Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Antibiotics prescribed for 3 week old DD...should I give them to her?

81 replies

hjscho · 04/05/2007 14:16

I took DD to see doctor on Monday, as she had a really bad cough. I wanted to check that it was just a cough. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and I said that I didn't want to give them to her. The doctor said to use my common sense and if it hadn't cleared in a couple of days to give it to her. The cough has now changed and I can feel the 'bubbling' as she breaths when I hold her. I am not sure if it has now become a chest infection rather than just a cough. I am SO reluctant to give antibiotics to a 3 week old, but I feel that I may have to give in now, as she has been ill for over a week. I'd appreciate any opinions on this one...

OP posts:

JodieG1 · 04/05/2007 14:19

I think I would, especially as you say it's "bubbling" when she breathes. That happend to me and it was a chest infection, I left it too long though ended up labouring with it and then had it for 3 more weeks. Woke up one night and couldn't breathe with the pain and had a severe pain in my left shoulder. I ended up with infections in both ears and a bad chest infection which really made me feel awful, needed antibiotics to clear it up. Hope she's feeling better soon.

Taylormama · 04/05/2007 14:22

give her the antibitoics - start now

TooTicky · 04/05/2007 14:23

I wouldn't give antibiotics to such a young baby. But I avoid them anyway. Would you consider homoeopathy?

tortoiseSHELL · 04/05/2007 14:24

I definitely would - it's a case of what's worse, and you can bet if she got pneumonia she would get IV antibiotics. Hope she's better soon.

WigWamBam · 04/05/2007 14:25

I'd give them. Chest infections can become very, very bad if they're not treated and the treatment can then be much more distressing. I wouldn't want to risk it in such a young baby.

JodieG1 · 04/05/2007 14:25

I only take medication when absolutely necessary and I think it this case it is.

Original poster

hjscho · 04/05/2007 14:26

I agree with you TooTicky. DS (20 months) has had nothing except for a bit of Eucalyptus oil on a tissue, but i am really worried about DD as it doesn't seem to be getting better. She now seems to be sleeping LOADS and I am concerned that it is because she is so exhausted from trying to fight this cold.

OP posts:

LilRedWG · 04/05/2007 14:28

Give her the anti-biotics. If her chest is infected her tiny body is too little and yound to battle it off on its own. I understand your worries, but delaying treating a chest infection may end up with her in hospital on intravenous anti-biotics.

hermykne · 04/05/2007 14:28

second opinion - can you go to antoher docotr?
if its chesty it may be signs of something but to avoid anti-b's would be great for her own immune system.

JodieG1 · 04/05/2007 14:30

Seriously you do not want your baby to get worse with this, if she is sleeps loads this is a danger sisgn as my gp told me this. With a newborn if they sleep a lot more with an illness then they raelly worry about them. Please start her on the antibiotics or take her back to the gp today so they can listen to her chest and give you a medical opinion on her condition. Don't just wait and hope it gets better as if she gets worse it could be very serious.

LucyJones · 04/05/2007 14:31

I would take her to a&e to get a 2nd opinion

JodieG1 · 04/05/2007 14:33

Just realised you saw the dr on Monday and she already had a bad cough then so I really don't think you can afford to leave it any longer. Her body will not be able to cope as she's so young and that's why she's sleeping more. They might even want to keep her in hospital now because of the sleepiness, not wanting to worry you but they don't take chances with such small babies.

Taylormama · 04/05/2007 14:42

My DS had antibitoics when he was 12 days - he had a very severe infection - without antibitoics i dread to think what would have happened - he was hospitalised as he was so ill - get to A & E NOW

