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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have taken my baby to emergency

162 replies

NeedingAGoodNap · 23/04/2021 13:19

Our 8 month old daughter was feeling very unwell. She had a temp of around 40.3 and her breathing was very fast. It was 2am in the morning and we didn’t know what to do so we jumped in the car to take her to emergency. The triage nurse did some tests and found that her temp, breathing and heart rate were all very high so she admitted us straight away.

The doctor seemed confused as to why we were there and thought it was obvious that it was a virus and we should have just treated at home. They monitored and gave her pain relief for 4 - 5 hours until her heart rate we back in a normal range and then sent us home.

Where we unreasonable to take her in? It’s not like she can talk and tell us why she is so upset and unwell

OP posts:
steppemum · 23/04/2021 22:43

Most parents now use ear thermometers which are notoriously difficult to use accurately especially with a wriggly baby.

Not only that, but on one of my dds her ears give 2 different results. Always. I assume that that it is something to do with how her ear is formed.
I am always told (with a tinkly laugh) how that is impossible. I have had posters on here tell me 100% I am wrong. HCP sigh and give me the look of being 'that mum'

Until she was 2 and in hospital for 10 days with a temp of 40 and it would not come down. (this is my dd who always runs hot)
All the nurses discovered that her temp depended on which ear they took it in, and every one was surpirsed and shocked and said That shouldn't be possible.....

In the end they wrote it on her notes, and used an underarm thermomenter to work out which one was correct

Cocopogo · 23/04/2021 22:45

Doctor sounds stressed and unprofessional

mamal29 · 23/04/2021 22:46

Definitely not unreasonable. Don't let it put you off next time either.

Sepsis is a big killer in babies and toddlers and symptoms are rarely spotted. I think it's always good to get checked out. Our hospital said they're really quiet with infants at the moment (major city).

Looneytune253 · 23/04/2021 22:53

You should have defo been there. With a temp that high there may have been a reason such as infection that they needed to treat. Doctor was just being a grump

Feckfeckfeck123 · 23/04/2021 23:07

My DS was almost 2 months when we all got Covid. He had a really high temp and it just wouldn't come down. We were stuck, as couldn't take him to hospital and couldn't have anyone come to the house. When I rang 111 the doctor called back and advised some paracetamol (prior to this we had never given him any as he wasn't even 2 months). It was a very scary time and if we didnt have Covid I would most definitely have taken him in. Under 1s are usually a priority anyway.

Elieza · 23/04/2021 23:23

You should have phoned nhs24 who would have advised you what to do.

It would probably be to take the baby to A&E. however this way they would have been expecting you, and the person on the phone could have directed you to the best A&E - it could be that one was overrun with an incident or closed due to a problem etc. so you’d be told which one could take you first.

Nobody should just rock up at A&E these days. It’s too dangerous. Our one is turning people away and telling them to call nhs24 unless they are seriously ill/injured.

Rtruth · 24/04/2021 17:24

If you were concerned, you were fully right to do it

ChubbyMoomin · 24/04/2021 17:24

I’m a nurse and I would have taken my baby in with those symptoms!
It’s not obvious that it’s a virus. Think you were unlucky and came across a grumpy doctor. You did the right thing.

Tessabelle74 · 24/04/2021 17:46

YA most definitely NBU. The doctor is and don't give them another thought

IEat · 24/04/2021 17:47

Did the Dr actually say they didn’t know why your took your child to the hospital. Perhaps it was the stress of the situation that made you interpret the Drs actions when they hadn’t said anything of the like.
Glad your child is ok

Oysterbabe · 24/04/2021 17:54

If you feel like you need to take them in then do it. Gut feeling is important.
I called 111 in the same circumstances and was told take them to the GP the next day but take them in if it got worse.

I remember when my PFB was a few months old and had a temperature and a rash. I took her in and was expecting them to be all like 'OMG, a rash! We need fluids and IV stat.' Instead they said 'she has a virus 🤷‍♀️..... Is she your first?'

