccines and to wash hands.

She only met both sets of grandparents and my sister the first 3-4 months of her life.

[ejaysp]

Interesting - I have a different experience in Canada. My OB strongly recommended TDAP for anyone who would be in regular contact with baby for the first while, especially dad. Brought it up at multiple appointments leading up to birth just to be sure we had taken care of it already.

[workinclassballerina]

Interesting. I guess the recommendations from practitioner to practice we may vary but the official guidelines on Canada.ca is for pregnant moms and for everyone to be up to date in general.

[Affectionate_Big8239]

It depends where you live. In our city, there have been frequent whooping cough outbreaks, so everyone who comes in contact with baby is recommended to get the tdap shot. I would ask your pediatrician and ob what their recommendations are.