To not want to go on family holiday far from a hospital

[Allihavetodoisdream]

I don’t know if this is just my anxiety talking. My baby has just been in hospital with a virus and needed oxygen overnight. I’m still getting over the panic so am probably in flight or fight mode still (I have anxiety and found this experience quite frightening).

Anyway, in 2-3 weeks we are due to go to the countryside for four days with all of my husband’s family as a pre-Xmas holiday. It’s near where I’m from so I knew it was remote but upon Googling I see it’s a full hour’s drive from the nearest A&E. I feel quite scared about being so far from a hospital so soon after my baby has needed urgent medical attention. But I know that if we don’t go my husband - who hardly sees his family because they won’t come to the city and there have been train strikes for months (we don’t have a car) will be angry with me.

Am I being completely mad? I’m open to the possibility that I am. Maybe I just need to calm down and it’ll seem doable but at the moment I’m just feeling very grateful for the fact we live extremely close to one of the best hospitals.

I like his family and would be happy to go if it were nearer medical facilities.

AIBU? And if so, how can I manage this?

Thank you ❤️

I see you're already getting treatment and support and I do think baby will be fine in 3 weeks but for other ailments and scary first aid things maybe you could do a mini first aid class so you feel better prepared in situations. So they look at things like what to do when little ones choke and things and it's really good at helping, my daughter went blue twice when she was a baby and I hated leaving the house because one time was at a class. But me and her dad did a mini paediatric course and it helped prepare us a bit more

In my experience babies often bounce back quickly. Chances are all will be fine a good while before your holiday, so try not to worry (easier said than done, I know!)

Just in case it offers reassurance, it’s really not that uncommon that babies spend nights in hospital on oxygen. Mine has twice for a few days each time, plus in for other things including seizures. All were just a small body being overwhelmed by totally normal winter bugs. When it comes to poorly babies, no one wants to fuck about. I’m sorry you found it traumatic and I hope you come to terms with it, but you’re not alone in it happening.

I understand your worry. I have a heart condition that has sent me to A&E frequently under instructions from my GP/111. Every time it resolves within 24 hours and I am back at home none the worse. We are lucky in that we live in a place with an excellent hospital and have a car or can get a taxi if necessary. We have just spent a week away near a large town by the sea which does not have a hospital and is nearly an hour and a half away from the nearest A&E department. (I know because I checked before we went away). It did make me feel a bit worried to be honest - even though I know that I am usually perfectly fine within a day or less, and indeed although there was one night when I was unwell it resolved itself within 4 hours so no hospital visit was required that time. In your case you are understandably concerned about your baby but just because they have been in hospital does not mean they will need to go to hospital again and you will be with family who can take you if necessary. Please go and enjoy yourself.

I wouldn't go, but I suffer from anxiety too. My DS has been in the hospital 4 times in the last 3 months with breathing difficulties, so I would like being that far away from a hospital.

I would go they bounce back fairly quickly, pack a thermometer I also take a stats finger monitor where ever I go as son has asthma, enjoy the break let family spoil the little one so you get some you time .

These are brilliant. We have a little penguin one. It was testing with this that made us call the ambulance last year as he'd dropped to 90%.