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Children's health

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Original poster

SO worried, my poor baby :( HELP PLEASE!! :(

27 replies

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 15:58

My gorgeous happy dd has chicken pox at 8 months old. I am so worried about her. She's my first and got it from her older step sister who is 4. She started coming out with spots on Thursday and was very happy within herself. Yesterday she was worse and it just seems she's getting worse. I've never seen or experienced chicken pox so I'm not clued up on what to expect from a baby with it but she's been sleeping ALOT she's been eating surprisingly normal, maybe a bit off and bit more fussy but nothing to worry me she's not eating enough. She's had a bit of a temperature at around 36-37.2 I've been told a temperature is 37.5 so I keep checking it and keeping an eye on it but she's been having calpol regularly, I'm keeping her hydrated with some cool boiled water everyday. She's eating fine. But her sleep is what worries me. Sjea sleeping so much majoroty of tbe day then waking up so tired, crying because shes still tired but she finds it diffocutlt to sleep. She's not really acting herself, I know she's ill but it just makes me feel so worried and sad. She wakes up crying, she's sleeping majority of the day. Sleeps at night but wakes up crying and I have to rock her for a while before she sleeps, have to do this at least 4 times during the night. She accasionally smiles but usually she's is the most smiley happy baby constantly. Makes me so sad to see her so upset and grisly. I've been bathing her twice a day to cool her down and keep her spot clean. Then use the lotion to stop the itchyness a bit. Is there anything else I can do for her? When do I need to start to worry I would take her doctors for a check up but it being easter it will be closed till Tuesday :( advice needed please :(
Just want it to be over already.

OP posts:

Mintyy · 19/04/2014 16:04

Your GP practice will have an out of hours surgery. Give them a call, they will probably have the number for the out of hours surgery on their answerphone message. You can make an appointment to take her there.

Original poster

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 16:11

I didn't think I was allowed to take her out somewhere like that even there because someone else could catch it? If a pregnant or old person caught it it could be fatal? :/

OP posts:

Mintyy · 19/04/2014 16:15

If you are worried about her you need to ask a GP. Have you tried NHS Direct?

3DcAndMe · 19/04/2014 16:18

Oh bless you

My ds2 had cp at 9 months, he had it quite badly and looked a right old mess!

He was unwell before the spots rather than while having them

As long as your dds temp is going down with calpol and she is drinking and passing urine she should be ok however if your unsure get her checked out

crazykat · 19/04/2014 16:20

Normal body temperature is 36-37.5 degrees so her temp is fine, its only over 40 that's a real problem. My DCs are always sleepy for a few days when they're ill, my ds2 had a bad chest infection (he was 15 months) and slept for most of a week.

Keep giving fluids and putting bicarbonate of soda in the bath as it helps stop the itching. Calamine lotion dries the spots and can make itching worse, poxclin has been recommended instead of calamine lotion.

You can ring the out of hours GP for advice and they may or may not say she needs to be seen, if they say to treat at home which its likely they will then ask if you can give her piriton or another antihistamine which also helps with itching.

Martorana · 19/04/2014 16:23

Honestly- it does just sound like chicken pox- it will get better soon! What is worrying you in particular?

Loo16 · 19/04/2014 16:29

My 11 month old DD has come out with chicken pox today. Her brother had it 12 days ago so have been doing 'spot checks'!

Giving him baths with porridge oats in really helped him, so will be trying the same with her. Put some porridge oats in a sock and put it under the tap as you run the bath, you can also rub it over their body. It helps with the itching and doesn't seen to dry the spots out too much.

I also recommend PoxClin, seemed to stop the itching instantly.

Good luck, hope she is better soon

Original poster

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 16:39

I don't want to take her to the Walk in center unless I have too as if someone else who's got a weak immune system it could be fatal to them. Thank you for all the comments and support. Sounds like I'm doing all I can for her then based on Comments. I guess I'm just used to my alert constantly smiling and laughing baby. She's asleep so much if she is awake she's so tired. Just unlike her so worries me :(

OP posts:

Original poster

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 16:42

Her spots also look so sore. Just makes me want to cry constantly, my poor thing!

SO worried, my poor baby :( HELP PLEASE!! :(

OP posts:

dobedobedo · 19/04/2014 16:44

When ds had chicken pox he slept for about 3 weeks. All he was interested in was sleeping, and watching the little mermaid on repeat. It was worrying but kids do this sometimes when they're ill. Hope your dc is better soon X

deepinthewoods · 19/04/2014 17:03

I agree with the others. My baby had C/pox aged 6 months ( at the same time as me and my 3 year old!)
Like your DD she slept almost 20 hours for a week, but woke frequently for water and breastmilk. Her temperature was never massive and she had plenty wet nappies, so I was not too concerned. She was pretty miserable though.
I did call our local surgery ( chickenpox is a notifiable disease) and our GP made an unexpected visit which was lovely. He checked us all over and told me not to worry about my baby sleeping so much.

