Health anxiety over youngest child

[AREJAAG]

My little boy is 6 months. He had a cold and 3 months and was fine, then he got one at 4.5months which was rhinovirus and very quickly turned into bronchiolitis. He needed help with his breathing and had IV fluids as I wasn’t allowed to feed him. We were in hospital for 4 days and at first it seemed like he wasn’t getting any better. There was a lot of conversations with ICU about moving to another hospital to put him on a machine that breathed for him, then he just miraculously got better really quickly. It was the most horrendous time in my life and I’m left anxious constantly that he is poorly again. He’s always been a bit of a heavy breather and the doctor suspected laryngomalacia at about 4 weeks old as his breathing was quite noisy. I even called 111 over this a few times when he was younger and after going to hospital to observe there was nothing wrong. But I constantly look at him now thinking there’s something wrong and after many trips to the doctors there never is.
me and my partner left the hospital with our baby feeling like we had won the lottery after those 4 days. But now I spend everyday terrified that something is going to happen again. I have an 8 year old daughter who brings all sorts of colds home from school and seems to be constantly coughing or sneezing and I feel absolutely sick with worry. I make her wash her hands everytime she wants to hold him and tell her to step back if she breathes too close to him. I know it’s good for him to build up immunity but I am so scared of him going through that again. Not really sure what I wanted in response to this post but I just really needed to let it out. I feel so anxious as my daughter has a cold, I have already been to the doctors with my baby twice in the past week to make sure his breathing is okay and it’s been fine. He has been sneezing and coughing a bit and been a little more tired but so far he’s okay. I’m just on edge waiting for it to take a turn for the worst. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is it common for a baby to get severe bronchiolitis that needs hospitalisation more that once? How can I reduce my anxiety over this. Thanks x

Are you me?
same story here, rsv brinchiolitis at 3 weeks old. Longggg hospital admission with picu stay. Toddler in nursery constant bugs. Still get anxious when they get ill. The 3 weeks old poorly baby is now 2 years old and has had bronchiolitis since but didn’t require admission. Although he does seem to pick up everything that’s doing the rounds.

This post has made me feel less alone.

Firstly, huge hug sent your way because health anxiety, especially when it comes to our kids, is the worst thing. It sounds very traumatic what you went through and I don't blame you for feeling so worried after that experience. I pray your little one gets stronger each time and it never turns that way for them again.

I have spent the last week sobbing daily because of health anxiety. I have a 4 week old and a 3 year old (who goes to pre school). My 3 year old has a horrid infection causing a nasty cough, fever and congestion. I have tried my very best to keep him away from my newborn but unfortunately it has been hard work. My newborn now has terrible congestion and now has the cough 😭.

Took her to a&e and so far oxygen levels etc are all okay. I'm currently sat with her whilst she sleeps and her congestion is awful 😞 and the cough just comes from no where and she has a coughing fit. I feel helpless!

We've bought saline spray and an aspirator but it still doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm very worried about bronchiolitis, as I've had close friends babies who have had this and unfortunately one couple's baby didn't make it 😭 so I'm just terrified.

Sending so much love because it's mentally debilitating 🫂

I’m glad I’m not alone! Any tiny little thing now sets me off! He’s 6 months now and off his milk think he’s teething but he won’t really allow me close enough to look lol, but even that’s set me off. I’m glad you’re little one didn’t need to go into hospital again and that gives me a bit of hope so thank you. Xx

It’s so scary when they’re too little to tell you isn’t it. I’m glad I’m not alone when I talk to some people about it they just say it’s important for them to be exposed to germs to build immunity which I do get to an extent but babies can get things way worse. I hope I never experience it again and that poor couple I cannot even imagine how they feel. I know I’ll always be the over protective mother! I just hope that having it once means he’s able to cope with it if he does get it again, but hopefully never again! Xx

Motherhood is just constant worry isn’t it. Even more so at this time of year and what you’ve already been through. The trauma sticks with you. I also think people struggle to understand the fear when they get a sniffle… the what ifs and the I can’t go through that agains etc.
but you won’t miss any signs that baby needs medical attention. You’re mum and you know them better than anyone in the world ❤️ your doing great xxx