To think a drs appointment is a bit ott

[Thetigerwhocameto]

I’ve posted in parenting but thought I’d ask here too!

DD is 6 months (4.5 corrected) and has been very snuffly, she’s probably only eaten about half her regular amount of formula (not interested in solids but this is nothing new), her temp is around 38, she’s sicked up a fair amount of each feed.

My head is telling me she’s just got a bit of a cold, no one eats as much when they are poorly and she’s a refluxy baby at the best of times, so although she’s being more sick...

DH thinks I should get her to the drs tomorrow... I’m not entirely sure there’s anything they will do other than tell us to calpol her up and ride it out. What would you do?

The most important thing to consider is her behaviour. Is she still fairly active and engaged? A very sick baby is often listless, clingy and not engaged. Personally, I think you dd probably just has a mild cold or is teething. I would take a wait and see approach.

At 6 months? I’d go.

They go can downhill very fast at that age with stuff like RSV (common cold)- as my DS did several times.

I had this when my DD was little (also a premie baby) and doctors advised me to calpol and as long as she was still having full wet nappies not to be concerned unless temp stayed over 39 degrees after calpol, hope this helps

@binkyboo16 that’s what my head has been telling me, or if she gets wheezy as opposed to snuffly. It’s a nightmare getting an appointment at our doctors and I don’t really want to take one up if they are simply going to tell me to watch and wait.

@aquamarine1029 she’s still pretty alert, much more screamy than normal but she has form for that, being expelled from NICU at 48 hours old for screaming!

I’m keen to watch and wait. I know our doctors will try and squeeze in a baby if needed, if not then if she is looking worse a call to 111.

I'd watch and wait. My DD had loads of winter bugs at a similar age and the doctor could never do anything.

I agree to watch and wait. Just keep an eye on her temperature and any signs of laboured breathing take her in

I'm concerned by only taking 50% of feeds, especially as this is an exprem and it's bronchiolitis season. I would have thought GP in the morning unless feeding rather better. Any increase in concerns overnight, then out of hours GP.

They will more than likely tell you to watch and wait if temp comes down after calpol and she doesn’t have laboured breathing. My doctors always asked first about wet nappies and again would only be concerned if there hadn’t been any over 12-24 hours. If she has no interest in formula, you could always try some water in between feeds, I guess like us babies too can get sore/dry throats and at least she would be getting some fluids into her

I'd take her to the gp. They advise to be very cautious in the first year as young babies can deteriorate rapidly. Surely it's better to go and be told to watch and wait, than not go and miss something serious.

I'd watch and wait. You know your baby.

She could also be teething, which can cause a raise in temp, red cheeks, loose nappies, loss of appetite etc. I’d start to worry if the calpol wasn’t working.

Can you get a phone consolation? I would do this if possible and explain exactly what you’ve said here, the dr can then decide if it’s a case of watch and wait or if they feel it’s better to see the baby.

Could you speak to your HV as a second opinion? Mine was an ex-nurse practitioner and really good at sorting out serious v run of the mill stuff, but I appreciate not all are the same.

*mmmm autocorrects

Hi there OP. I'd suggest speaking to the doctor at least.

Last year my DD2 was in and out of hospital with bronchiolitis. The doctors /nurses told us that reduced fluid intake is a red flag for them as babies can get dehydrated quite quickly. Normally easily dealt with if identified so best to get her checked. Is she still producing full wet nappies?

Good luck, I hope your DD gets well soon. Hope you are getting some rest too, poorly babies can be exhausting!