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!

Is it possible you have very good judgement and are getting it just right?

I don’t think three A&E visits in nearly six weeks for a newborn with an older sibling at the end of winter is all that unexpected. Yes, you are being cautious, but it doesn’t sound like you’re overreacting given the information you’ve had at the time.

I think some people say get help because they think the outcome of therapy for anxiety will be that you’re no longer worried unnecessarily. But if your treatment is more about how you respond when you do have the feelings, I think you’re doing pretty admirably based on what you’ve said in this thread.

I do hope the coming weeks bring better health for all of you!

I had post natal depression and lost 2 babies before at 8 and 13 weeks so I was over cautious.
I found the best way to judge was is she weeing, is she taking fluids.
If she isn't she could very quickly become dehydrated and I would go to a&e.
If she is drinking but has a temperature try some calpol first.
I would always panic when she was sick and want to pack a bag for hospital! Just take a step back, do a checklist and remain calm, very likely she will be fine. Children unfortunately get sick alot. I now have a healthy 11 year old, who happens to be lying in bed with me with a snotty nose and stinking cold.
I also have health anxiety x