I had to take my baby to the ER last night

[Pithlet]

We are one tired, exhausted family this Sunday. Our baby had been acting crankier than usual all weekend, then Saturday he became absolutely inconsolable. We couldn't get him to eat, or sleep, and he was running a slight fever. After about two hours of almost nonstop screaming we finally took him in around 3 am or so this morning.

It was awful. It turns out it's nothing serious, just a little bug, but because he wouldn't eat for so long he was dehydrated, so they had to do an IV. He's only 10 weeks old, and went through a huge ordeal where they kept poking him everywhere trying to get a vein. They kept "blowing" whatever that means. He just screamed his little head off. They finally got one in his arm, but it fell out. They ended up using his little foot. I had to help hold him down, and I felt so awful :( He is covered in little bruises. I had blood all over me.

We didn't get home until 10 o'clock this morning. He's sleeping now; catching up on all the lost sleep. He's doing much better now that he's had fluids. Poor little guy; he's been through the ringer.

[ewagner]

1. Parenthood often sucks

and when a tiny one like that is sick, the sucking is profound. I often felt like I was torturing the kid when we were in the emergency room.

hint: don't let him sleep too long or he'll reverse your days and nights on you.

glad it's nothing serious though. Good luck

[proud patriot]

2. Awe Precious Angel

:-( I hope he's through the worst of it now
and recovers well

[Lars39]

3. Oh, that's awful !

Multiple pokes to find a vein is the pits! I'm glad the little guy's doing OK and it was nothing more serious.

Sleep is a good thing. :hug:

[Ilsa]

4. I'm so sorry you had to go through this.

It's always very scary when a baby is sick.

Babies' veins are very touchy. I hope a pediatric nurse was able to work with him. I wouldn't want a regular ER nurse to do it unless they do it all the time. Pedi/neonatal nurses really know how to get it done. Sometimes they will even insert them in very superficial veins in a newborn's scalp.

I hope your sweet little baby gets well soon and you all get some sleep.

[populistmom]

5. Hugs

There's nothing scarier than when a little one is sick. I had a few scary episodes with one of my children who had repeated respiratory infections as an infant (he's my healthiest one now though) and he had trouble breathing on a number of occasions. I'm so glad your son is okay though. Sorry about the IV issues. I take it it wasn't a children's hospital. Being related to a couple of people who are pediatric health professionals, one thing I've learned is that people who are used to adult care tend to mess up at times with kids, but I know in many areas, one doesn't always have the choice of going to a pediatric hospital.

I hope he continues to feel better.

[Pithlet]

7. We have one, but

It's in the city, so it's a bit of a drive. Next time though, if time isn't of the essence, we'll go there instead. Thanks for the well-wishes

[diamondsoul]

6. Ugh!

Poor thing, poor family! "Blowing" means they "blow" the vein, in other words instead of getting the fluids into his blood, the pressure is too much for the tiny veins and they pop. They also say that when they put the needle in at the wrong angle and puncture the vein twice. Both things leave pretty ugly looking bruises but in spite of all the shrieking the poor babies do they aren't that painful.

A bit of advice, anytime a baby that young skips two or more feedings it's time to get to the Doc even if there is no fever. I kept to that rule myself until they were at least 10 months old and they never got dehydrated, and I'm sure you don't want to go through all that again. Glad he's feeling well enough to sleep now, and I hope you've all managed to do the same.

[blondeatlast]

8. Been there, guy. The worst time was when my then 5 mo old

had a killer ear infection, and I'm not overstating the case. The heater was out in the house, I had to wait for the repairman. Kid was not his usual good natured self, but nothing major. Took his temp, fine. 2 hours later, still waiting, my mom and dad stopped by to bring me lunch. Kid is alternating between sleep and misery; take his temp.

105.

Thank God mom and dad were there. Call the doc; bring him right in. Dad goes with me, mom stays to wait. He is so hot when we get there they bring me a bucket of ice water and some towels soaking in it. I have to hold the towels on my poor little bear until his fever comes down; it took about an hour and a half (they had already given him Advil).

I was sobbing the entire time. The next day, I ended up int he ER with a stomach flu, for which they kept me (I'm insulin dependent, so throwing up is a serious issue). I felt nothing until the next day, though.

The reward is the absolutely amazing and beautiful calm in watching them sleep. Take careand give the wee one a DU hug!

