Worried because child was sick after swimming

[Fightingtobepositive]

So my 3 year old went swimming yesterday. He had arm bands on and was absolutely loving it as he always does. He has been wanting to be more independent so he’s been off swimming without us holding him with his bands of course. Anyway he’s doing great. He did go under for a split second a few times came up laughing. Anyway last night he was sick though the night, we didn’t even see it until this morning. It was quite watery. You read so much stuff that I’m now worried it was caused by swimming. I’ve read about all this secondary drowning etc and I’m worried that he’s ingested to much water. He seems ok this morning. Chatting and now chilling on the sofa.

yes I am being unreasonable to be worried it’s a natural part of being in the water

no I am not being unreasonable to worry and should get him checked.

He'll be fine. They are better wearing a swim vest and not arm bands. Arm bands can force the head down into the water.

Secondary drowning is caused by water on the lungs.

If he's thrown it up he's swallowed it!

Plenty of 3yo do lessons with no arm bands etc and they soon learn how to manage to hold breath under water and not drink it 🤣🤦‍♀️

Do you have a shallow pool he can reach the bottom in so he can practice being water, moving around without false security of armbands and practice breathing (or rather holding breath!) when underneath?

Swimming is such an Important life skill.

I’m so sorry but I am struggling to see what the issue is.
Would you not just wash the sheets and keep an eye?

If he is eating, drinking, peeing, pooing and his happy usual self then there really is nothing at all to get checked out.
The secondary drowning bit is only if he inhaled some water but you describe him doing very normal child behaviour in a pool then laughing not choking or coughing or doing what anyone would do if they inhaled water.

Thanks for the tip. We have tried a vest in the past and he’s not moved in it. But will give it a go again.

I hope so. I’m a bag of nerves. He did do lessons but would refuse to put his head under. We have been swimming regularly but he usually gets bored quite quick. We now have access to a great pool that goes from shallow to deep so he’s been doing great. The armbands have give him confidence in the deep bit and to kick his legs to move. But I’ll try a vest then obviously move to nothing. We were just going with him to build his confidence and interest in the water.

but he ended up with his head under so much I’ve already been put off.

I hope so. Yes he’s weeing he’s ate apple and he’s pounding on the sofa. Probably not as busy as usu but he had a busy day yesterday. I just read about it in the past and it’s always stuck with me. I get so nervous of him in the water but know he needs it!

Oh I love being a mum. The amount of irrational or over the top things we worry about are endless. (This is said with a smile)

He will be fine because he is fine

We had a similar situation with our DD when she was about a year old (she’s nine now, so a long time ago!). We used to go to parent and baby swimming lessons, and on one occasion she vomited water about an hour after the lesson. I remember it well because it was totally clear. She was her normal self before and after, but I phoned 111 for advice. They told me to keep an eye on her, but not to worry too much. She’s now a great swimmer - confident and happy in the water, so she really was fine.

He'll be fine. You're doing exactly the right thing to take him just for fun. Maybe encourage him to blow bubbles under the water - practice in the bath even. You can't drink it while you're breathing out and it'll help stop it going up his nose.

@randomas @CoffeeAndCakeBringMeJoy @Colombie thank you ladies ☺️

Oh god he’s just been sick again. An hour after eating apple and drinking juice. Could this be a bug or am I not crazy 😢

There are issues with those vests too. I'd research this yourself OP.

Actually, I don't know if this is overcautious - they say if someone swallows water when swimming or could have inhaled some, to keep an eye on them over the next 24 hours and if you see persistent coughing, exhaustion/tiredness, vomiting or a fever then you should get them checked over.

It is rare but it is on the list of symptoms to be aware of. Unfortunately I can't find an NHS link which is what I tend to go by when possible.

Maybe take him to your GP and see what they say? Or you could call 111 but they might send you to A&E because they always seem to with children.

You say it was a pool - a private pool or a public one? I am wondering if it's more likely that he's ingested something from the water which has upset his tummy perhaps if the pool hasn't had the right balance of chemicals used? This seems more likely than drowning (I have now found from my googling for NHS pages that they no longer use the term dry/secondary drowning - drowning is used for any respiratory distress caused by inhaling water).

I agree with @BertieBotts - I'd never heard of Dry Drowning until I read about it on here a while ago but I think worth getting him checked out OP

https://www.webmd.com/children/features/secondary-drowning-dry-drowning

I learnt to swim going with the school once a week when I was little. Every single week when we got back to class I vomited. Doctor reckoned it was a reaction to the chemicals used in the water after swallowing even tiny amounts of it. I did eventually learn to keep my mouth shut under water!

I'd say it's more likely than it's a badly timed bug.

I have a 6yo who still won't put her face in the water - I'd be delighted at a 3yo happily going under!

I didn’t vote because I don’t think you’re unreasonable to worry (that’s part of being a mum! We all do it!) but I also think he will be fine.
You will always just know if something isn’t right with your child so always trust your instincts. If he is largely back to himself today then it seems all is fine!

It's really far more likely that this is a bug rather than something sinister

Have you read the link you shared? It says:

With so-called dry drowning, water never reaches the lungs. Instead, breathing in water causes your child's vocal cords to spasm and close up. That shuts off their airways, making it hard to breathe. You would start to notice those signs right away -- it wouldn’t happen out of the blue days later.

“Secondary drowning” is another term people use to describe another drowning complication. It happens if water gets into the lungs. There, it can irritate the lungs’ lining and fluid can build up, causing a condition called pulmonary edema. You’d likely notice your child having trouble breathing right away, and it might get worse over the next 24 hours.

So nothing to suggest that a child who vomits after swimming needs to be checked out.

Definitely sounds like a bug. Try not to worry op

OP try not to worry.

There are lots of bugs in pool water so probably that. Please do not stop taking him

Water confidence is the first step to learning to swim. Having fun, splashing and learning to try new things will make lessons easier.

My preference was always arm bands. You can slow let these down each time over months to help them develop their own skills.

My DS is now a swim teacher. A 4 year old up-chucked.yesterday in lesson. It's a common occurrence, they have a scoop to catch it and wash away. Poos are another matter and shut the pool!

@Reallybadidea oh yes you're right, there was another link that had vomiting as a symptom (water in the lungs can induce vomiting). TBH it seems unlikely and the more I look into it the more it's a disputed term.

Huge thank you to you all for your reassurance. It is more likely a bug. But my anxiety still keeps me on my toes. He’s been tired since the apple throw up and is now sleeping. I have an oximeter and it said his was 98 so I’m hoping that’s a good signs. He is sleeping peacefully.

i know if I ring they will suggest a&e if worried and I just don’t want to drag him around especially there to catch more bugs if this is just a sickness bug. I’ll defo do nursing in my next life.

It was a public pool. A busy one. We are at our caravan park x