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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/17/2015 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
how do you avoid getting c diff from your babies?? i know my gi doctor has always told me to stay away from babies because i've had c diff so many times and 7/10 babies carry high levels of it when they are born.

do you have your significant other do the diaper changing and feeding? i know c diff spreads very easily so a baby's nursery would be a danger zone.

i'm just freaking out about it. my sister is pregnant and we are turning the office into a nursery. i don't plan on entering the room whatsoever but know the kid will go where my sister goes.

please tell me i am not destined to get c diff again. i told my sister i will never forgive her if her kid gives it to me. and yes, i am very bitter/angry about this pregnancy.
Posted 6/17/2015 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
You would have to be in direct contact with the feces so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Have her wipe down the changing area after she or whoever else is changing the baby. Babies are prone to have "blowouts" so you'll have to be mindful of that. No diaper changing for you.
Posted 6/17/2015 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Awe lol, you don't have to avoid babies, just their poops lol, and since it's not your baby you should be fine...it spreads easy but not that easy, my mom had C-diff a lot near the end of her life and I was around her, even helped her get out of bed so she could make a trip to the toilet, D everywhere, I put on gloves and cleaned it up very well for her and I never contracted it from doing so.
Posted 6/17/2015 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
like others said you can get it by fecal oral meaing you have to touch feces and then get it into your mouth
frequent handwashing is the key- purell does not get rid of c. diff spores
wipe down hard surfaces with bleach
and you can use this as an excuse to not change the diapers
Posted 6/17/2015 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Can I ask why you are so bitter over the pregnancy? If it's too personal a question, I totally understand.
Posted 6/17/2015 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
One thing a lot of people don't realize is that any kind of acid reducers increase your chances of getting C-Diff. Apparently it doesn't like stomach acid so the more you have the less likely you are to get C-Diff. Unfortunately, I have always had a problem with heartburn (even before UC). Can't remember the exact stats but I changed from one PPI to a different one because it had a much lower instance of possible C-Diff than the other one. So far I have have never had C-Diff. High dose probiotics help reduce the risk as well. If I remember right I believe you can use VSL as a treatment for C-Diff, although I don't think it will eradicate it all by itself.
Posted 6/17/2015 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
thanks guys. i guess it will just be a lot of disinfecting for me! i have lots of bleach wipes around the house already. i'll just enjoy the babyless house while i can.

michele, mainly because she's not ready and cant support herself at all. the father is gone already. i just wanted better for her since she just graduated.

gary, i haven't taken any acid reducers in many years because of the c diff risk- just for a month in 2011 for my gastritis. that was way before i had c diff so much though. i'm still on vsl and dont plan on stopping. i won a year's supply on their facebook site thankfully. that stuff costs a fortune.
Posted 6/17/2015 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Banana, i've recently read in a medical paper that all sorts of bleach or antibacterial wipes at home are not so effective for disinfection as plain vinegar, i clean everything at home with vinegar and baking soda
Posted 6/17/2015 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
vinegar and baking soda are great for normal situations but they do not kill out c. diff spores to the best of my knowledge and c diff is both more harmful and easier to catch with those with ibd therefore, it may be helpful to use bleach in this specific case
but normally its recommended to use as low "toxic" as possible
Posted 6/19/2015 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
You could get one of the hazmat suits with the helmets and all.... and the respirator. I think they may even have diapers in some models... You could literally live in the suit for the first few years... I'd suggest a yellow hazmat suit to go with the banana theme.

PS - I have ummm I actually don't know anymore. 23 nieces and nephews now. Maybe 24. One is 5 months old this week sometime. Anyway, to many to count without deep thought. I have babysat them, played with them, maybe changed a few of them but I tend to call my "mom" or a neighbour or well anyone but me in this regard. I have never had c-diff.

I think it's more just luck of the draw. There's a slight chance you might get it - but there's a 100% certainty life will be much more fun and rewarding hanging around your new little mini-person. Plus they smell awesome... well, when they are not pooping. They smell mmmmmm kinda happy... and that in turn makes you more happy and less stressed :)
Posted 6/19/2015 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I am currently being treated for my 6th bout of C diff. (4th one I've been treated for, the other two just ran their course) According to my doctor, I am not "catching" it repeatedly. It's already there. When I am run down it takes over. Being on Remicade is also contributing to more frequent infections. PO'd about it? Yes, I am.
Posted 6/19/2015 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
This is good information here. After recently just having a kid myself (4 months old) and having changed only god knows how many diapers, I didn't even think about the risk of c-diff. I of course always wash my hands after but I will be more aware of it now for sure.
Posted 6/19/2015 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I think your doctor pulled that 7/10 number out of his butt. The colon of a newborn is actually sterile. During the 1st year of life, maybe 3 out of 10 will have detectable levels of c. diff. but they have to get it from somewhere.
Posted 6/19/2015 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with what LiveStudio says, a newborn isn't likely a threat to you compared adults around it being a threat to them. Come to think of it, neither of my kids have ever had C-diff and they're in their 20's now....and my 2.5 yr old granddaughter has never had it either.

In fact, you might want to borrow your niece/nephews poops and do your own fecal transplant at home with it...maybe that'll be of help to your colon. I know others here at HW have mentioned doing that with their new babies (especially one of the male members I believe tried it with his new baby a few years ago and posted about it if I recall correctly).
Posted 6/19/2015 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wondering this through this whole thread. If newborns were so dangerous it would be well known.
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