[Ilsa]

9. Ice cold water is no longer the standard of care.

Ice water constricts the capillaries and shunts the blood to the body's core, raising the little one's temperature even more. A tepid bath is better for dissipating the heat until the meds kick in. It may take a moment longer to accomplish, but you are less likely to raise the temperature to even more dangerous levels first.

(This is what was taught in nursing school a few years ago.)

[blondeatlast]

11. Hmmm; this would have been in about 1998.

It worked, but it was absolutely horrible for me, if not for VJ.

[cally]

10. Lot's of hugs

I've been there, too. I'm glad your little one is doing better. I suspect he will recover quicker than the rest of the family.

:grouphug:

[Breezy du Nord]

12. I sympathize with you

I babysat a 6 month old today. I've never babysat anyone less than 3. It was an exhausting experience.

[Pithlet]

13. well...

His fever is back up, and it's getting difficult to get him to eat, again. He is nursing, and so far he's eating as much as he should, but it obviously bothers him. He's taking a nap now, so hopefully that will help. Please keep your fingers crossed that he doesn't end up back in the ER tonight :(

[ulysses]

14. jesus

All best to all four of you.

[Obamarama]

15. Poor little guy....

Hope he's feeling better soon and hope it's nothing more serious than a minor bug!

He won't remember this, but YOU will. File this in the memory bank and pull it out the first time he REALLY screws up when he's a teenager.

"We sat up with you in EMERGENCY for HOURS when you were just weeks old and THIS is how you REPAY US?"

[Pithlet]

17. Yes

I'll add it to the list. "I was on bedrest for 3 months...", "I was in labor for so and so hours..."

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Nothing is scarier than a sick little baby. I'll be thinking of you

and hoping he gets some much needed rest and that fever goes down. Try not to worry, I know that's so hard.

Hugs, Laura

[Pithlet]

18. Thanks, everyone

He woke up from his nap, and his temp is back to normal. So, I think the worst is over. Phew...

[cally]

19. Good news!

Maybe you could just call the emergency room and say you went last night. Ask if there is anything else you can do? Yours is very young, but I know after vaccines when they had high fevers sometimes a doctor would recommend ways of reducing the fever.

[Pithlet]

20. He's going to his 2 month checkup tomorrow

and the poor little guy has to get his vaccines. As if he hasn't been through enough already. I'm going to ask the doctor if we can delay them for a few days.

[cally]

23. They usually won't give the vaccines if the baby is

sick. Most wait. Good luck. I was suggesting that maybe you could give something tonight to keep the fever down. I don't want to recommend anything, but a doctor could.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Oh good! I hope you can now get some rest.

Hugs, and best wishes for a healthy boy come morning,
Laura

[Timefortruth]

22. If the ER doc can't start an IV in an infant by the second try, stop.

Demand a trained nurse from the NBICU who will view a 10 week old's dehydrated veins as as huge as an Olympians.

You are your child's advocate, they are not in charge, you are.

on edit: I'm sorry for your ordeal, it causes flashbacks that make me angry. Things will get better now.

[populistmom]

24. That makes me mad too

I've heard too many stories from my husband about lousy docs. He has to do blood gasses on children, even preemies, which requires arterial blood (arteries are deeper are harder to get to) and so many times I've heard stories about a resident who tried to do it and practically hacked the poor kid up before calling a nurse practitioner or a respiratory therapist. :mad:

[grasswire]

27. amen on getting an expert to do the stick

Don't subject yourself or your child to repeated attempts to get a vein. Ask for an expert -- an RN at least. My daughter ended up with a huge hot episode of phlebitis from an ER phlebotomist.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. ~hugs~ for you all...

What a helpless feeling it is to see your baby suffer like that! I hope you get some sleep soon, too!

[NightTrain]

26. What a heartbreaking story

Ten years ago, I was involved with a woman who had an 18-month-old son. One evening when I came to her apartment, Alison immediately fell into my arms in tears. Seems the baby had been crying all day, wouldn't eat or sleep, and his little forehead was quite warm. When I felt his forehead myself, I turned to Alison and decreed, "We're going to the E/R now."

As with your baby, it was nothing serious. But since Alison didn't have a car, it was only when I arrived that evening that she was able to take the baby out for the help he needed. That wasn't exactly my idea of the perfect date, but when you're involved with a single parent, it's a package dea.! Besides, Alison's expression of gratitude for my help ended the night quite pleasantly!