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Original poster

help my 3 year old has just woke up gasping

66 replies

zigzagbetty · 18/03/2020 00:06

Just woke up to my little girl coughing and gasping for breath. Waiting for ambulance but it will be a long wait they said. So scared

OP posts:
mctagmcbag · 18/03/2020 00:43

prayers are with you? Hmm don't think there can be much wrong with her, mumsnet isn't exactly NHS 111

dontgobaconmyheart · 18/03/2020 00:45

Just keep her calm, keep her off her back op and have her breathe with you, in and out on repeat slowly, relax her shoulders and just distract her from it. It doesn't mean it is something serious and cv19 is pretty unlikely to be causing her that with no prior symptoms but the paramedics will advise and check her lungs and temp etc when they see her without doubt. Hope she is well, bless her Flowers

Absolutepowercorrupts · 18/03/2020 00:48

@Katri999
It's priorities no apostrophe needed. When you go low I go lower. I can be nasty like that. Just like you.
Op I second the steam recommendations, steam won't harm her and may help. Here's hoping you get some help soon.

AmelieTaylor · 18/03/2020 00:54

How is she doing now?

It’s terrifying when they’re like that (without CV being in everyone’s minds). There are so many things that can make small people like that including night terrors.

Hopefully her breathing is back to normal by now 🌷

AmelieTaylor · 18/03/2020 00:56

It’s quite possible to be looking after your child and posting on MN for a bit of advice, support -so some of you need to wind your necks in. FFS.

Bingeslayer · 18/03/2020 00:57

Hope there's some improvement ok and ambulance arrives soon,she would be a priority with breathing difficulties.
Cold air is what's recommended now,my daughter was admitted to hospital January via ambulance to a&e because she woke up exactly the same,does get croup but that was the worst episode yet,She's nearly 8.

Italiangreyhound · 18/03/2020 01:21

Hope all is well.

Mohster · 18/03/2020 01:36

Is it just me as I find the fact strange that you are on mums net writing whilst you are waiting for the ambulance and your 3-year-old son is gasping, surely you should be seeing to him and calming him down, carrying out the checks any good parent would be doing rather than writing on mums net and then sitting there reading the responses. Your son's life may be in your hands.

Imagine if the paramedic stopped what he was doing and started writing on Facebook. I can tell you that if the ambulance staff see you texting and spending your time on your phone the safeguarding form will be submitted and rightly so.

You need to do your research on what to do in the case of scenarios at other times and be prepared because when it comes to kids you don't get time to start researching it. I mean instead of texting mums net you should be making sure he isn't choking, calming him making sure that relaxes and gets the support he needs to breathe rather than his gasping and panicking and preparing yourself for immediate action in case he stops breathing. You have 4 minutes and the average paramedic takes 10-20 minutes.

I can understand you may be panicking and wanting support but you cannot expect to get this from a forum if you can't cope then get help neighbours, other people that are around you and if you are not aware of the procedures then take this opportunity to start learning about dealing with emergencies and what to do so that you are aware of them if this ever happens again.

Normally the 999 operators will stay on the phone with you and they will help you do things whilst your waiting for the paramedics and if you are on mums net whilst this is happening then your not providing them with the attention required and you need to re-evaluate what is important having a chat or focusing on what is important because they can only help you if you are focused and tell them the info they need to know rather than your wanting to as seems to me provide a status report to your friends as that's focussing more on 'hey look whats happening to me' rather than what is important.

Sparklfairy · 18/03/2020 01:46

@Mohster there is so much wrong with your post I don't know where to begin. Oh actually, how about I start with the fact you didn't even read the OP closely enough to realise that it's her DD, not DS that's ill Hmm get off your high horse.

At this busy time, 999 operators are not going to stay on the phone with you. Even before this busy time, about a month ago I had to call an ambulance because I couldn't breathe. The dispatcher did not stay on the phone with me. She said to call back if I needed, but she got off the phone pretty quick.

The ambulance took about 10-15 mins to come. Those minutes felt like an eternity when I was in pain and couldn't breathe. An MN thread would have been a great distraction while I was waiting if I hadn't been in so much pain I couldn't see straight, but a worried mum waiting for an ambulance with no idea how long it'll take? Yeah, damn right she should post, get advice and ideas of how to help and distract her DD while they wait for an ambulance when they have no idea when it'll come.

Seriously, don't shit on people just because you're behind a screen.

