Accidentally hurt newborn when giving medicine

[Scottishnewmum]

My newborn (26 days) has oral thrush. I have to apply a gel in her mouth with my finger. I did this today and she started suckling my finger, which took me by surprise. She sucked my finger up to the roof of her mouth and my nail dug right into it, possibly breaking the skin, I don't know. She started screaming and wouldn't stop, and I feel absolutely awful. She wouldn't settle with me so my mother in law took her and she settled with her, making me feel even worse about myself. Now I am panicking that my nail broke the skin and she will get an infection and die because of me and my stupidity. I just didn't expect it. I don't even have long nails. I just feel so inadequate and panicky now.

I’ve done this by accident with both mine at some point. Nothing happened after.
She probably settled with your MIL because you were agitated, nothing more.

Breathe!
It’s likely she didn’t stop crying with you as you were upset yourself.
We all make mistakes. I will NEVER forget the day I walked through a door and banged my baby’s head on the door frame. He was fine. I was in pieces.
It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and like you’re not doing a good job. That’s not true!
How are you feeling in general OP?

@Wolfiefan that makes me feel awful given that my 2.5yo is still rear facing and my cars lowered so I smack her head against the car daily 😂

*she's fine

@Wolfiefan In general, I am fine. I was feeling confident and fine up until this point, and now I feel so shit and keep having nightmare thoughts about sepsis and infections creeping into my mind. All I want to do now is to take her and check the top of her mouth, but she is sleeping in my MIL's arms, so I can't.

Honestly this is your anxiety OP. If you had miraculously done awful damage you would have seen blood. Unless you have talons you won’t have done more than scratch the mouth. Your baby could have been more startled or annoyed than hurt!!
Unless this is a major drip feed and you were shovelling manure before administering the medication your hands are clean enough.
If the thoughts persist do tell a medical professional OP.

If the baby’s asleep her mouth will be fine. She wouldn’t be able to sleep otherwise.

Also, if she is asleep with your mil go and have a cuppa or a bath!

[quote Knobhead101]@Wolfiefan that makes me feel awful given that my 2.5yo is still rear facing and my cars lowered so I smack her head against the car daily 😂

*she's fine [/quote]
Haha, yes!

I also did this when DD was tiny. I was with my mum and whacked DD's head on car door frame. She just said 'let's not tell anyone about that, eh?'

And yes OP, your baby will be fine and won't even remember or think about it again.

@Footnote

Also, if she is asleep with your mil go and have a cuppa or a bath!

Absolutely this!!

@Footnote

Also, if she is asleep with your mil go and have a cuppa or a bath!

Or a nap!!

I remember giving dd gripe water when she was crying and her choking on it. She couldn't breathe. It was awful. I'd done first aid the day before at a postnatal group so it did that, then ran next door with her to a neighbour. By the time the neighbour answered the door she was breathing again. I was so shaken! We've all done silly things

Not that what you did was silly. Just an accident

Oh I remember doing this, and causing blood. Felt so guilty, poor little mite. And a little head bang on the car door once.

Nothing will ever take away the look he gave me as I clamped the nail clippers with his skin inside. And that wail after. That's the worst one. Broke my heart.

@GlowBuzzers

I remember giving dd gripe water when she was crying and her choking on it. She couldn't breathe. It was awful. I'd done first aid the day before at a postnatal group so it did that, then ran next door with her to a neighbour. By the time the neighbour answered the door she was breathing again. I was so shaken! We've all done silly things

I choked mine with Calpol. I was panicking about it being on his lungs for the next few days.

@2022newyearnewname I did exactly the same with the nail clippers when ds was about a month old and fast asleep. Felt absolutely awful when he woke up wailing. Still think about it when I cut his nails now! Suffice to say, he survived completely unscathed like all these others babies

@Bimbil19 wow! I've flat out refused to do nail cutting since! My husband has to do it, I just keep picturing that lion of betrayal in his eyes as he realised and I still was pushing. I can only imagine how awful it must have been.

My DH has done the same since, but he manages to cope. The only time I've used them since was on a toenail which was close to tearing and I checked about three times and held my breath!

He's absolutely fine, I'm still a wreck. 😂

Luckily been without incident for a few months (apart from him falling onto toys and crying, but I can't be blamed for everything!) and I've just realised how much of a relief it is to not injure my own child. touches wood

Cuts in the mouth heal very fast. It was an accident relax.

Thanks, everyone!