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Original poster

Had to call ambulance for my 4 month old. Hand hold

97 replies

firsttimemum987 · 27/11/2022 19:06

My 4 month old has had a cough for about 3 days now. Today it turned really nasty. I gave her some cough medicine as recommended by my pharmacist. As soon as I gave her the medicine, she came up in hives, her lips and face started to swell and she was struggling to breathe. I called the ambulance straight away. They got to me in 3 minutes. They injected her with adrenaline and we were blue lighted to the hospital. We are now in paediatric resuscitation unit.

My DH is in another country on a work trip and I cannot get hold of him. So it's just me and the baby. I feel so guilty. It's all my fault.

OP posts:
Original poster
firsttimemum987 · 27/11/2022 23:05

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your replies. They have been so comforting to read. I think I know deep down it wasn't my fault but it still doesn't stop the overwhelming guilt I feel.

Unfortunately we will be having an overnight stay in the hospital. They would like to monitor her overnight and will hopefully be discharged tomorrow. They have done some blood tests so fingers crossed we find out what she's allergic to.

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 27/11/2022 23:09

It's completely natural to have all sorts of strong feelings when you're in shock, OP. Just try to notice your feelings and let them go. Your instincts are to protect your child; you did everything right, the guilt is just a manifestation of fear and anxiety. Hope you manage to get a bit of rest, tonight. x

Dartmoorcheffy · 27/11/2022 23:11

I'm sure she will be absolutely fine by the morning and you will know what she's allergic to. You shouldn't feel at all guilty. Nobody is to blame here .

Interested in this thread?

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3-6 months old Babies & sleep Behaviour & development Children's health
TabithaTittlemouse · 27/11/2022 23:12

You did exactly the right thing.

SweetSakura · 27/11/2022 23:14

@firsttimemum987 overnight is the right thing. It also gives you a chance to take it all in. I'm ashamed to say I dropped my son the day we got home. I think I was just in absolute shock. He was fine thankfully, but that's why it is important to take it very easy for a bit (well so far as you can with a baby) and ideally have someone with you.

Hopefully the blood tests will give you some answers 😀.

I hope you have a bed and will get a comfortable nights sleep. I ended up curling up in the cot with my son when we were in as he was used to co sleeping. The nurses had a good giggle when they found us!!

It's nerve wracking discovering your child has allergies but there is lots of good support and advice out there

User57713 · 27/11/2022 23:16

Well done op. You reacted quickly and that saved her life. You've discovered she has allergies, you'll work out what they are, you'll know what to do.

She's a whole lot safer today than she was yesterday thanks to you.

Scary stuff. No wonder you're in shock.

whatwouldAnnaDelveydo · 27/11/2022 23:18

You didn't do anything wrong, quite the opposite! The ambulance arrived quickly, she is being treated. She's safe, I can't imagine the relief. And of course you're in shock, be gentle with yourself.

CrimboLimbo · 27/11/2022 23:18

You’re a fab mum, OP. You did what you could to make her more comfortable. You took advice. When it went wrong, you phoned for help and you got her to where she needs to be.

well done you xx

toucaninjapan · 27/11/2022 23:22

Just a massive hug. Thank God the ambulance arrived so fast and your little one is safe❤️

Seaside1972 · 28/11/2022 00:06

Hi OP. I haven’t been able to read the whole thread but I wanted to say, you’ve done nothing wrong following the advice of professionals and getting your baby to hospital. But never ever give your child cough medicine. The pharmacist advising that needs to be reported. It’s so unsafe to do that. I have a 4 month old, 2 year old and 3 year old with severe coughs all the time (asthma) and the rule is no cough medicine. I really hope you and your baby are ok x

BlackeyedGruesome · 28/11/2022 01:47

you did great. well done.

thankfully, my dd was old enough to alert me when I gave her pistachios and she had an allergic reaction... (she's allergic to other stuff. )

but even so it was fucking scary.

IamEarthymama · 28/11/2022 01:49

Just sending Blessings and wishes for a peaceful night and home soon xx

PissedOffAmericanWoman · 28/11/2022 02:28

firsttimemum987 · 27/11/2022 19:06

My 4 month old has had a cough for about 3 days now. Today it turned really nasty. I gave her some cough medicine as recommended by my pharmacist. As soon as I gave her the medicine, she came up in hives, her lips and face started to swell and she was struggling to breathe. I called the ambulance straight away. They got to me in 3 minutes. They injected her with adrenaline and we were blue lighted to the hospital. We are now in paediatric resuscitation unit.

My DH is in another country on a work trip and I cannot get hold of him. So it's just me and the baby. I feel so guilty. It's all my fault.

OP it's okay my mother had the exact same situation with me. I'm allergic to sulfa and I got an infection when I was a newborn. The doctor prescribed a medication with sulfa in it and my mom had to rush me to the hospital my entire face was blue. 30 years later and she still has nightmares about it and calls me crying and apologizing. But from one daughter to another mother your baby forgives you! You were just trying to take care of your little one like a good mommy!

