How worried would you be?

[TheUnmentioned]

I have a bit of an issue with health anxiety and naturally worry about dd who is only 8 weeks.

However, ds was very ill last week with a very high fever, sickness, shaking, general aches etc and was sent to the childrens ward for observation.

Now I am panicking about dd getting it. I know it wont do any good but I really am worrying. I have been taking her temperature and it is about 36.9 (underarm) - the thermometer packaging says that is .1 above the normal range but I have checked (not today) about this and they say it is ABSOLUTELY fine.

Someone give me a kick up the arse please? I am sick to the hind teeth of feeling worried and stressed and now Im feeling really concerned.

She has been a bit grumpy and sleeping quite a bit but also 'playing' and smiling at other times and has had decent amount of milk today.

[ItalianLady]

I am a worrier so would probably be a lot worried but take heart that she is being smiley and drinking her milk.

[EnnisDelMar]

Oh you poor dear,

I would imagine if she was going to catch it she would have by now.

How is your son now? What did they say caused it - flu? other virus?

Lots of handwashing of course, and keep an eye - but if you are expecting it, and she does start to feel poorly, you'll be better placed to act quickly.

I hope she doesn't. I understand how you feel x

[EnnisDelMar]

Oh and 36.9 is absolutely normal IME - weird thermometer packaging people!!

Babies fluctuate anyway, I bet it'd be different if you took it again half an hour later- it goes up and down all the time, based on sleep, eating, drinking, activity...it's no biggy.

Sounds as though she is Ok in herself.

[EnnisDelMar]

..and viruses attack different people differently, too, so she may be far less poorly even if she did get it.

It's possible she's still got immunity from you anyway at this age.

[TheUnmentioned]

Italianlady That hasnt really helped tbh

EnnisDelMar Thanks, I just dont know what caused it - he had tests for UTI etc and he had red ears and throat but nothing specific iyswim so yes maybe a fluey type bug. I just dont know how long that would take to materialise in dd incubation period wise. It started in him on Thursday, very very suddenly.

[ItalianLady]

Well you did ask.

[TheUnmentioned]

No not especially Pixie but I am hormonal and tired and ds scared me last week, I have never seen him so ill.

I mean what do they even do if a very young baby has a fever?

Would a 'normal' non hormonal, non sleep deprived, non homsesick person not be worried then?

[thisisyesterday]

i wouldn't be worried in the slightest

[TheUnmentioned]

homesick (I am a long way from my parents and I just wish I lived closer, I am homseick anyways but when Im worried it would be lovely to have my mum nearby to reassure me, sorry if that sounds pathetic)

[TheUnmentioned]

thisisyesterday really? thats kind of good to hear? you wouldnt worry she would catch it and become really ill? How would you manage that? I am very envious!

[grapeandlemon]

You poor thing - I know just how you feel. I have HA with DD and when she was little I just used to sit there and watch her and worry it is rotten. Is your DH home soon?

[LadyBiscuit]

I wouldn't worry either. If your DS was ill last week and your DD seems fine then she has probably avoided it. Your milk will provide her with some immunity too. I don't tend to worry about things that might or might not happen, there's enough certainties in life to worry about.

[TheUnmentioned]

grapeandlemon dh is here but is of the 'everything is fine even when it is glaringly obvious that its not' variety.

Ladybiscuit well, there's another reason i am worried / feel guilty - I formula feed (not through choice) and she only has a couple of tiny breastfeeds a day.

[thisisyesterday]

well, i just am not really the worrying kind i guess!

i suppose i would think that with each day that passes she is less and less likely to have it... i would expect her to have shown some sign of it by now if she was going to get it

if she is breastfed she will get a lot of good antibodies from you to help protect her against it

and then it's just good old "if she's going to get it there is nothing you can do about it"... so we'll deal with it if it happens.

am sure she will be fine tho!

[thisisyesterday]

sorry, only just saw your last post. a coiuple of tiny breastfeeds will still give her good antibodies and stuff. every single breastfeed makes a difference, so there is no reason to beat yourself up over it

[ragged]

I would not worry in the slightest because there's nothing you can do about it and if it happens I would know roughly what to do anyway (see GP or phone nhs direct, follow their advice). I make a policy of not worrying about things that are so unpredictable.

I worry about things that I know are going to happen and that I know I will hate going thru and I can't really change that (eg, I have to see someone in small claims court soon and I am extremely stressed about that), but "maybe" stuff -- menh. Don't have the energy for worrying about that.

[TheUnmentioned]

thanks - this thats helped to see your thought process - its funny there are massive things which would have som people a nervous wreck which i take in my stride but i do worry about the kids health, i think because i cant bear the thought of anythingawful happening - i mean its normal for them to get ill i know but ds was soooooo ill and at 8wks i just want to protect her and yes, the bf guilt is certainly an enormous factor.

[heymango]

I wouldn't worry about this either - am not a worrier! If it happens, it happens, and it will be dealt with.

Babies can be given Calpol etc, just in tiny doses (not advising you give her anything, just saying that they do give it in hospital). DS was given small amounts at 3 weeks after an operation.

Even if she does get it, it may be a lot milder in a baby. Hope she doesn't though!

[TheUnmentioned]

i should say that although it started on thu, like i say v v suddenly, he is still not well really - poor thing!

[TheUnmentioned]

heymango youve just reminded me, ds had calpol in the kids ward at 5 weeks

[oricella]

This gives me the chills to be honest - please don't advise to give calpol to small babies without having them checked by a doctor. Until around 3 months old they shouldn't really have illnesses the way older kids do, and if there is any fever it is always best to get it checked out... I've learned the hard way

[oricella]

heymanngo, just reread your post - I know you were saying 'not advising you give her anything', but still saying that wee ones can have calpol does imply that they are just the same as older kids..

[TheUnmentioned]

no no I would never ever give calpol without seeing a doctor to a tiny baby.

what do you mean 'until aorund 3 months old they shouldnt really have illnesses the way older kids do'? I cant help dd being exposed to things unfortunately as ds is at nursery and obviously picks up things and brings them home ot us all.