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AIBU?

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Original poster

Worried about lack of wet nappies with cold - 7 month old DD

61 replies

elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:08

Hi everyone

DD has another cold, full of snot, coughing alot, leaky eyes etc.

She's more or less completely refused any liquid today, she's had 5oz total of milk (she usually has 4 8oz bottles) she's had a few sips of water here and there out of her straw cup.

Her nappies are bone dry, she's had one today which seemed to have a few wee's in it this morning but maybe only 1 or 2 tiny wees since? I've tried syringing water, she coughs and splutters it out and gags.

She has no temperature, she has only had a slice of melon and a couple of spoons of porridge all day. I can't get her to eat or drink.

How quick should I get her seen regarding dehydration? Shall I try and give a dream feed when she's asleep and if she refuses call 111?

I hate feeling over the top about things but I know how fast babies can go downhill and I'm worried.

OP posts:
Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:11

She's also had constipation for the past 5 days, movicol hasn't helped and she's squeezing out tiny hard lumps. This isn't normal for her.

OP posts:
Hiddenvoice · 18/12/2023 23:11

I would be phoning 111 and explaining the situation. When my little one had Norovirus, I was told that any less than 5 wet nappies in 24 hours would result in a hospital stay. I then had to update my gp with how my little one got on, one hour after our appt.

I would phone 111, better to get her checked over.
I was also encouraged to feed my little one yoghurt, very milt porridge and mash and some ice lollies to help get some liquid into her.

Whiskeypowers · 18/12/2023 23:12

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydration/
If you haven’t had a wet nappy all day then I would have her checked over
the link above is useful in terms of a checklist but trust your instinct as babies can indeed deteriorate very quickly and dehydration is often one of the main reasons

hope she’s better soon

nhs.uk

Dehydration

Dehydration is when your body loses more fluid than you take in. Find out what the symptoms of dehydration are, how to prevent it and when to get medical help.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydration/

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:12

I'd offer baby juice as its easier to drink when ill

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:13

is her fontanelle sunken?

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:14

if it was me id go to a and E NOW

Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:15

Out of desperation I mixed a tiny amount of blackcurrant squash in cold water and she spat that out too.

I can't really tell if her soft spot is sunken, I guess it feels as if normally does when I'm washing her hair.

OP posts:
MammaTill2Pojkar · 18/12/2023 23:16

How many hours has it been since they last had a wet nappy? I believe 6+ hours of dry nappies warrants being seen or at least a 111 call (not sure if this is the case for a 7mo or for younger babies). Any other signs of dehydration?

Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:19

Clean nappy on after her bath at half 5, she was straining at 8 so I got her up as she'd done yet another little hard nugget of poo, didn't seem to be any wee in that nappy, DH just changed her again due to another hard lump of poo and he said there was 1 wee in there at most.

She's still smiling and interested in her toys etc.

OP posts:
DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:20

calpol do a brilliant plug in for colds. it helped me a lot also can get at pharmacists amazon etc

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:20

she really needs to be seen. dehydration is much worse in babies. 1 wee nowhere nr enough.

MammaTill2Pojkar · 18/12/2023 23:21

She could have wee'd in the bath, I'd keep a close eye and keep checking her nappies and trying her with fluids. Was the wee darker than usual? Does she have dry eyes/no tears/dry lips etc.

Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:21

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:20

calpol do a brilliant plug in for colds. it helped me a lot also can get at pharmacists amazon etc

We've got it on, I've also got a bowl of boiling water with olbas oil under her cot, been running the humidifier all day. It's just relentless 😞

OP posts:
Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:21

MammaTill2Pojkar · 18/12/2023 23:21

She could have wee'd in the bath, I'd keep a close eye and keep checking her nappies and trying her with fluids. Was the wee darker than usual? Does she have dry eyes/no tears/dry lips etc.

No dry eyes as they keep watering with her coughing bless her

OP posts:
OdeToBarney · 18/12/2023 23:22

Hiddenvoice · 18/12/2023 23:11

I would be phoning 111 and explaining the situation. When my little one had Norovirus, I was told that any less than 5 wet nappies in 24 hours would result in a hospital stay. I then had to update my gp with how my little one got on, one hour after our appt.

I would phone 111, better to get her checked over.
I was also encouraged to feed my little one yoghurt, very milt porridge and mash and some ice lollies to help get some liquid into her.

Really, how old were they? Because when dd has noro in January, I was told one wet nappy in 12 hours. She was 9 months old.

OP, I would keep working on liquids. Yoghurt, diluted apple juice, chocolate milk (small amount of nesquik powder?) basically anything. If she's not eating and drinking you also need to be wary of low blood sugar, which could make her sleepy and even less reluctant to eat or drink. But for now, I'd try 5ml of any kind of liquid every few minutes. Basically the same as a fluid challenge they would do in hospital if LO had vomiting/diarrhoea. Drinking from a bottle, etc, is hard work when they can't breathe through their noses.

Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:22

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:20

she really needs to be seen. dehydration is much worse in babies. 1 wee nowhere nr enough.

I will call 111

OP posts:
DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:22

bebevita did a juice but since brexit not stocked here ... boo

OdeToBarney · 18/12/2023 23:23

Meant to say, syringe the liquid in. She may not like it, but it's worth a go (and probably what the hospital would make you try initially anyway).

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:23

hip bio juice x

Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:23

Thanks @OdeToBarney have to be careful what I give her as she's allergic to dairy.

I buy the dairy free banana yoghurt and put it in the freezer for her to chomp on (she's also cut two teeth in a week) but she wasn't interested in that earlier either.

OP posts:
Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:25

OdeToBarney · 18/12/2023 23:23

Meant to say, syringe the liquid in. She may not like it, but it's worth a go (and probably what the hospital would make you try initially anyway).

We have and she coughs it out, splutters, gags, closes her lips tight and hits out with her arms and gets distressed.

OP posts:
DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:25

have you an ice lolly?

Original poster
elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:25

DragonMama3 · 18/12/2023 23:22

She's too young for squash. She needs heinz baby juice. Heinz Fruity! Spring Water Apple & Blackcurrant 6+ Months

I know but don't have any in, will get some next time I go shopping, it was literally a drip in a whole bottle of water x

OP posts:
OdeToBarney · 18/12/2023 23:26

elm26 · 18/12/2023 23:23

Thanks @OdeToBarney have to be careful what I give her as she's allergic to dairy.

I buy the dairy free banana yoghurt and put it in the freezer for her to chomp on (she's also cut two teeth in a week) but she wasn't interested in that earlier either.

Same as my DD. I'm pretty sure nesquik is dairy free, but if you have any, check first. Petit filous do almond based yoghurts my DD loves (not great for sugar, but needs must at a time like this). Also oatly yoghurt. Have you got any fruit purée?

I hope she gets better soon 💐