Hydration and temperature are the two key things to be concerned about. If that's fine then sleep is nature's way of healing.
hope things are better soon. X

Original poster

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 17:10

Thank you everyone. Feel a lot better now! I'll just keep an eye on her temperature etc. I hope she feels better soon! I didn't know what to expect I thought it would just be some spots didn't quite expect her to be so poorly :( only problem is she'll only sleep on me because she's so upset bless her!

OP posts:

deepinthewoods · 19/04/2014 17:17

I feel your pain stumpsxo- having nursed my 6 month old through chicken pox it is really horrible. Just ignore housework, ironing, everything else. Your body contact and warmth will soothe and heal her. Don't be afraid to let others take the strain.
This will pass - babies are strong, this acute phase should not last too much longer and your baby is stronger than you think.
Thinking healing thoughts. XX

NotAQueef · 19/04/2014 17:23

I think sleeping so much is fine so long as she's easy to rouse

sugarandspite · 19/04/2014 17:59

Not sure on the age but piriton is v good to give alongside calpol as it relieves the itching. You're supposed to avoid giving ibuprofen for chicken pox.

But just to answer your concern about going to out of hours / walk in centres - they are well used to dealing with people who may be infectious with all kinds of nasty stuff. Just ring up explain the situation and they will tell you to wait in a separate waiting room.

If you're anxious about your DD at all (and nothing you wrote in your OP would suggest that there are any abnormal issues) then do get her checked out. Part of nursing a poorly baby well is taking good care of yourself, so sleeping, eating and taking time off for yourself when you can and making sure you're not anxious / unhappy about how poorly she might be.

Original poster

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 18:08

Thank you again. Trying my best to keep her calm and happy, keep smiling and trying to make her laugh. Loads of cuddles. Trying not to let myself get overwhelmed or upset. Hard to see her so unhappy :( did everyone have a lot of crying with their babies? She's hates being out down she goes mad. Bathing her is the worst, she must be so sore bless her! I'm lucky I have loads of help atm as it's the weekend so have my partner home and my mum lives 5 mins away so she nips shop etc if I need anything and is doing my washing for me. Just hope she's mostly recovered by Tuesday as i won't have anyone to give me a hand if needed :(

I quite possibly thing seeing your child ill and so upset and can do not a thing about it is the most heart breaking things ever. :(

OP posts:

Original poster

stumpsxo · 19/04/2014 18:09

How long does it usually last for?

OP posts:

deepinthewoods · 19/04/2014 18:22

I think the acute phase can last around 4 days. Don't bathe her if is is sore. A solution of bicarb in a glass of cooled boiled water ( one teaspoon to a cup) dabbed on with cotton wool will ease.

It will pass. As I described I was alone while suffering chicken pox for the 1st time myself, a 3 year old ill, and my very ill 6 month old baby too. I had no help at all, but we survived.

Martorana · 20/04/2014 06:43

Stumpsxo- if this is the first time your baby has been poorly, then it must have been a shock. But it won't be the last. I honestly think you need to think about ways to stop yourself getting so upset about it- it is sad and upsetting but it it is just a part of being a parent. She needs you to be calm and cheerful and positive, and she will need that more as she gets older and more aware, and you won't be able to do that if you get yourself into a state. Maybe think about ways of pinning on an "Oh dear, never mind, you'll feel better tomorrow -how about a story?" attitude? Even if you don't feel it?
This isn't a criticism- honestly. It's just that she will get ill and fall off her bike and bump her head and all these things- and she will look to you to decide how she deals with it. So you need to be bright and breezy and cheerful and confident. Which is very, very hard.

tobysmum77 · 20/04/2014 07:11

if you are worried them ooh is the way forward. No need to worry about old people, they will have had it. The vast majority of pregnant women will have had it (my dd has it when I was pregnant). You have to ring them first anyway.

I didn't think you could give piriton to a baby that young unless told to by a doctor.

deepinthewoods · 20/04/2014 07:17

What's "ooh"? tobysmum

BikeRunSki · 20/04/2014 07:23

Ooh = out of hours GP . Here they have a clinic in the hospital, you ring NHS direct and they make you an sppo

BikeRunSki · 20/04/2014 07:23

... An appointment.

Dd was 9 m

BikeRunSki · 20/04/2014 07:27

..., dd was 9 months old when she got cp. she had so many spots they joined up in clusters and had a fever of 38-39 for three days. She slept pretty much for 4 days. Then she out bronchitis.....

Sounds Iike your dd's cp is normal OP. Distressing, but normal.

deepinthewoods · 20/04/2014 07:28

OUr Gp service does not encorage anyone with chickenpox to visit the surgery. It's too much of a risk to others. If a child is very ill a GP will visit.

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