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Original poster

8 week old with symptoms of a cold. Do we need to see a doctor?

23 replies

Ethlinn · 18/03/2013 08:22

Hello, just looking for some advice. My wee man (8 weeks old) has caught some sort of a cold I think (probably from my OH). He has all the usual symptoms - stuffy nose, a bit of a cough too, a bit grumpy. No high temperature though (thankfully) and feeding not too bad. First time mum so I obviously tend to worry too much. Do I need to take him to GP? We have an appointment at sick kids tomorrow for something else, so he will get checked anyway, and I just really don't want to take him to GP on a Monday morning, it will be mobbed and he might catch something even worse... Or am I just being lazy and should be running to GP already?

OP posts:

Skygirls · 18/03/2013 10:16

As long as he is feeding well, wet nappies etc. and no temperature, I think it'll be ok not to go to the GP. Trust your instincts. If you are worried, take him anyway, as babies do tend to deteriorate quite quickly if they are really sick.

If he does get a temp or gets really sleepy, not wanting to feed then you Certainly need to take him.
If you are going to sick kids clinic anyway, get him checked out to give you peace of mind.

If he's now 8 weeks, you can give 2.5ml of calpol ( the one suitable for 2+ months) to bring down a temperature.

stargirl1701 · 18/03/2013 10:19

Our DD, pfb, had a wee cold at 6 weeks and I phoned the HV She advised popping her into the bathroom while I had a bath as the steam would help. I found the saline nasal sprays very effective. A bit of Karvol on a nearby muslin can be of benefit.

And, lots of cuddles

Original poster

Ethlinn · 18/03/2013 11:04

I will definitely try saline nasal spray, OH is getting it for us on his way back from work. And we are doing plenty cuddles (he's spent most of the night and morning so far in my arms). I feel so sorry for him with his little stuffy nose.. and holding him upright seems to be making it all a bit easier for him.. so I am holding him... I phoned my HV too and she said just to keep an eye on him, as long as no temperature and feeding and having wet nappies - no need to run to GP. He will definitely get checked tomorrow at sick kids, probably more for my peace of mind than him really needing it ;)

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MadameJosephine · 18/03/2013 11:21

Horrible isn't it? My 4 month old is just starting to get better after her first cold. Saline nasal drops, snuffle babes chest rub and regular calpol have kept me just about sane for the last 5 days and this morning I seem to have my happy baby back. I didn't bother with the GP as she never had a fever and has been feeding/weeing/pooing as normal. Trust your instincts but if you are worried go to the docs, in sure they'd rather have an 'unnecessary' visit than have a baby become poorly that could have been prevented iyswim

Original poster

Ethlinn · 18/03/2013 12:07

I know, absolutely horrible!!! DS is a rather demanding little thing anyway: reflux, being sick all the time, in general a very fussy and irritable baby, probably lactose intolerant too. And always awake during the day. And every time I think I just CANNOT do this any longer he smiles or does something equally cute lol
So now I'll just have to deal with a cold.. ok then... deep breath.. :)

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stargirl1701 · 18/03/2013 14:13

DD is refluxy too. I feel your pain!

Original poster

Ethlinn · 18/03/2013 15:25

Funny... Everyone I've recently spoken to seemed to have perfect babies.. 'Oh is yours STILL waking up for a feed at night? Poor you!' Or 'My LO never cried THIS much. At this stage they should just eat sleep and play' and so on.. I have to go online to find people with real, normal (not absolutely impossibly annoyingly perfect!!!) babies...

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Kasterborous · 18/03/2013 20:39

It's horrible when they are ill for the first time. Our DD had a cold at ten days old. We took her to the doctors and they gave us some saline drops, you said you are getting some so that's good. Hope he feels better soon.

stargirl1701 · 18/03/2013 20:55

I know! I feel so rubbish when I come back from baby groups. DD is always the most unsettled in any group.

Original poster

Ethlinn · 19/03/2013 08:32

I don't even go to baby groups. He is too unsettled for it.. I probably should, but can't force myself to do it.

