1 Week Old Daughter - ill / high temp
Discussion
Posting because I'm at home wondering what - if anything - I can do while my wife is in hospital with our one week old daughter (7 days tomorrow,Sunday)
Our daughter Sadhbh (pronounced Sive, as in five) was born last Sunday at 4:30pm. We brought her home on Monday and all was fine. On Friday morning my wife told me she's had a temperature, felt hot overnight and our thermometer showed a high temp in the morning. We phoned the health visitor out of hours number and they told us to go to the GP.
Because our GP has a bizarre system - doors open 8:15, reception opens 8:30 doctor arrives 9 or later we actually went to see practice nurse. As it happens our health visitor was there and the two of them recommended we go to hospital ASAP. A consultant was phones and we almost ended up going by ambulance but decided it was quicker by car. It was. I may have exceeded the speed limit somewhat.
At the hospital after a thorough examination of paperwork our daughter was examined. She had a high temp. Imagine. So she was put on antibiotics and bloods taken aswell as a lumbar puncture.
Lumbar test came back clear which more or less rules out meningitis. So now we wait. My wife and daughter in hospital managing. Our daughter, while alert and responsive, is not feeding so now has a feed tube and my wife is expressing milk.
She - Sadhbh - is sleeping a lot and gets upset if moved. Her temp has been coming down but has sometimes gone up again. Today she got down into the 37s and we took a sigh of relief. But tonight, after I came home, her temp was back up to 38.5, that's about 25 mins before next antibiotics dose. Tomorrow she can go up to 3 doses, from only 2 today.
She's had a couple of doses of Calpol but that doesn't seem to impact on temp.
My son (18 months) has been brilliant. He gets bored at the hospital as expected so BIL and Wife have been over today taking care of him. And he's been very good. I was back in time to bath him and put him to bed. He's stirred a couple of times and when I went up to calm him an hour ago it hit me. I was crying over him as I reassured him in his half awake state.
I thought she was improving and there was a chance she'd be home again on Monday having done 72 hours of antibiotics but that looks less likely now.
My mum was supposed to be coming down tomorrow, she's so desperate to see her granddaughter but I've had to put her off until later in the week.
So, what's the point of the post, the question? I don't know. I think I just needed to ask and see what the possibilities are given the limited information.
And also to thank the staff at Bedford Hospital who have been amazing. If you get the chance do something positive for the staff at your local hospital. Chances are they're f
king amazing.
Our daughter Sadhbh (pronounced Sive, as in five) was born last Sunday at 4:30pm. We brought her home on Monday and all was fine. On Friday morning my wife told me she's had a temperature, felt hot overnight and our thermometer showed a high temp in the morning. We phoned the health visitor out of hours number and they told us to go to the GP.
Because our GP has a bizarre system - doors open 8:15, reception opens 8:30 doctor arrives 9 or later we actually went to see practice nurse. As it happens our health visitor was there and the two of them recommended we go to hospital ASAP. A consultant was phones and we almost ended up going by ambulance but decided it was quicker by car. It was. I may have exceeded the speed limit somewhat.
At the hospital after a thorough examination of paperwork our daughter was examined. She had a high temp. Imagine. So she was put on antibiotics and bloods taken aswell as a lumbar puncture.
Lumbar test came back clear which more or less rules out meningitis. So now we wait. My wife and daughter in hospital managing. Our daughter, while alert and responsive, is not feeding so now has a feed tube and my wife is expressing milk.
She - Sadhbh - is sleeping a lot and gets upset if moved. Her temp has been coming down but has sometimes gone up again. Today she got down into the 37s and we took a sigh of relief. But tonight, after I came home, her temp was back up to 38.5, that's about 25 mins before next antibiotics dose. Tomorrow she can go up to 3 doses, from only 2 today.
She's had a couple of doses of Calpol but that doesn't seem to impact on temp.
My son (18 months) has been brilliant. He gets bored at the hospital as expected so BIL and Wife have been over today taking care of him. And he's been very good. I was back in time to bath him and put him to bed. He's stirred a couple of times and when I went up to calm him an hour ago it hit me. I was crying over him as I reassured him in his half awake state.
I thought she was improving and there was a chance she'd be home again on Monday having done 72 hours of antibiotics but that looks less likely now.
My mum was supposed to be coming down tomorrow, she's so desperate to see her granddaughter but I've had to put her off until later in the week.
So, what's the point of the post, the question? I don't know. I think I just needed to ask and see what the possibilities are given the limited information.
And also to thank the staff at Bedford Hospital who have been amazing. If you get the chance do something positive for the staff at your local hospital. Chances are they're f
king amazing. Edited by Hackney on Sunday 7th August 02:21
I don't think anyone on here can help but the world leading nhs can and will , they know what they are doing and your little girl is in safe hands. It's easy for me to say I'm sure she will be fine but I reckon the nurses and doctors will have come across this before and will know exactly what they are doing.
From my dealings with the nhs and babies they don't mess about.
Beautiful name and congratulations btw
From my dealings with the nhs and babies they don't mess about.
Beautiful name and congratulations btw
I'm not medical but have two daughters. The eldest even at the age of 4 gives you a few scares as she has a few occasions when she gets a temperature of over 40 deg lasting a few days and gets quite confused with it. Eventually it sorts itself out.
As for the youngest, we were so happy to get her home. Unfortunately we noticed a tremor /shaking so she ended back in hospital at Two/Three days old. Our GP was a little dismissive, and took her blood saying she felt it was unnecessary. She got the results, was majorly concerned and arranged for her to be readmitted due to low blood sugar. Quite distressing but young kids don't react like us and it's the best place for them.
