By Melissa Grant
Should you send your children to school? Should you be worried if you are pregnant or have a newborn at home?
Here, maternal and health nurse and midwife, Belinda Joyce, answers common questions parents have about the coronavirus and children.
I’m pregnant. Should I be worried about catching coronavirus?
We are still waiting for more information about the women in earlier pregnancy, but they don’t seem to be at risk like they are with the flu. If you get a flu in pregnancy you are more vulnerable to it than if you weren’t pregnant.
And the babies who have been born to people with coronavirus, apart from one in London, none of them have them have contracted the disease in utero.
They (experts) also think it’s very safe to keep breastfeeding.
However, since that case in London we are wondering what’s happening and whether there are any dangers of a woman getting coronavirus in early pregnancy. We think not, but we don’t know until the children have been born. I think the fevers would be dangerous in early pregnancy. If you are pregnant, seek medical help early if you are getting (cold and flu) symptoms.
I have a newborn at home. What can I do to protect them? What happens if they catch coronavirus?
Again, it doesn’t look like newborns and children are being severely impacted – they are getting mild symptoms. If you are breastfeeding keep breastfeeding. Wear a mask if you have coronavirus and your baby doesn’t. You can contact your GP and see if you can get a mask.
What is the impact of coronavirus on young children?
It seems like a mild disease. Up to this point, not many children have required hospital treatment. As long as they don’t have underlying chronic respiratory illnesses, it will be mild. If your child has chronic asthma or other respiratory illnesses see your doctor for a treatment plan.
Should I keep my child home from daycare/school?
It’s a really difficult call to make. I suggest everyone follows what the government and health authorities say to do. The concern is if every childcare centre was to close we would have a lot of health care workers who can’t go to work. It’s the same if all schools close.
So far, I believe the only schools that have closed have had a confirmed case. A lot of extra curricular activities have been cancelled already and hand sanitisers are being used in classrooms.
Should I be worried about visiting friends and/or relatives?
I don’t think it’s a great time to be having large events if you can avoid them. Anyone with any cold and flu symptoms should not be around elderly people at all. The problem is young kids can have snotty noses and colds for months on end, so keep them away from the grandparents.
What about travelling with children?
Any non-essential travel shouldn’t happen. Internationally certainly because there is a real problem getting back into the country and self-isolating. If it’s domestic you have to look at what it’s for and if it’s essential. If it’s not essential, I’d encourage people to stay home. If you go on an airplane or public transport, take extra precautions – use hand gels and antiseptic wipes to clean the area around you – lift the tray table, clean the seats and windows.
What other precautions can my family take?
Get the flu vaccine when it becomes available (usually in April). Make sure childhood immunisations are up to date. And for the edlerly, there are immunisations they can have as well. Book in and get them done!
For current advice on the coronavirus situation in Australia, visit HERE
For more information about Belinda, visit here website HERE
