Baby not well. Am I being over cautious?

[dogsagoodun]

Dd is 5 months old. She has had a cold for weeks. Doctor said virus at first but she got no better so took her back last Wednesday. He said she had chest infection and conjunctivitis. He prescribed anti biotics and eye drops.

Today is last day of anti biotic but she is no better. Quite chesty. Very snotty. Still has very sticky eye. She has cried all day today.

Ooh doc our see doc tomorrow?

Is she 'grunting' - making funny noises when she is breathing?

Is her chest dipping under her ribcage when she breathes in?

If either of these is a 'yes', then yes, OOH or A and E.
If no, GP tomorrow.

how is her temperature?

with a very young child, don't hesitate to seek quick medical attention

the crying all day must be distressing - if you call your OOH will they come to visit or get you an appt at the local hospital tonight?

Don't ever think you are being over cautious with a baby

you can't be over-cautious with a child under 1, imo. our doctor said to ALWAYS come in if the old maternal spider senses are tingling.

Like Treeluta said - if she seems to be having to put muscular effort into breathing then just take her to A&E - the lovely people in hosp NEVER mind you being on the safe side with a little baby like this. If antibiotics haven't helped then she may need some stronger meds that they can easily give you in A&E - and she'll be much better in 12 hours. Lots of babies and toddlers can get this sort of thing, so don't panic, but A&E are the best placed to quickly give her what she needs.

If she's breathing OK but just a bit snotty then just ask for a same-day appt at the Drs in the morning.

Thanks everyone. She has been quite warm all day. Her breathing is very heavy with all the about so heard to discern if it's normal apart from that. You have given me the confidence to ring. Will report back later.

Thank you.

Crying all day is a sign all is not right. She may have an ear infection, sinusitis or chest infection still not clear. It sounds as though she is in pain. Does she have a fever or a rash?

In the meantime if her eye is bothering her you can add a teaspoon of salt to a cup of water, let it cool then bathe (use a fresh piece of cotton wool for each wipe. Just got rid of dd1's conjunctivitis with just salt water.

I would phone OOH and get her seen tonight, sick children always tend to get worse at night I find, if she has a fever it may climb.

Should say snot not about.

Defo ring. I went with my instincts once and it turned out to be pneumonia and we were in a and e all day and stayed in. I hope it isn't that though! Is she kind of lethargic and heavy eyed? That's what tipped me over the edge and made me take my dd to a and e.

Do you have a peads A and E locally? If so I would skip OOH and go straight there.

Waiting for them to call back. I am not good at this aspect of parenting. My instincts are rubbish. I always seem to worry when I shouldn't and don't when I should.

She is sleeping now. Poor baby..She's my third. You would think I would have the hang of it by now!

LikeSirzy said I wouldn't bother with OOH. I'd use OOH for an older child or for myself, but whenever I went there with an under-2-year-old I got referred to A&E anyway - after having waited around for several hours to get through the OOH processes - because they aren't paediatric specialists and their choice is either to refer to paeds or send you home, and because they don't want to risk being the doctor who sent a seriously poory baby home they tend to err on the side of caution and refer, so you just get to wait around twice.

So she has only had 5 days of antibiotics? I think there is certainly a chance that it hasn't been enough and she needs something else. Hope you have heard back now. Is someone else in the house who could stay with your older ones? If so I would definitely take her to A&E to be on the safe side.

Well that was interesting. The doctor couldn't have been more patronising if he had tried! He said that she was happy and playful ( she smiled, the first time all day) and that babies who are happy and playful are not poorly babies. He said her chest is clear but she has quite a lot of nasal congestion.

She just doesn't seem well to me.

Anyway, we're back and snuggled up in bed. Will see how she is in the morning.

Thanks all for your support. Much appreciated.

Which doctor? Is this an OOH doc who came out to you?

He doesn't know your child. I would go to your GP in the morning if you're still not at ease about this. I have dealt with many patronising doctors and this is not usually something that gives me confidence in them. The good ones don't need to patronise you.

Sorry, have just seen 'we're back' so you went to them. A&E or OOH though?

Keep a close eye and don't hesitate to get her seen again if your worried.

From experience I can say his idea that an happy baby is a healthy baby doesn't always work at all.

Yes was Ooh. I agree with both of you. He had a very superior attitude. I not saying I think she's seriously ill but I do think he made a snap judgement.

I will definitely take her back in the morning if I am still worried.

Thanks all.