lucyellensmum · 04/05/2007 14:47

FFS give her the antibiotics woman. My dd had to have anti-biotics when she was less than a week old because she had a strep B infection in her umbilicus (due i think to a useless HCA at the hospital - another story). I diodnt want to give them but i also was not about to take any chances with infection either. Doctors are fully aware that over prescribing of antibiotics is not a good thing and do not prescribe them lightly. In fact, its like getting blood from a stone. So if a medical professional suggests that they would be benificial for your daughter then it is irresponsible not to take this advice. I DO understand your concerns really i do and i can promise you i felt like an evil witch giving them to dd and must have stood there for about ten minutes spoon in hand before i could bring myself to give them. She is 20m now and not had antibiotics since and has had some shitty colds. The doc prescribed some for me over easter as she had what was looking to be an ear infection but it was a long weekend and i didnt want to have to run the out of hours gauntlet. So he trusted my judgement and gave me the script, which i found on the shelf and threw in the recycling this morning actually as it wasnt needed. More of a problem with antibiotic resistense is caused by people not finishing courses etc than having ABs when they are NECESSARY. Yes, her immune system will fight off the infection in the end (especially if you bf) but why make her battle if you can alleviate this for her now, and you really dont want to risk this getting out of hand. i understand your concerns but now is not the time for homeopathy!

lucyellensmum · 04/05/2007 14:55

I'm sorry but i have re read this thread and i am quite angry at some of the posts. Unless you are a qualified doctor with years of experience you should not be attempting to influence a worried mother into not following medical advice. I know enough about immunology to know that antibiotics given when neccessary is not going to deplete someones immune system. I am 100% against the over prescription of antibiotics and would never give them to my children unless i thought it was essential. But, it is not on to be farting around with alternative medicine at this young age. In fact most homeopaths would probably prefer their remedies to be COMPLEMENTARY as apposed to alternative. All the advice re Carvol and steam in the room is great, yes, do try that actually, boil a kettle in the room, or use a vaporiser, it really helps. But you must give the ABs you really must.

Original poster

hjscho · 04/05/2007 15:00

Thanks for the honest opinions Lucyellensmum. I will start the ABs today (once she wakes up). Most people on the thread have said that I should, so don't be too harsh on them. She is still feeding well (although my milk is probably pretty sub-standard, as I am full of cold too), so I am taking that as a good sign.

OP posts:

LilRedWG · 04/05/2007 15:03

Am glad you are starting them now. I hope she gets better soon, but if she is no better in the next 24 hours or gets worse, please do take her to A&E.

Take care!

lucyellensmum · 04/05/2007 15:06

i'm glad you are starting the ABs, i totally appreciate your concerns. I'm sorry i was a bit like a pit bull with my opinions, i just feel a bit delicate today It is so difficult though isnt it with the media pressures making our decisions as parents even harder. I hope dd picks up soon and you have a restful bank holiday.

katherinez · 04/05/2007 15:07

Just wanted to say I know exactly how you feel, my dd, (now 2.7) has been on long term antibiotic therapy since she was a few weeks old. I was really worried that it was not good to be giving her medications at such a young age. Of course we had to go with it and she was and is absolutely fine, but it is worrying.
I hope things improve soon.

lucyellensmum · 04/05/2007 15:08

oh and don't worry about your milk it will be fine, all that will be transferred to dd is antibodies to the cold that you are suffering from and that is definately a GOOD thing.

paulaplumpbottom · 04/05/2007 15:09

Your doctor wouldn't give you anything that may harm her. It would relieve her discomfort. It'll be ok.

LucyJones · 04/05/2007 15:11

lucyellensmum- as far as i can see only one person said not to

lucyellensmum · 04/05/2007 15:17

yes Ms jones you are right, i read the OP reply to that and took that as a second opinion. I am equally cross with that one person though - irresponsible.

Mum2FunkyDude · 04/05/2007 15:25

That people can question the necessity of medication prescribed by someone that spend his or her life studying to become a doctor amazes me? Why? Jeezus...

Woooozle100 · 04/05/2007 15:42

Agree with taking antibiotics. Hope your dd gets better soon.

I wouldn't worry about adverse effect of the antibiotics - far outweighed by the benefits. My dd is 2 on sunday and she has needed loads and loads. She's had iv antibiotics about 5 times, about 5 oral courses this year alone and a prophylactic dose of antiobiotics every night to stop UTIs since she was 8 months old.

My attitude before she was born was to resist taking them at all costs. Now its more like 'whatever it takes'. Don't really think homeopathy wouldve done the trick in her case.

Flip

1 2 3 4