Boiled water for sick BF 5 mo (worried)

[Loislane78]

My DD has caught flu from me. I've phoned NHS direct
as her temperature has twice been 102.5 today and not below 100 with calpol, stripped off etc. :(

The two clinicians i spoke to were helpful and also said I should give her cooled boiled water to help with possible dehydration. Luckily she is still BF fine and often, as she's not interested in the water - this is fine right?

I'm worried for the night as was told to keep taking her temperature and only give calpol when it spikes due to only 4 doses in 24 hr rule. What happens if it keeps spiking?

Sorry, not strictly a BF question just feeling a bit stressed as she's never been sick like this and I know how bad I've felt this week. Don't want to be a PFB mum rushing to A&E but I guess if we max dose on calpol and temp still v high I'll have to call the doctor, even if not quite 104?

:(

As long as she is taking some type of fluids she shouldn't get dehydrated. If her temperature is too high maybe call the doctor or NHS Direct for some advice? Best to be on the safe side

Can't do farenheit but generally if temp is not going down even with calpol = back to doctor. BM fine as long as she us taking sufficient.

What about using calprofen? Longer action and more effective at reducing fever IME . Do check package insrrt for dosage tho.

Hope she is better soon :(

If she is feeding then she doesn't need water. Water could do more harm than good as her tummy would feel full so she would be less interested in feeding.

Try ringing NHS direct for advice on the temp, can't hurt to see an OOH dr at that age. Not A&E worthy but def chat to a Dr and poss OOH worthy.

Don't know about the drugs stuff but go to a and e if at all worried, they wont mind if all is well:)

But no need for water, bm is mainly water with added antibodies specific to the infection. Bm is the fluid of choice for any ill baby so its great that she is feeding.

Lots of breastfeeding, it will hydrate her. If you can, go to bed with her so she knows you're near and you can keep an eye on her. But she may get hot from your body temp so be aware of that if she falls to sleep on you.

You can use calpol and ibruprofen alternatively to help reduce temp.

You're not being pfb at all. If you are worried at any point in the night, call 999 or NHS direct.

(A recent thread on here about a little boy having a long sleep resulted in him being quite poorly and needing urgent treatment, the mum listened to her instinct after starting a thread and it saved her Ds's life - not trying to scare you but just don't worry about being over cautious if she seems worse in the night).

Hope she gets better soon

Nhs online said contact your dr if temp is 39 or above in a child 3-6 months I'm sure? If baby has had calpol & temp is going up towards 39 I prob would have gone to OOH or A&E when mine were small.

If you get worried enough to want to call the dr, a trip to A&E is the realistic option on a sat night. They won't mind you know, babies need checking sometimes.

Make sure baby stripped off and keep room cool. Good luck.

I have always given nurofen and colpol to bring down a temp. Calpol doesn't seem to work alone.

Sleep with her and offer breast frequently.

I'd agree - if you are worried just go straight to a&e, they will not mind at all (I work in childrens hospital & have taken my DD in with vomiting bug once).

fadbook I read that thread about little boy who slept a long time but can't find it now, what was wrong with him in the end? Poor thing.
X

DD1 had terrible gastroenteritis when she was 7 months, and landed in hospital badly dehydrated because she was even vomming up the rehydration salts given by the paed. I was with her the whole time (parent and baby unit) and once they heard I was still bf her, admittedly not full time, they encouraged as much bf as possible AND NO WATER. It was tricky at the start because I had started weaning and had to suddenly increase production, but the paeds said that breast milk really was the best thing for a sick babe. I was the one who needed extra water (always felt crap if I didn't drink enough while feeding)!

Best of luck with it all - it's horrible when someone so little feels rotten.

Ameybee - have PM'd you

Agree with the others, no water and lots and lots of bfing. A trip to the GP wouldn't hurt either. Hope she's feeling better soon.

Thanks for your replies. Temp gone 'down' to 101 and we can dose again at 10.30. Will try Calprofen and see if that's any better. She's alert enough and I'm checking for signs of shivering, rash etc. and doing the temperature every 30 mins. If it starts going up again after that we'll go get her checked out as she just had a watery (ish) green poo.

We're in bed, she's just had another little feed and is dozing so we'll stay off the water.

NHS direct gave advice on keeping cool but implied only necessary to really call the doc if temp reached 104. I'll be at A&E well before that as 40 degrees/104 = not good.

Thanks again, sure you've all been through similar. Just a bit freaked out.

It is so hard when they are poorly isn't it. The boiled water advice is for ff babies only, absolutely no need for a ebf baby.

With the BM she'll be getting everything she needs to hydrate her plus all the antibodies from you. They don't call it white blood for nothing .

Have a look here.

Agree with everyone else, absolutely no need for water if you are BF.

Hang in there, and if the temp goes up then off to a&e.

Ds never responds to calpol for temp. I just use neurofen now and find it a lot better. Hope lo improves soon.

How is she this morning?

She seems much better today in comparison; I gave the Calprofen which brought the temperature down and its been stable since the early hours. It also seemed to knock her out a bit so she managed some sleep in between the coughing and snuffling, poor thing, so everyone feeling better today, thanks :)

I'll go to GP for proper check up tmrw as they're quite good at early morning appts for LOs.

Thanks again