To challenge doctors decision re baby's care?

[codenameduchess]

DS was born Monday, has been in scbu since but released earlier today. Plan was we'd be on post natal ward while he has some light therapy for jaundice and then go home when we had the all clear from that.

All other tests have come back clear- he'd had RDS but breathing fine now, blood tests show no infection, blood gasses fine. Tonight his nurse has asked 4 doctors for a decision on if the antibiotics he'd been on could stop (given on day 1 as a 'just in case', never any infection markers or signs of infection seen). 3 refused to comment and one has said to carry on with IV antibiotics 2x a day for 7 full days, so ending Monday evening with a view to discharge Tuesday (probably Wednesday because they are soooo slow).
Now, I feel like this is a waste of time and resources, his nurse agrees. Why does a patient with no infection and no signs of infection need more antibiotics? As his mother do I not get to be involved in that discussion?

WIBU to say I do not think he needs these antibiotics or to stay in hospital taking up a needed bed for that much longer when really we could go home now.
Or request a non-IV option that we can give him at home/return to hospital for the doses as we both drive and live nearby.

I know it's caution because he's newborn, but he's never had an infection and the doctors have said that so why is he on medication to treat something that was never there?

I’m totally with fallfallfall, take the drs advice. They are acting on your baby’s best interests and would not treat him unnecessarily.

Sorry cross posted. If you have questions it is a more than a reasonable expectation they should be discussed and answered. Hope you get to speak to the consultant tomorrow and get everything clarified.

No, you didn't say "shit doctors" op, some person trying to incite even more anxiety in you did that

Good luck in getting some clarity in your baby's care but please don't start kicking off, issuing threats, trying to hold the medical team to ransom or trying any of the other batshit modes of action suggested here

Peadiatric nurse here. They will
Not keep him in any longer than he needs to be in, and doctors are now very careful about prescribing antibiotics due to resistance, so they will have a good reason for carrying them on.

They are being cautious. The last thing they want is a dead baby! Can you imagine this post - the nhs discharged my baby and their infection returned, they had become resistant to the antibiotics???? The drs have been to school for a really long time to learn this stuff!

Congratulations on your baby! I obviously can’t speak to your situation, but in general decisions about antibiotic courses in babies are made not only on blood results, but also If there are changes on chest X-rays or if the circumstances around the birth are particularly high risk. Respiratory distress needing SCBU admission is definitely a red flag for infection!

Be aware, in your decision making, that if you leave hospital with him and he needs to be readmitted, you won't get a postnatal ward bed.

DD2 had neonatal jaundice and was put on a bilibed for phototherapy. We were given a postnatal bed. I pushed for her to be discharged on day 5. Doctors were reluctant. I said I'd come straight back if there was a problem, so they agreed. The next day, we were walking through a shopping centre when I said to DH 'Does she look orange to you?' We went straight back to hospital. She needed triple phototherapy because her bilirubin levels had risen so much. However, because she had been out of hospital, she had to go to SCBU, not postnatal, so I had to stay in a separate room so I could breastfeed.

A different doctor has been to see us, he checked baby over and had reviewed his notes, doctor said that there are usually 2 options for babies in our situation but because he has no signs of any infection (and is thriving) that he is happy to just watch him for a day and see how he is but from the examination and blood results today everything looks fine and agreed with my reasonings behind not particularly wanting another cannula and more potentially toxic medication if it's not needed (one of the antibiotics he's had is potentially toxic and needs close monitoring so also comes with more blood tests). There is a low threshold for needing antibiotics again which I'm happy with, but everyone is really happy with his progress.

Oh good, hopefully you'll be home soon then. I hope that LO remains healthy.

Sounds great! Fingers crossed things stay that way and you can go home soon, I'm glad they came to talk to you properly

Glad to read they’ve had a proper conversation with you OP - I hope you and DS get to go home soon