Should I have taken my newborn to A&E?

[AOMum14]

Hi guys,

My newborn (5 weeks + 5 days old) has had a blocked nose recently that has caused her to breathe quite quickly but she is okay in herself. I suspected a cold as my elder daughter (21 months) has been struggling with a temp, cough and sore throat for 3 days. Spoke to doctor on phone who was not worried.

Due to being cautious in case my newborn caught my daughters bug, I have been regulary taking her temp. I use the exact same method of taking temp (tempadot) as A&E - her temp at first was 37.7. My partner took again and it was 37.3. I said to take one last time and it was 37.9. I think the lower temp wasn't placed firm enough in armpit. I called 111 who said someone would call in the hour. But I'm not hanging around with my newborn so went A&E.

However, in the small span of my daughters life so far, she has been A&E twice before due to high temp (admittedly only 37.6 the previous times). On these two previous times, it was under the advice of midwives to go in.

Each and everytime of going in, her temp has been normal on arrival. My daughter does run hot (her normal temp is 37.2ish) hence the reason I take her temp instead if rely on touch - she always feels hot! I then appear crazy to all involved and a time wasting mum. This was my reason of using what the hospital uses to measure temp, so my thermometer couldn't be blamed.

Now I'm in a third time, with a baby who has a blocked nose and had a temp of 37.9. Had her temp taken by nurse once we come in and it was only 37!!!

I feel stupid and judged for coming in again. Or for putting her at risk for coming to A&E (we are in our own room though). Should I have just waited for a call back from 111 (I suspect they would have sent us to see someone anyway). Should I have waited to reach that dreaded 38? I didn't make the high temp up but am thankful that whatever the case her temp is lower.

Sorry for long message!

I am so very sorry about the loss of your beautiful boy - no wonder you are so anxious ❤️. I hope you can get the support you need so you can enjoy your baby, and I wish you all the best. You are obviously a loving and caring mum x

Op both mine run hot as do I. Don't you think it's thermoster issue rather than actual temp? Your thermometer isn't measuring the correct temp

Whilst I didn't go to a&e unless he had other warning signs I was like this with my first baby due to post natal anxiety - I didn't realise it was anxiety causing me to act this way at the time. I panicked over any slight raise and checked it even when he was otherwise well. When in actual fact when he was poorly could tell just by touch as a very high temp does cause them to feel hot...like heat radiating off them.

https://wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk/parentscarers/my-baby-under-3-months. This website is great for knowing when/what to do and has helped me manage my anxiety around my children's health.

It also helped to remember that a high temp in itself isn't bad, it's the bodies way of fighting off infections and as long as there are no other warning signs it's best to let the temperature do it's job (one doctor told me that unless baby is showing signs of being in discomfort, to try and avoid giving Calpol or nurofen unless absolutely necessary with a temp as evidence has shown it can prolong the illness).

I am sorry I haven't had chance to read all your replies - if you're not currently having counselling or support could you speak to someone about how your anxiety is presenting now? You can self refer to talking therapies in most areas (which I'm sure you know but saying just in case).

I found the armpit thermometers were not as accurate, we got the in ear one, same Braun one I'd seen our GP use. My baby nearly died at 4 weeks, so I was also anxious when he was tiny. He was blue lighted into hospital with COVID at 2. He is also one that runs hot! Our GP has 5 sons and said the youngest is the same always hot. DS is now a robust (yet often sweaty) six year old.
If you've lost a baby OP your anxiety is fully understandable.

As a nurse I would always advise to seek advice if worried.

As a mother, my heart goes out to you. I absolutely get it. It will get easier.

Also, congratulations on your little girl!

Thank you for sharing your story and sharing this - I will definatly take a look!

I am starting to think I need to slow down on taking temp and if taking temp, find something reliable! Thank you for your kind words and thank you for sharing your story - that must have been very scary.

Thank you!

She has had a blocked nose for over a week and this is the first time I have taken her to be seen. I have used saline spray and frida nose sucker to deal with it at home. I only mentioned the blocked nose as I know she probably has a cold and (what I thought) was a temp. It was the combination of the two that made me worry - but thank you for sharing your opinon and it will help guide me in the future on what to do.

You should get some saline nasal spray to help clear a stuffy nose (I prefer Sterimar over the Calpol nasal spray). I'd also recommend an in-ear thermometer especially for a baby, as under arm ones aren't that accurate/reliable.

Other than that, observe the temperature, the fontanelle, behaviour, and number of wet nappies.

Try and remember a fever is a symptom and not a cause of illness. A fever in itself is a normal immune response - as the immune system gets busy it creates heat as a by product.

Try not to get too hung up on taking their temperature regularly. Go on how they are in themselves - are they feeding, weeing, alert in between naps? Feel the skin at the top of the back or on their tummy - is it hot to touch?

If you do have a thermometer use a tympanic (ear) one. And don’t do as a previous poster suggested and use a sats probe on a child or baby - adult ones aren’t designed for infants or small children and won’t give you an accurate reading which will make you more worried!

