2 week old, conjuctivitis

[wftm]

So my newborn has conjunctivitis in one eye. It is full of green gunk constantly since starting this morning. Spoke to a doctor who said leave it for 2-3 days to see if it gets better because they're reluctant to prescribe antibiotics for such a small baby.

I'm just anxious. Could it damage his eyesight if left? If its bacterial can it clear on its own or does it always need antibiotics? I'm in limbo of not wanting to leave it too long and not wanting to use antibiotics on a tiny baby. A midwife told me to put breast milk in his eye so I've been doing that. Don't know how long it will take to see an improvement but nothing so far.

My son had it a few times as a little baby, he gave us antibiotic stuff to use but then said if it ever comes back to just use boiled cooled water and a cotton ball to clean them (different ones for each eye). Could you not do that? It’s so scary in the beginning isn’t it. I remember those days. Thinking of you op.

I also had the breastmilk advice from a midwife. I followed it and dd's conjunctivitis cleared up but that was 20 years ago and I can't remember how long it took.

Has the gp actually seen your child?
if not, I’d call in the morning and suggest that as they’re under 4 weeks old, guidance states they need to be seen in person to rule out an infection acquired during delivery.

Thank you all for your responses. The doctor didn't see him no, I had a c section if this makes any difference? Its looking less red now and not as much gunk I was going to wait til mon for a GP appt after what the doctor said but I might ring 111 and see if someone will look at him tomorrow.

Both my DC had this as tiny newborns - it's very common. Keep squirting the breastmilk into the eyes - every feed at least. It really works!

This is very common in small babies because their dear ducts are small and block easily. If you think the actual (white) part is red it is worth having him checked again. Any liquid (saline drops, breast milk, antibiotic drops), will help a bit with washing them through.

Going to presume no history of Chlamydia / gonorrhoea in you, would change things a bit if so.

Am surprised by GP reluctance on antibiotics though as the eyedrop ones are very benign and some prescribe then very readily (so do some paediatricians).

Mine had it when newly born. Older DC had a tummy bug at the time, so I assumed it was that. Hand hygiene is key.

Thanks all. His eye is definitely less red it seems to have cleared a lot and he can open it now. No redness on actual eyeball as far as I can see. His brother had gunk coming from his eyes not long ago and we tried as much as possible to keep him away and hand washing etc but maybe hes just caught it? No infections in myself as far as I'm aware although I do know some people have things and don't know. But only ever been with DH and was tested with my first son came back clear so assuming all is okay. Can infections be passed through even if I've had a c section?

I'm going to call the GP tomorrow anyway because I don't want to take the risk as he's so little.

I also had a swab during pregnancy due to bleeding which came back as BV. If I had any other infection would it have shown on the swab?