Weareallvirgins · 24/04/2021 17:58

@FizzyApricot. 8 months not 8 weeks

FizzyApricot · 24/04/2021 18:06

@Weareallvirgins my point still stands

Weareallvirgins · 24/04/2021 18:09

@FizzyApricot. Noted 📝

Mum2b43 · 24/04/2021 18:17

Three kids in... the amount of time I’ve spent in A&E is crazy. Don’t let that doctor put you off. Always take your child in if you are worried. The next time you may feel like it’s just a virus but it could be meningitis. Ignore that doctor... your child’s life is not worth a gamble

Jent13c · 24/04/2021 18:22

Nurse here. Defo took my precious first baby to gdocs in same circumstances. And of course they perk up fine as soon as they arrive. But I could have 5 young girls admitted with the same abdo pain, 4 being cycle related and the last one with a raging appendicitis. If we didn't assess all of 5 of them appropriately then that last one would be missed and potentially end up very poorly. I don't know why some HCP treat you like its an effort to see you/your child, never let that put you off accessing medical care if you are concerned, especially about a child.

FakeTanandProsecco · 24/04/2021 18:29

You did the right thing OP, but it is hard when you are made to feel ridiculous and like you are overreacting. I had similar recently when my DC had a fever which wouldn't come down with calpol/ibuprofen and neck pain. The out of hours GP recommended A&E to rule out encaphalitis. The triage nurse and GP both laughed at me- but I was doing what was recommended and would rather be safe than sorry 🤷🏼‍♀️

Newmum3200 · 24/04/2021 19:06

I tried 111 a few times when my babies had a v high temp like yours, and each time they advised us to take no chances and take baby to A&E. better to be safe than sorry! The doctor is out of order imo.

Cupcake5678 · 24/04/2021 19:51

Over 25 years ago we were shouted at by a nurse in a&e for waiting time of the nhs as our son was taken into hospital via ambulance re asthma and when arriving the attack had passed and settled. It upset me and the next time he had an attack we thought twice about ringing 999. Thankfully we did as he was rushed in with sirens blaring meeting paramedics on the way, taken into resus and a whole team working on him. If we had listened to that nurse he wouldn't be here today.
You know your baby best and it's better to be safe x

MummyMayo1988 · 24/04/2021 19:53

I don't think your BU exactly but I would have rung 111 before taking a baby straight to A&E in the middle of the night.
They are very good over the phone and give amazing advice.

LazyYogi · 24/04/2021 19:59

At about 6 months old, my son was breathing funny and had a temp of 37.5 and climbing in the middle of the night. After being discouraged to seek treatment by 111, I took my son to A and E some hours later. He had a temp of 38, resps of 90 (even though I had counted it as 70 at home).

By this point he had stopped passing urine and tests showed he had a serious ecoli UTI.

We were in hospital for 3 nights on harsh antibiotics and it was hellish. I would not hesitate to go to a and e again.

LittleMissMe99 · 24/04/2021 20:01

With a temperature over 40 then no definitely not unreasonable

PierrethePenis · 24/04/2021 20:02

Always trust your instincts, mother knows best. When my son was 22 days old he was crying one night but it seemed like a little different and something didn’t seem right. My husband phoned 111 and explained. They said not to worry and take him to the GP in the morning. My husband pushed and pushed they said if we were worried go to out of hours. Out of hours said if we got there in 20 mins we could see the doctor. My husband said shall we just go to A&E they said up to you. We went and we were told it was a testicular torsion and if we hadn’t come in when we did he’d have lost it. 2am we have an anaesthetist explaining general anaesthetics to us. I say always trust your instincts you know your baby better than anyone.

JennyBond · 24/04/2021 20:11

A&E doctors have always been so kind to me in similar circumstances and more than one has said always go with a young baby if you’re worried.

That said I would usually try calpol first to see if the temperature comes down. And I would call 111 because they’ve sometimes been very good at getting me an out of hours appointment at a local hospital which is much better than the A&E wait. Other times they’ve said to go straight to A&E.

I thought we weren’t supposed to just pitch up at A&E with any of the main covid symptoms? Has that changed now?

insurancedrama · 24/04/2021 20:14

@Bluntness100

Some doctors are just twats. Of course you did the right thing.
This. Don't take chances with a baby
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