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stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 09:31

I had really looked forward to a few - baby yoga, swimming, Rhymetime... I go most weeks but often end up at home crying Things are getting better though. DD is now 27 weeks and she now does have a good day at least once a week. We're having poo trouble at the mo - she's going every 2/3 hours including overnight. It's been 8 days of this so far...

hobnob57 · 19/03/2013 09:58

Stargirl I was wondering how you were getting on, glad to hear there are at least some good days. DS had the poo thing for 2-3 weeks recent,y -as green as grass too. I think he had LI after gut damage from an allergy exposure. Or just a bug. It's all guesswork, eh? Sorry for the hijack. It's just good to see mums of refluxers surviving!

stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 11:56

Hob, I am really beginning to wonder about CMPI, tbh. Our paediatric appt is on 3rd April. I hope we get some answers!

hobnob57 · 19/03/2013 13:13

You won't get answers, just more questions and avenues to explore. But you'll be able to explore them with support behind you and prescriptions for hypoallergenic formula with any luck. The horrible thing about non IgE allergies is you can only diagnose them by elimination and symptom watching. Makes you feel like you're making it up a lot of the time, but is the most reliable medical method available. I've been using a journal app on the iPad to keep a food and poo diary to try and reduce my subjectivity and successfully identified soy as a demon food ingredient.

Original poster

Ethlinn · 19/03/2013 13:44

My LO has been on Nutramigen for nearly to weeks now. I wouldn't say it's all perfect now but I saw the difference almost instantly. We do get times now when he is awake and content. These priceless moments when we can talk to him or play with him and even get a smile. Before that DS was never happy, seemed in constant pain. Changing milk can be something worth considering,

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stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 14:42

We tried the SMA Staydown for Reflux and it just made DD miserable (and constipated!). We then had to syringe Lactulose into her twice a day as well 3 syringes of Rantidine. She hates it! I'm convinced that's why she won't be spoon fed. She must think the spoon is a syringe.

Original poster

Ethlinn · 19/03/2013 16:03

I tried SMA staydown too. We lasted about a week and it made absolutely no difference. Went onto Nutramigen after that, it tastes horrible but seems to be helping. DS is on omeprazole and domperidone, giving him omeprazole is like a torture. For both of us. Strangely, OH manages to do it just fine :)

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stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 16:06

My GP would only prescribe Ranitidine - which did work initially. Fingers are crossed!

Original poster

Ethlinn · 19/03/2013 17:20

Yes, fingers crossed! We were given Ranitidine too (unreal, since DS is already on the highest possible dose of omeprazole and domperidon) but I am just not giving it to him. We were given it at the hospital when they just wanted rid of us (4th visit to a&e). Both my HV and GP are convinced that DS is on more thank enough medication.. and I think so too.
Just hope that this cow's milk allergy will not be something for the rest of his life.. we will see anyway...
Can't believe how much we've been through with him already - and he's only 8 weeks old!!!

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stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 17:22

I hear you! DD is 6 months but it's been eventful!

honeytea · 19/03/2013 18:53

I just wanted to say that if you look at his chest and count how many breaths he is taking you get a good idea of if you need to take him into the doctor/hospital.

My ds had a cold at 5 weeks and I thought it was just a cold, it turned out it was rs virus which had turned into bronciolitus and he went downhill very very fast to the point where we had to rush him to a+e because he was going blue and not breathing very well, a bit of mucus had got stuck in his airway. He stayed in hospital for 5 nights having adrenalin and extra oxygen.

I am a first time mum and I didn't realise the signs of breathing distress (seeing the bottom of his ribs when he breathed, more than 50 breaths a min, indentation in the neck when breathing in) I felt so bad that I hadn't realised it was so serious untill it was nearly too late :(

It is really rare for colds to get that bad but I wish I had known what to look out for, ds was feeding/weeing as normal and never had a temp over 37.5.

I hope your baby gets well soon (hugs)

Original poster

Ethlinn · 20/03/2013 15:25

Honeytea sorry to hear you've been through such nightmare with your LO. Thanks for your advise, will keep an eye on his breathing. DS still has a cold, so still very grumpy and struggling to sleep. Not sure who's more tired, me or him?

OP posts:

honeytea · 20/03/2013 15:45

We found having a shower with ds helped lots to loosen the mucus, also we raised his cot with books at one end so it was sloped, I hope your lo is all better soon :)

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