Original poster
zigzagbetty · 18/03/2020 01:51

At A and E she's calmed down now think it might be croup. Waiting to see a doctor, thank you for the supportive messages. 999 didn't stay on the phone as they said it was extremely busy and to ring back if her breathing stopped again. My priorities are fine, she was breathing steadily when she posted I just posted for advice and support and really for someone to calm me down while i was waiting for the ambulance. As it was possible Corona it didn't seem right to involve neighbours. The paramedic took 1h and 20 mins due to the current situation. I realise this was the wrong place to come for support. Thanks for the helpful commenters though.

OP posts:
looondonn · 18/03/2020 01:58

Sorry to hear all of this
Thinking of you both

Mohster what a disgusting post you should be ashamed

pissedoffwithprojects · 18/03/2020 02:06

I've had a couple of middle of the night croup incidents with DC2 and it is terrifying and you aren't able to think of the normal things to help that you normally would if you were being more rational and 111 or 999 do not necessarily stay on the line with you so I think Mumsnet is a reasonable place for you to go for help and people need to be less fucking judgy!

Sometimes you just need someone who isn't panicking to tell you the sensible things to do. I hope everything is ok now OP.

Escapetab · 18/03/2020 02:09

Poor you and poor her. Same thing happened to me with DS this winter, he went to bed fine and woke up hardly able to breathe. He had croup. It was on and off with him too so I can see how you had time to type and needed reassurance, don't listen to nasty people. That's a long time to wait for an ambulance, must have been scary. If it is croup probably she'll get steroids and hopefully bounce back really fast. Take care Flowers

Durgasarrow · 18/03/2020 02:17

If it is croup get in the shower with her so she can breathe the steam.

Durgasarrow · 18/03/2020 02:19

For future reference, steam can be very helpful for croup.

Lweji · 18/03/2020 02:26

Glad you're in hospital now.

This is the place to come when there's nothing else. You did well.

I'm just posting to say that I didn't find steam very helpful when DS had bronchiolitis or croup. What worked best was the cold night air (for some reason it's almost always at night), well wrapped up. I used to stay or sit outside, or by an open window.

I hope she gets better soon, and you don't have to try my advice ever. It's quite scary.

nachthexe · 18/03/2020 02:38

We always used the doorstep solution. Wrap in blanket or duvet and go outside to the step and distract by looking at the stars/ listening for owls, finding the moon etc. They are usually still small enough with croup that you can support upright and cuddle while you talk soothingly. Fortunately for us the cold air thing usually worked to calm the airways and get the breathing back to normal. It is scary though. Glad you were seen.

AmputatedSoul · 18/03/2020 02:40

Those advising that steam is the right thing to help with croup.. my DD gets this regularly. Goes to bed fine, wakes up with the cough and gasps for breath unable to speak.

The first time was in winter and we drove her to A&E at 2 in the morning and by the time we got there (10 mins) she was back to normal. The A&E staff said that cold air is very beneficial for croup instead of steam.
Since then we have wrapped her up and taken her outside in the garden when it's happened and she's not had to go to A&E again because of it.

Steam helps with chest infections, not croup.

Hope your DD is okay OP, it's so scary when it happens Thanks

Helenj1977 · 18/03/2020 07:25

@zigzagbetty I've been thinking of you all night.

How is she now? Are you OK?

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 18/03/2020 07:28

That's good to know, about croup and cold air.

I suppose I had chest infections and c virus when I suggested steam. Comes to show that posters should always take advice given on a social site with more than just a pinch of salt.

WhyNotMe40 · 18/03/2020 07:36

Cold air is definitely the best thing for croup. Ds has had it a few times and the first couple of times I rushed him to hospital (as advised it would be quicker than an ambulance) and just that 15 minutes in a cold car fixed him! So after that we would just go and walk the streets or the garden a bit in a sling or buggy, and then back to bed in a cold room with the window open.
It's very scary OP, hope all is ok now Flowers

EggysMom · 18/03/2020 07:40

A thought for those who say cold air is best - with modern heating, are bedrooms too warm? Would it be better to have a cold bedroom and lots of bedclothes instead? Like we did in the olden days Grin DH and I have no heating in the bedroom, we both prefer a cold room.

AmputatedSoul · 18/03/2020 07:59

@EggysMom since my DDs first episode we have turned radiators off in her bedroom and she sleeps in a nightee, she does still get croup but it doesn't last as long as the first time and is less severe so you may be on to something there!

WhyNotMe40 · 18/03/2020 10:27

We have cold bedrooms and windows are cracked - DS still got croup, but maybe not as bad as he would have

Ventilatorshortage · 18/03/2020 10:33

Zig zag betty

Please please ignore the awful posters on here telling you not to come on for support.

My dd had exactly the same a few weeks ago.
Ambulance also said no steam anymore... Outside.

Mn has been fountain of knowledge over the years, for everything, legal, health wise... Relationships. My heart sinks when posters come on to tell people not to post.