When it comes to caring for sick kids, once you get them admitted the care is brilliant.
Good luck fella, I can understand what you're going through.
As for the youngest, we were so happy to get her home. Unfortunately we noticed a tremor /shaking so she ended back in hospital at Two/Three days old. Our GP was a little dismissive, and took her blood saying she felt it was unnecessary. She got the results, was majorly concerned and arranged for her to be readmitted due to low blood sugar. Quite distressing but young kids don't react like us and it's the best place for them.
When it comes to caring for sick kids, once you get them admitted the care is brilliant.
Good luck fella, I can understand what you're going through.
Thanks for the replies.
I didn't realise quite how emotional I was until a couple of things have really got to me over the last 12 hours. Waking up
My son this morning and after getting "dadda" and "hiya" he said "mamma" a few times.
I don't know what he understands (he's 18 months) but I think he realises that mamma isn't here when she should be.
I didn't realise quite how emotional I was until a couple of things have really got to me over the last 12 hours. Waking up
My son this morning and after getting "dadda" and "hiya" he said "mamma" a few times.
I don't know what he understands (he's 18 months) but I think he realises that mamma isn't here when she should be.
Temperature today has been in the normal band for a few readings so it looks like the fever may have passed.
Up to three doses of antibiotics today as she's passed the one week old threshold.
She's still not great at feeding off the boob but is getting nourishment from expressed milk straight to the stomach by tube. That's probably making her a bit lazy in having to suckle for herself. Trying to get her off that habit.
Waiting to see a doctor.....well my wife is, I'm sitting in a layby while my son sleeps - BIL and wide took him swimming this morning and got to hospital about 12:30. He was knackered (usually naps around 12) but wouldn't sit still. So I too on him out for a drive. 100m down the road zzzzzzzz
Seems it's not bothering him too much then.
So hopefully the doctors can let us go home tomorrow. My understanding is when on antibiotics it's 3 days minimum which would end tomorrow. But it could be up to 5 or 6 days.
Really hoping they can come home tomorrow.
Up to three doses of antibiotics today as she's passed the one week old threshold.
She's still not great at feeding off the boob but is getting nourishment from expressed milk straight to the stomach by tube. That's probably making her a bit lazy in having to suckle for herself. Trying to get her off that habit.
Waiting to see a doctor.....well my wife is, I'm sitting in a layby while my son sleeps - BIL and wide took him swimming this morning and got to hospital about 12:30. He was knackered (usually naps around 12) but wouldn't sit still. So I too on him out for a drive. 100m down the road zzzzzzzz
Seems it's not bothering him too much then.
So hopefully the doctors can let us go home tomorrow. My understanding is when on antibiotics it's 3 days minimum which would end tomorrow. But it could be up to 5 or 6 days.
Really hoping they can come home tomorrow.
B****cks! My wife just texted me to say the doctor has seen Sadhbh and says they'll be in for min 5 days possibly 7.
Temperature ok but "she's not herself" so has to stay in.
So that's at least Wednesday and three more days. At least tomorrow my sons back in nursery, occupying him has been challenging to say the least.
Temperature ok but "she's not herself" so has to stay in.
So that's at least Wednesday and three more days. At least tomorrow my sons back in nursery, occupying him has been challenging to say the least.
Hackney said:
B****cks! My wife just texted me to say the doctor has seen Sadhbh and says they'll be in for min 5 days possibly 7.
Temperature ok but "she's not herself" so has to stay in.
So that's at least Wednesday and three more days. At least tomorrow my sons back in nursery, occupying him has been challenging to say the least.
I'd rather they be cautious but I can imagine how stressful it all is, hopefully in a couple weeks it'll be a distant memory and she'll be home safe feeding well.Temperature ok but "she's not herself" so has to stay in.
So that's at least Wednesday and three more days. At least tomorrow my sons back in nursery, occupying him has been challenging to say the least.
Thought I'd give a bit of an update.
My daughter (and wife) came home yesterday although still going back three times a day for doses of antibiotics.
We all went to the hospital this afternoon for a 2pm appointment but didn't leave until almost 4:30 after the cannula (?) had a leak and had to be removed. Some time later, and at the second attempt, a new cannula was inserted into Sadhbh's other wrist.
So tonight's dose is at 11, tomorrow's first dose at 7 which is probably better than 6
Some confusion over whether she has to do 7 days of antibiotics (Started Friday) or 7 days of the new type of antibiotics. The type was changed on Saturday. Hopefully find out tonight or tomorrow.
Anyway, they're both home and we feel like we can get started on family life now.
My daughter (and wife) came home yesterday although still going back three times a day for doses of antibiotics.
We all went to the hospital this afternoon for a 2pm appointment but didn't leave until almost 4:30 after the cannula (?) had a leak and had to be removed. Some time later, and at the second attempt, a new cannula was inserted into Sadhbh's other wrist.
So tonight's dose is at 11, tomorrow's first dose at 7 which is probably better than 6
Some confusion over whether she has to do 7 days of antibiotics (Started Friday) or 7 days of the new type of antibiotics. The type was changed on Saturday. Hopefully find out tonight or tomorrow.
Anyway, they're both home and we feel like we can get started on family life now.
You're going to get a lot of these scares. Just remember, the immune system is like a blank canvas at first, but millions of years of evolution have given it great abilities. Let it learn, don't shield her from the microbes (obvs do so in the short term)!. Wishing you all the best. I remember those worrying times.
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