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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Need reassurance... long sorry

10 replies

Monkeybird · 27/12/2007 22:52

Posting here cos you lot feel like old friends now, though not strictly a feeding thread...

Am worrying now, mostly because it's late and mind is starting to tick over now I've less to distract me...

My littlest and I have spent most of the day in the paediatric unit since he has a bulging soft spot. This has come about since he's been generally unwell since Boxing Day with the same virus that most of us in the family now have (coughing etc)

The GP this morning wanted to exclude viral meningitis so sent us up to the hosp. We were let out with a 48 hour open access letter after they did a full range of non-invasive checks - blood pressure, reflexes etc.. and not much has changed since then though DS is still quite poorly and still have the bulgy softspot.

Of course I just had to hear the words meningitis and lumbar puncture to internally lose the plot somewhat and though I know the viral version is different to the bacterial, and the LP words were only mentioned in the context of going back in with ACTUAL meningitis symptoms beyond the softspot, I am of course going over and over it...

Every little whimper is becoming a high pitched cry, every red mark is a spot to check and now he seems to be hungry but refusing the breast...

Please someone tell me I'm just overreacting and that it will be OK (well , of course I don't expect you to tell me that but you know what I mean!) or hopefully that someone else's DC has had a bulgy fontanelle and it has all been OK...?

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 27/12/2007 22:55

if you are worried, you should take him up there. If he's not feeding well, but the fontanelle was bulging - i'd be a little concerned.

Jackstini · 27/12/2007 22:55

Hi Monkeybird - didn't want you to go unreplied to but prob best to post this under the health thread for some better advice.
Also bump to the top for you

suzi2 · 27/12/2007 22:56

Monkeybird, sorry I just don't know. But wanted to send you some hugs. Thinking of you.

Could you try giving some expressed milk with a bottle? He may be too poorly to feed as it can be quite tiring but a bottle is a bit easier.

suzi2 · 27/12/2007 22:58

Sorry, just realised that he's at home. If he's not feeding or taking fluids then it's best you take him back in as he may get dehydrated quickly. Has he got a temperature?

Monkeybird · 27/12/2007 23:11

He has just had a small feed. And should clarify a couple of things...

I'm probably just panicking about the feeding - being over cautious etc. He did have a feed about 7 I think, and has just had another small one (one side) I suppose I'm expecting him to feed more frequently cos he's poorly but it's certainly still a normal feeding pattern (every 3-4 hours) though I've been offering breast more frequently...

And we saw an SHO, a registrar and the reg consulted with her consultant. His advice was that the slightly bulgy softspot was not undocumented and can be an unfamiliar but non-threatening symptom of a virus when there aren't other meningitis like symptoms.

Obv we have to keep a close eye on him but I suppose I was just hoping to hear someone else had seen this and had a good outcome

Or just wanted the hugs which were much appreciated...

OP posts:
Monkeybird · 27/12/2007 23:11

his temp has been a bit up and down and mostly down at the moment.

OP posts:
laundrylover · 27/12/2007 23:14

Some more hugs from me MonkeyBird.....hope he's feeling better soon.

It sounds like you've done all the right things to me and he is feeding so just keep offering the boob.

I'll check tomorrow for an update -hope you get some sleep the pair of you.

suzi2 · 27/12/2007 23:30

Sounds like he's just keeping himself ticking over and he'll probably feed loads when he's feeling better. Good that the temp is down.

Hope you have a good night

Monkeybird · 28/12/2007 15:46

Thanks all. Had another gruelling night with a very unhappy baby and me worrying about every sniff. DS is still pretty poorly again today but is feeding on a normal cycle (have tried to get him to take more from me in between the 3-4 hour feeds but that just REALLY pisses him off!)

GP (bless him) rang at home today to see how we got on at the hospital and how he was today, so we had a long chat in which I asked lots of questions and he reassured me. Though the fontanelle is still bulgy, he said that the consultant's view is convincing and even if it did end up as undiagnosed viral meningitis, the outcomes are usually the same as any other moderately severe virus and it isn't treatable anyway. I know it's odd to be reassured by that but I am!

And DH has a hazy memory of DS1 having had something similar when he was a baby so maybe it's just genetic. Not to encourage anyone reading to ignore a bulgy fontanelle of course: everyone stressed the need to always get it checked out as it can be a sign of viral or bacterial meningitis.

And now I'm going to feed my baby again and try and stop worrying (Fat chance!)

Thanks for the moral support though...

OP posts:
laundrylover · 28/12/2007 21:13

What a lovely GP!

You sound much happier today and good to hear the DS is feeling a bit better despite his bulges!

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