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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not take DS to the hospital?

197 replies

challengethethought · 01/01/2019 22:09

I posted on a Mum page (Facebook) asking what I could give one year old DS to comfort him. By that I mean things like home remedies for soothing, like honey and lemon.

He woke up about an hour ago, crying like mad with a barking cough and loud chest. Finally got him to sleep and he's wheezing and making odd grunts.

NHS advice online is just to keep an eye and don't worry. Most likely Croup by the sounds of it, not serious unless he appears to be struggling for breaths.

I've been hounded by mums on the FB page to take him to A&E! Literally every one of them. Someone's even said "Take him to A&E for fuck sake, NEVER play with a child's life!"

AIBU to not take him? Sad

OP posts:
ILoveChristmasLights · 01/01/2019 22:51

I have no faith in 111. None.

I hope he’s ok.

CrispbuttyNo1 · 01/01/2019 22:52

Op posts on Facebook - ignores advice

Op posts on mumsnet and tries to argue and ignore all advice.

Ffs op, it’s your kids health. Surely it’s better to get the checked out (by a real living person, not diagnosed by a person with no medical training) than have your child’s condition deteriorate. I just don’t understand some people’s lack of concern.

I’m glad you have finally decided to get him checked .

Littlebird88 · 01/01/2019 22:52

of its mild croup you may find taking out into the cold air does the trick.
if he is pulling in skin on his neck or check when breathing A and E

hewhinessoshewines · 01/01/2019 22:52

Hope he is ok

Aridane · 01/01/2019 22:52

Please tell 111 everything and not just the breaths per minute

TheHobbitMum · 01/01/2019 22:53

I'm glad you've called OP you must always get some medical advice if you feel something is off.

I hope little one is better soon

AwdBovril · 01/01/2019 22:54

Glad you are phoning. DD had croup last winter. When I first rang, she was coughing & wheezing (quite a bit, but it didn't seem too bad). They sent an ambulance, which took about 25 minutes to arrive. When the paramedics got in, she was unconscious & wouldn't wake even with quite strong stimuli, & her pulse wasn't great. She was, at the time, an otherwise very healthy 5 year old.

JudasPrudy · 01/01/2019 22:55

Glad you called OP, I've never regretted getting help for my DS even if it did seem a bit OTT at the time.

MrDarcyWillBeMine · 01/01/2019 22:55

Definitely do not take him to A&E over a bit of wheezing!!!

Jesus some of the people on here it’s easy to see why the NHS is in such a state!
Rocking up to A&E over what sound like croup/chest infection/viral symptoms is a totally ridiculous over reaction!

You need to see a DOCTOR but GP/out of hours is fine - call 111

Not sure why so many people feel it ok to use A&E as their on call GP and ambulances like taxis!! 🙄

yikesanotherbooboo · 01/01/2019 22:56

Phoning 111 is a good idea;

SylvanianFamiliesNurserySet · 01/01/2019 22:56

Glad you phoned, OP.

If you’re anything like me you don’t like to make a fuss, but doctors ALWAYS prefer you to err on the side of caution when it comes to babies and small children. With any luck all will be fine, but either way you’re definitely doing the right thing.

NotTheFordType · 01/01/2019 22:57

I would phone 111 and speak to an actual medical professional

111 are not medical professionals. They are call centre staff following a script which is based on the NHS online advice.

You will only speak to someone with medical training if you're referred upward (most likely as a call back or for an urgent prescription.)

JudasPrudy · 01/01/2019 22:58

This reply has been deleted

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Yabbers · 01/01/2019 22:58

When DD was a baby and we’d taken her to OOH because of a high temp, we apologised when it turned out just to be nothing. The GP said, never apologise, he would rather see a poorly baby to be on the safe side than be called out to a dead one the next day.

PhoenixBuchanan · 01/01/2019 22:59

I probably wouldn't take my one year old to A&E with these symptoms. I'd monitor and wait for GP tomorrow. I am an MN anomaly though!

MummySharkDoDo · 01/01/2019 23:00

Glad you rang

brizzledrizzle · 01/01/2019 23:03

I probably wouldn't take my one year old to A&E with these symptoms. I'd monitor and wait for GP tomorrow. I am an MN anomaly though!

Presumably you are also a parent who hasn't seen their child seriously ill in hospital after the same symptoms that the OP has described.

autumnnightsaredrawingin · 01/01/2019 23:04

Just to add, I hate wasting Drs time. I understand the NHS is on its knees. But having had a baby with these symptoms and the first time being so worried about wasting NHS time that I only took him to the GP, during normal hours, who then told me to get him straight to hospital, I wouldn’t take the risk with anything breathing related with a baby, or frankly with any child with anything breathing related.

Shadow1234 · 01/01/2019 23:05

My son suffered severe croup from a young age (and was told he would grow out of it by the time he was 5). He could go from being wheezy and coughing, to barely being able to breath, within as little as 30 minutes. Many times we had to call an ambulance and he was rushed to hospital, kept on a nebuliser until he was stable.

It can be controlled at home if it is quite mild - run a bath or shower and steam up the room, then sit in there with him until it eases. Or like other poster suggested, take him outside in the fresh air (these were all thing I was advised to do by hospital if it was mild) BUT, if things are getting worse, please take him to A and E, or call an ambulance if you notice drastic changes. My son had these episodes regularly until he was 9 (but the severity did ease off as he got older).
It may well be croup, but what if it's not? I do think you should get confirmation as to what it is.

Rh85 · 01/01/2019 23:05

Hope he’s ok

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 01/01/2019 23:06

My one year old was sent to A&E by the GP with what turned out to be a viral wheeze. That necessitated a few nights in hospital. A few weeks later we took her in with croup, which didn’t include a cough. The walk in the December air seemed to help. Babies can deteriorate really quickly. Glad you’re taking some advice.

Shadow1234 · 01/01/2019 23:06

Cross posted, sorry, didnt see your update.

user1483644229 · 01/01/2019 23:07

The thing is that with wheezing there could also be an increased heart rate that you can not see. Please - please - don’t ignore what everyone is telling you to do which is at very least call 111 or go to A&E. Even if this turns out fine you will have done to right thing by getting this checked rather than self diagnosing which is just plain dangerous.

Willow2017 · 01/01/2019 23:07

When i did my paeds rotation there was a child in with croup in an oxygen tent!

Its not something to feck around with.
I got it much to my embarassment it was horrific. Awful feeling. I had nurses knocking on my room door to see if i was ok.as they hadnt heard me barking for a while😀😀

Frozenteatowel · 01/01/2019 23:07

Glad you decided to call for advice. Always better to be safe than sorry when it involves anything to do with breathing.

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