Download the HANDiapp for more useful info.

My 10 day old caught RSV from my toddler. If it makes you feel better, her temp wasn’t actually a reliable indicator of how poorly she was - it was the lack of milk intake, persistently dry nappies, very very fast breathing in (flaring at the ribs and nostrils) and low-ish oxygen levels. Her temp was around 37.9 so a little high but not disastrously so. Both mine run hot, so I tend to go off their other symptoms and behaviour rather than temp unless it’s above 38.

Givne your awful experience I can understand why you’re so anxious, but by and large, when they’re really unwell you will know about it. Hope they’re both feeling better soon!

I would just like to add to all those posters who stated they wouldn’t go to a+e with a cold/temp of 38 - the age of the baby is really important here. Any baby under the age of 3 months that has a temperature of 38 and above and who has not had immunisations within the last 48 hours MUST be medically assessed. At that age they are particularly susceptible to illnesses and although the majority of temperatures will be explained away by viruses, more serious infections also need to be ruled out.
In your case OP, I would not have attended for a temperature under 38 but I can completely appreciate your anxiety, and most health professionals should also understand that and you should never be made to feel like you are time wasting. I would much rather see a well baby and reassure mum than deal with a very sick baby because mum felt too silly to bring baby in. I would try and not jump to taking temperatures unless you feel that baby is not herself, refusing feeds, less wet nappies, irritable etc. You are doing amazing, trust your instinct and never ever worry about seeking help when you need to.

Thank you for your help - this is really useful.

When I last came to hospital the doctor explained to me that with a baby who was under 3 months, if they had a high temp of 38 and above, she would instantly give anti-biotics before investigations. She said this was why midwives often suggest to be seen (not necessarily by A&E) for a temp in high 37's as it gives medical professionals time to investigate so as to avoid giving medication unnecessarily.

That was what the doctor said anyway, and I could have misunderstood! However it's clear that maybe I went OTT to come in!

Many past posters not noticing baby's age. At 5.5 weeks YANBU to take them to A&E if their temperature is above 38. And to add, an armpit Thermometer is best at that age too, not in ear.

You're right to follow your instincts and always seek medical help if concerned about a baby that age. No nurse or doctor will ever mind checking a young baby - better safe than sorry.

However, personally, if baby was otherwise well, in your situation I would not have attended A&E and would have visited the GP.

100% this

I do think if you are worried it’s always better getting help I was the same with my DD she had issues when newborn - 4 months we went to a&e a few times (I still think for valid reasons) and I was asked by Dre and nurses ‘oh is this your first’ making me feel like I shouldn’t be there, at the end of the day it’s better safe than sorry if you feel your baby needs to be checked then do it

I’m really sorry for your loss OP. It’s incredibly anxiety inducing to have ill kids, but in your shoes I’d perhaps recalibrate and only seek assistance for temps actually over 38 or if your baby actually seems seriously unwell.

Some of these replies are quite harsh. At 5 weeks old your baby shouldn’t really get temperatures and if they have them they should be checked. I’d personally call 111 first: I did the same when my young baby had a temp and they sent us then to A&E as had a temp and were kept in for just under a week on antibiotics. Over 3 months the advice changes.

Health anxiety is so hard, other people can be so harsh when they just don't understand it. I had really bad health anxiety about my baby after he spent a month in NICU. I found that I sometimes needed to check with someone else- my husband or my mum usually, about things I was worried about before seeking medical advice because often I was just worrying too much. Hopefully you can find some support because it's hard! Take care :)

I think you were fine to err on the side of caution. Especially with a reading of 37.9. Your baby is only 5 weeks old. I’m a bit confused by the comments saying they wouldn’t be worried. At that age, with high temperatures, they worry about serious things like meningitis. Better to be safe than sorry, especially taking into account your awful previous experiences.

i probably would check under each arm though because these thermometers aren’t always accurate, and of course, a few points of a degree can make all the difference.

you shouldn’t feel stupid, you’re only trying to do your best

Never feel silly OP. If you are worried always best to get her checked. Be kind to yourself.

So so many kind messages! Whether you agree or not with my decision, I appeciate any kind words, advice and encouragement - always lead with kindness and understanding and so many of you show that!

Just an update so far - Dr is lovely!! She felt babies chest and said "oh she is warm isn't she!" and checked her temp suspecting a fever and suprise suprise, even lower than before - 36.5. She said baby is coming across well, probably has a slight virus and said she understood my temp dilemma.

She is currently asking for a second opinon on my daughters face rash. I didn't mention this in my post but she has quite bad baby acne. The Dr said it was more a rash. So hopefully that will be ruled as normal and we will be sent home. Typically the only thing I haven't worried about is the thing the Dr picks up on!

Update on update - they want her to have her bloods taken to be extra sure, but feel confident it's just a virus she has. She also suggested using Tempadots to take temp, which is what I am already using. But will get an ear one now.

I am going to use this as a lesson going forward

I thought people alternate calpol and nurophen, only going to hospital if the temp fails to lower

Not for a baby under 3 months