You did absolutely nothing wrong. I know it doesn't help but I don't even remember it happening and I'm a happy healthy grown woman with my own baby now.

HoppingPavlova · 28/11/2022 04:23

You should not be feeling guilty but lucky as you are now aware of an allergy (to be determined but at least it can only be one of a few things). If this had not of occurred when it did, then an allergy with something else with this ingredient could have occurred presenting more challenges - you may not have been with your daughter and someone may not have acted so quickly, an ambulance could not have physically got there in the quick time it did today etc. Take it as a blessing that this can now be controlled (once culprit ingredient identified). Much better than a lot of the alternatives.

aloris · 28/11/2022 06:24

Keep the cough medicine bottle, especially the label, so you can later identify the specific ingredient that caused the allergic reaction. You probably also want to report it to the company that manufactures the medicine, for their record-keeping. And to any drug regulation oversight system that is available to you to report adverse reactions to medicines. This helps them keep track of the safety profiles of various medicines.

No one can predict drug reactions, they just happen. It's not your fault. You did really well, your baby is in the safest place for this sort of situation, the hospital. Give yourself a little pat on the back.

Make sure you are given a solid plan for when your baby is released. What symptoms to expect over the next few days/weeks, how you should handle them, who to call if you have questions, etc.

Pinkbluebells · 28/11/2022 06:35

Allergies can be absolutely unpredictable - even something that you have tolerated for years. My husband suddenly became allergic to a particular fish - he was a fisheries scientist and his colleagues had all sorts of theories about parasites.

I swear that with every medical emergency involving our child my husband was overseas. My husband sent me an email once saying he had been out to dinner in New Orleans, listened to some jazz and was going to fit in a game of golf before he flew home I sent him an email banging on about the plastic surgeon who was sewing our four year old son's chin back together recommending a general anaesthetic.

SamanthaVimes · 28/11/2022 06:51

How is your DD now OP? I hope she’s feeling better. This must have been so scary for you ❤️

Dontjudgeme101 · 28/11/2022 07:26

Your in the right place op. 💐💐

Dreamwhisper · 28/11/2022 07:27

You have dealt with a crisis so swiftly and efficiently and got your baby the help she needed. I honestly don't know if I would have been able to keep my head in such a scary situation and on my own too, you've done incredibly well.

Literally no one would predict that their LO would be allergic to something as bog standard as calpol, it's so common to use that I didn't even know it was possible to be allergic to it! They tell people to give it to babies at their immunisations so from tiny ages, everyone thinks it's safe as houses!

OP, you have done absolutely nothing wrong and absolutely everything right. Sometimes there is no lesson to be learned or diligence to be gained. Your DD was incredibly unlucky with the medication but incredibly lucky she has you as a mum.

Wishing your DD a speedy recovery; please let go of the guild and focus on your wellbeing. Must have been a real shock Flowers

Fleurdaisy · 28/11/2022 07:42

This is how you discover allergies, unfortunately.
It’s scary but you reacted quickly and did everything correctly —- that’s what counts.
I have allergies to obscure things, so I know how sudden and scary it can be.
You’ll get help and advice now and be able to put strategies in place.
You did well and got the right help fast.

Fleurdaisy · 28/11/2022 07:45

Forgot —- when you’re feeling up to it yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
Report the medication on a yellow card. Helps research.
Hope your LO is recovering well.

Original poster
firsttimemum987 · 28/11/2022 11:18

Can anyone who has a dc with allergies advise how they got them tested? I wanted a referral to allergy testing but the doctor I've seen this morning is saying "she doesn't need it at this point" and has just told me to stay away from the medicine, but I would like to know what exactly it was she's reacted to. My baby could have died and I want to do everything I can to avoid a situation like this again.

OP posts:
MyTing · 28/11/2022 12:51

firsttimemum987 · 28/11/2022 11:18

Can anyone who has a dc with allergies advise how they got them tested? I wanted a referral to allergy testing but the doctor I've seen this morning is saying "she doesn't need it at this point" and has just told me to stay away from the medicine, but I would like to know what exactly it was she's reacted to. My baby could have died and I want to do everything I can to avoid a situation like this again.

I did it via private consultant who was very good. Whereabouts are you geographically?

MrsSkylerWhite · 28/11/2022 12:54

Love to you both. You did brilliantly, she’s exactly where she needs to be just now. There’s so much negativity in the news of late, but our recent emergency experience in hospital was fantastic, brilliant care. They’re doing the very best for her and you’re stronger than you know.

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 28/11/2022 12:58

You can book a GP appointment and ask for a referral. You can also book some allergy testing privately. Unfortunately the NHS is so snowed under they really don't want new referrals so you'll have to push. In their eyes if it's a one off and you don't give her that medicine or others with that ingredient in it again and she is fine then there is no need.

Glad she is doing better OP, must have been quite the scare!