Rotavirus in 15-week old

[LouiseD29]

15w/o DD has been poorly with vomiting and diarrhoea since Sunday. Dr diagnosed Rotavirus and advised to keep bf'ing little and often and she should be better in a couple of days.

I am a bit concerned though about how to spot whether she is getting dehydrated. She has had four small feeds today and kept it all down, but her nappies have only been a little wet and she has been sleeping on and off all day - much more than usual. When she's been awake though she has been lively and alert (just not for very long periods at once), her mouth and eyes still appear very moist and her fontanelle is normal.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience or advice they could share? I don't want to worry unnecessarily, but want to make sure I'm not missing any key symptoms.

Doesn't help that I've sat up more or less the whole of the last two nights with her so am seriously sleep-deprived and just hate seeing my little one so uncomfortable. Any advice welcome please.

Your GP is right to say to keep bfing but I don't understand the little and often. I'd just feed her when she asks and as much as she wants. There's some more info here including signs of dehydration.

If you are tired, could you try feeding her lying down? Hope she feels better soon

I don't know if this is of any use but my DD2 caught rotavirus during a hospital stay last year, she was around 9 months at the time. We did the little and often thing but it certainly lasted much longer than a couple of days. It was more like a week if I remember rightly with the odd explosive poo for a few days after that. Hope your little one feels better very soon...

Urine is the first thing the body cuts back on if it is short of water, and is to be expected with rotavirus. Just get as much bm into her as she wants - her body knows what it needs. If her eyes, mouth and fontanelle are fine then she is ok. DD had this at the same age and this is what several doctors said to us, including a paed.

I was also told bm is the absolute best rehydration fluid there is, much better than dioralyte etc!