A question for parents

[fendergirl2020]

Hi everyone! I was just reading through some of the posts from parents saying that their children are sick. I don't have any children (not for a few years anyway!! [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]) and I was just wondering if the parents had this phobia before they had the babiesand has it got worse since they had them? For me, when I think about having a baby, the thought of them getting sick hasnt really crossed my mind. But the last thing I would want would be for me to have a child and have them ill, with me making such a big deal out of it that it would affect the child. I know the natural thing is to worry about your child when they are ill, but if they get a bug which I could catch, I don't know if I'd be more worried about the child or me getting it! It's a horrible thing to say, but what do the parents think? Is it just an automatic reaction that we help them? Cos when I'm around someone I care about who is ill with something infectious I'm outta there!


xx

[donna1216]

Well, that's a hard one!!! I was an emet before I had children, and yes, it has gotten worse in some ways since I had them. My daughter Logan is 5, and when she was 10 mos. old she spent her first Christmas day v'ing, and for some reason, I didn't panic and I just got passed it, well, then when she was 2 1/2 and my younger daughter Haley was 9 months old, they got rotavirus, and with their 1st bout of v'ing with it, they v'ed @ 15 times in one hour--each, then spent the rest of that winter having periodic bouts of v'ing--that incident made my emet worse. Now I spend my life consumed with them keeping their hands clean and keeping them away from public places in the wintertime, and spending nights panicking and having nightmares of them v'ing. I also panic more now when they v**** and do not handle it the same calm and rational way I did the first time Logan ever v'ed, which to most parents is the worst, since they've never been through it before. I just wish I could handle it better, especially since I am now expecting puker #3!![img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

My phobia began at age 9, at 19 I had my first son and had my second son at the age of 27. I can't describe the wonder feeling of being pregnant, the kicking just melts your heart and when that baby comes into the world nothing else mattered. Yes I did have this phobia and at that time it was strong. All I can say is when your child is sick you do the best that you can, being there for them. Yes I freaked out when they are sick and I take steps so I don't catch it. I can honestly say that within 10 years I haven't got my childrens stomach virus's. I got them from other people but not my kids. When you have a child your "mother instincts" come into play and you just do it. I dont know what else to say.[img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

That is cute Donna;; expecting puker number 3!![img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]

[matmysunshine]

Well for me it, I got really bad with my phobia after I had my son.. Before I could get sick with a SV, and be ok.. but now I Panic that I will give it to him or that I will get it from him, I hate to be this way, and I joke with my husband and tell him that if Iget it, I will stay at my mothers, if he my son gets it, then they need to stay with his mother I fear what I will be like when we decide to have the 2nd... Being that I had no fear when I go prego with my son, I have fear now and just do not know what to do.. Christy

[kate1966]

I have had emet since 1st grade...so it's been bad for a long time...my boys are 15 and 11 now...they have had their share of V spells.....and somehow I made it through them.....not easily at all...but as a mom...likesomeone else said...you just do it....they are more important than the emet...and when you see your own child sick...for me it's just alittle different....i mean...i still freak out...but in my heart I cry for them...i think b/c I fear it so much and they don't.....but no it doesn't get any worse for me or any better...some days I think I could handle it better than others...depends on the day.....good luck to you...and please don't let emet stop you from having kids...they are soooooooooooooooooooo worth it.Kat

[jennyleigh1975]

I have had emet since I was about 12. When my first child was born, my emet wasnt too bad. Mainly because she was my only child, I knew that if she did get something, I was only going to have to deal with her getting it, now I have to worry about it going through three. I did go through a period of time when I wasnt really emet at all. I dont really remember what brought it back on. I wish I could make it go away again. I can usually deal with them getting sick, I just wig out because I am terrified about getting "it"
Im still so thankful that I had my children, they are so much fun, and when you look at the grand scheme of things, they're not sick all that much.
Although, when you hear of something going around, or have a sick child, its hard to think like that, but you get though it.

[fendergirl2020]

Thanks for replying. I always hear about the mother instincts and I think "God what if I don't have that?!" I think because I don't know how I would handle it if I was sick, what if they're the same as me and there's nothing I can do to help, if you know what I mean? If my child was panicking, I think I would panic aswell and not be any help at all! Hopefully this will be when my gorgeous, heroic, fit hubby [img]smileys/smilies_03.gif[/img]would come into play and calm us both down!


xx

[ontariogirl]

You know what? If my child showed signs of this phobia I would have his butt in a doctors office demanding for help. At least the child has a better chance of getting over this fear than I ever had. Once you hold the bundle of joy you will understand and you will have that mother instinct, I guarante you 100%.