I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
As a parent and aunt of preemies, I just wanted to take the time to let you all know that Monday November 17th is World Prematurity Day. Each year on this day, I always find myself emotional looking back at the struggles our family has went through. I also think about all the parents that are currently dealing with a preemie and keeping them in my prayers. I am sure anyone can understand how scary this time is for everyone involved. There are 15 million babies born Premature each year! The sad truth is premature birth kills 1 precious baby every 30 seconds. Luckily in the USA our survival rate is much better than other countries but the risk and complications are still there.
One of the biggest risk parents face with preemies is RSV season, which is usually between November and March, though it can vary geography and year to year. Even though every baby is at risk at getting RSV, babies born early are twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital for RSV symptoms. The truth is that RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies under 1 year old in the USA! RSV is actually very common but unfortunately, many parents aren’t aware of it! The fact that only one-third of parents have even heard about it is very alarming! So, I feel that we really need to start raising awareness not just during the RSV season but all year around! Thankfully, my kids didn’t get RSV but my niece did. She stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks, which included Christmas! I will never forget that year. She was so weak and sick.
What actually is RSV:
RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 2. RSV is highly contagious. Symptoms are often like a common cold so sometimes parents brush it off.
Know the Symptoms:
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
- Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
- High fever
- Extreme fatigue
- Difficulty feeding
Prevention is Key:
Unfortunately there is no treatment for RSV except relieving some of the typical symptoms, so it’s important for parents to take the following preventive steps to help protect their child:
- Be sure to wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently
- Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid large crowds and people who may be sick.
- Never let anyone smoke near your baby or be around 2nd hand smoke on clothing.
- Most important speak with your child’s doctor if you believe he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available
Learn more:
To learn more about RSV and ways to protect your baby please go to www.RSVprotection.com
