BOUNTIFUL, Utah (ABC4 News) - It's the number one question at doctors' offices right now. Should I be concerned about the swine flu? And the answer is, yes, especially doctors say if you have a newborn. But what if you have three?
Evan, Mason and Madison arrived eight weeks early. The Bountiful triplets spent more than a month in the hospital and have only been home sharing a bed for a few weeks. It's a good thing they like it here, mom Mary Cleverly says they aren't leaving.
"They told us to keep them away from crowds until March and to be really, really careful about who we let see them and just limit visitation and make sure we wash our hands all the time."
Doctors agree. Babies this small can not be vaccinated for the swine flu and the season is expected to run through February or March. A critical time Dr. David Cope says to steer clear of close contact.
"Going to church or to a movie theater where there are close groups of people around are more dangerous than to a store or something where there is open air. And certainly being outside is okay if there are people around."
All the warnings led Cleverly to the internet. There she met another mom of triplets who came up with a product to protect babies from anyone getting too close. It is a little stop sign that warns strangers 'wash hands before touching baby'. The pink and blue soft signs can hang on car seats.
"It makes you feel good. Oh, yeah, my baby is cute. But I don't know where your hands have been. So knowing that they are premature and they have to go to doctor visits, we might as well buy the signs. So when we take them to the doctor I have that added security. I don't have to be rude and say, don't touch my baby."
Touching is tempting. The triplets are adorable. But for now, it's looking only. This mom is taking every precaution.
If you would like to check out the baby stop signs go to
www.handsoffbaby.com
