Urgent Help Please

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

Hi, I have a 7 week old ebf dd. She has had a cold for a couple of days and has been congested so we tried the nasal drops which seemed to help. She has always been a good sleeper (4-5 hours stretch) but last night, with her cold/blocked nose she did 7 hours now she won't latch on this morning. Her mouth is open and she is trying to suck but there is no latch. I have (for the first time) expressed a feed and tried to give it to her, she had a bit but not much. She is really distressed at the breast, it seems like she wants to feed but just can't :(

I have tried to call my breast feeding support it went to answer phone and the health visitor is not available. Should I see how she goes or make an emergency appointment with the Dr (you can only get same day emergency appointments at my surgery)

Thank you for reading.

[night1971]

Take her to the Dr, she could have an ear infection or cold related infection which is hindering her feeding. I wouldn't take any risks with a 7 week old. Hope she improves soon.

[DrMcDreamysWife]

Yup agree take her to doctors. You could try feeding her in the bathroom with shower running. The steam from the bathroom might help unblock her nose if this is the problem.

Do you feel engorged? Wee babies find it hard to latch if your engorged. You could try expressing again and then try to latch.

Try different positions. I once laid my dd down on bed and on all fours dangled my breast down towards her. This helped her latch. Although she was a few months older.

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

I thought about being engorged but she won't latch onto the one I expressed from either. I will call the Dr and try different positions in the mean time.

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

Called the Dr, couldn't get past the receptionist but after explaining that I had tried to call the bfing support and hv she decided to help me, she has asked the hv to come out and see me. I asked for a Dr :(

[night1971]

Ring back and ask to speak to the Dr firmly. The receptionist is not trained to diagnose and should not have attempted to do this at all, let alone over the phone.

You have a very young baby who may or may not need medical help and it is up to your doctor to decide this alone.

If you do not succeed, say that you are so concerned that you are going to take your daughter to A&E now and you will be reporting her and this conversation to the General Practice body of authority. I am sure that your daughter is fine, however, I would never take risks with such a wee one.

The health visitor may be able to offer advice but she may refer you to the doctor herself to be sure.

[ladypop]

Totally agree - not for the receptionist to make these decisions. It's amazing how much further you can get if you simply won't take no for an answer. If it helps, get a family member or friend to call on your behalf if you don't feel up to it as this is a very emotional time for you and you could probably do with some support x

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

Well what a waste of time that was the hv came and said she couldn't see anything wrong with the baby but was quite concerned that I looked tearful. Of course I do, my baby isn't feeding, my boobs are about to explode and are sore from expressing, now you come into my house and tell me there is nothing Wong on the plus side, she did day if dd hasn't fed in the next hour she will get the Dr to see us.

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

Oh I tried to cancel the hv and insist the Dr saw us but as usual the holders of the mystical appointment system wouldn't have it :(

[night1971]

Oh poor you. They sound like the most unhelpful surgery with a severe lack of understanding how to support new mothers and small babies.

Can the HV request that the Dr phones now? I would be tempted to go to the surgery myself and insist that the Dr sees my daughter or else say that you are taking her directly to A&E.

Don't worry if you burst into tears at the desk, it may make the receptionist see how worried you are.

For how many hours has your daughter not fed? Guessing about 14 approx? I hope that you get some help now and that baby is examined. x

[Loopyaboutmy2boys]

Boo, see my post on the brooker thread. Hoping she is ok now, but if not, it could be the same as my DS 2 had.

[TheLittleFriend]

Oh boo, I hope you've managed to see or speak to the six now? Or has she fed at all? X

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

She fed at 10.30 last night, I woke her at 6am that's when she started refusing, I have managed to get some ebm into her but she is still not feeding or demanding herself :( calling doc now!

[GenericDietCola]

Oh boo, sounds scary. Def push to see Dr and get her checked out. Brooking she has a lovely big feed soon. Take care of yourself x

[TheLittleFriend]

Any news boo?

[GenericDietCola]

Checking in for news too. Hope you're ok.

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

Sorry to keep you waiting it's been an awful day. The hv said she would call me just after 2 and if K hadn't fed she would get me straight in to see the Dr. By 3 I tried to call my surgery to speak to her but it was closed. I finally managed to get hold of the hv via someone who knows her and she called and said we would need the out of hours service now cos all my Dr's had gone. I must admit I lost it a bit at that point, told her I should have been given the Dr appointment I asked for first thing this morning :( to add insult to injury my ooh service is now 111.

The stupid woman 'bare with me' every other sentence and asking stupid questions advised me that her screen was telling her K needed to se a Dr within 12 hours, no shit Sherlock!!!!!! The ooh appointment was made for this evening, 35 bloody minute drive away :( anyway, we went, K has a respiratory tract viral thingy.

Big issue now is she is still not feeding from me, expressing is not going well for me and I have just given her a formula top up cos she was starving. Now sat in tears cos I think my bfing days are over :(:(

[Shellywelly1973]

Bless you! What a day! carry on expressing. Your baby will respond to her medication in a couple days & bf again. Keep offering her bf. Lots of skin to skin. Take care. Hope your Dd gets better asap!

[GenericDietCola]

Aw, boo, sounds like you've had a rubbish day. Well done for insisting to see a Dr and hopefully K will be better soon. You never know, she may BF tomorrow if she feels s bit better, but if not, you have given her a great start and she will be just fine on formula

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

She has just tried to feed :) it was very stop start, off on but when she was on there was a definite latch and poor old righty, which had resembled a bowling ball, is definitely softer :):)

[TheLittleFriend]

Yay, go little K. And we'll done you for persevering. I hope today is better for you x

[night1971]

Glad to hear that baby has been seen by a doctor and beginning to feed.

Don't apologise for losing it at all! I think that you were remarkably polite and patient. I would be very tempted to report the receptionist to the surgery though as she may do it again to someone who is desperately ill.

Hope that you can relax a little now and enjoy your new baby girl. x

[carovioletfizz]

Have you tried Baby nose clear, it's a sort of plastic device that 'sucks' the snot out when they are sleeping. I think you can get it in Boots and most supermarkets. I found it v helpful with clearing the nasal passages. Glad things are a bit better, well done for persevering.x

[EverythingIsTicketyBoo]

I had a look at those nose clear devices, they look quite unforgiving and scary but I will get one for next time.

She is much better, I would say boob addicted that virus didn't last long but it was bloody intense!! Thank you for the hand holding, advice and support you nest of vipers!!

[MummyAbroad]

oh I am so glad everything turned out all right, I felt really scared for you and your baby reading that! Well done for standing up to the receptionist and well done for resuming bfing! Go little K!