Health visit

[Angelyogini]

Hi,
I got really nervous today when my toddler wouldn't wake up from him midday nap and he was extra floppy.
I called 111 and they dispatched an ambulance. Within 20 minutes my baby was up and running so I called again they said no need to worry and they would cancel the emergency call.
Ten minutes later the paramedics were there, which of course I'm grateful for, they took his stats and found blood sugar borderline low at 3.8 out of 4. They took another measurement again after eating on the way to the hospital and it was 5.
After 5 hours of tests the results were inconclusive so we were released with follow up appointments to be confirmed. Of course I'm very grateful for their care.
What I'm concerned about is we will need to speak to a health visitors because my baby was "unsupervised" for 15 minutes. I feel gutted and like a failure and this visit is putting so much mental stress on me as it feels very intrusive.

Anyone got any advice? Have I been extremely negligent of my baby?

What do you mean the baby was unsupervised for 15 minutes?

Hi,
I left him to take a quick shower.

During his nap?

I left him drowsy in his bed with his toy.

I'm realising this is nrgligent as they cannot pinpoint when he fell asleep and other health risks??

I sent an email to the hospital trust to give me the details of the clinical file of the baby, follow up visit or any referral, as so far I have not received any written notes, invitations or other piece of information.

So when your baby was floppy and not wakeful after a nap you left him alone and went for a shower instead?

It’s not something to worry about they will be wanting to see if you need some help and support.

@Fluffyscrubber I’m not sure but I think OP means baby was drowsy, so she left him in the cot with a toy and went for a shower. Then when she returned he wouldn’t wake easily.

I’m thinking this because she said the medics wanted to know when he’d fallen asleep, and I’m gathering she didn’t know this because she was in the shower.

Is that right OP? If so, I don’t think you need to worry? I mean, I remember loads of my mum friends talking about how they could put their baby down in the cot then leave them to fall asleep alone (and I remember it well because it blew my mind - my children were much to fussy and clingy for that!). Unless I’m missing something I’m not sure how that’s any different really.

Exactly. It is very out of character for him to fall asleep on his own (we are currently sleep training though so it might as well be the case that something clicked in him and he was able to take a nap easily).
I recently had a family loss so when i found my baby i was immediately triggered that something bad happened, or worse.

Thankfully within 15 mins he was fully awake and within 20 he was back to eating, drinking etc. 111 said no need for a call just keep his normal schedule.
The paramedics said they didn't know much about baby behavior and normal stats, so they assumed a hospital visit was due.

No I left when he was drowsy but awake.

It’s normal to leave your baby unsupervised at nap time, and assuming they are in a safe cot it’s fine. That won’t be what the health visit will be about, it’ll be to make contact to see if you need any support.

They are likely triggered because that can happen when babies are assaulted. I assume there isn’t someone in the houze who presents a risk of assault to your child? Because in that case you would be expected to supervise at all times

How could they jump to the conclusion of an assault?
There has never been any issue of abuse, neglect, or assault. Honestly I find this allocation of public resources wasteful and uncalled for.

Also I understand the extra support they try to offer us but I have only had bad experiences of HVs.
On the 10 day visit I felt the HV was very intrusive in her questions, asking for instance how we can afford a house, if we eat enough or need vouchers when I told her we only eat organic etc.
Also once the baby was about 1mo, I got him to the GP feeding/weight clinic where the HV panicked that the baby was below the growth chart by 20 grams and said his jaundice is back. She forced us to the A&e where we stayed for 10-12h only for the paediatrician tell us we wasted our time as the HV doesn't understand the mechanics of jaundice and the baby is monitored by the hospital clinic regularly after receiving photo therapy.

It doesn't sound like they have jumped to any conclusion but leaving your baby for 15 minutes to fall asleep in a cot would not, in itself, be a cause for concern.

Someone mentioned assault so I got confused.

Anyway, if it not a cause for concern why the visit?

The HV will be notified and make contact after every A and E visit.

Requesting your records is fine, but legally they have 28 days to respond.

You left him in a cot. That’s normal.

They haven’t jumped to any conclusion. That’s why they’re contacting you

You do sound really spiky OP. Don’t you think it’s good we live in a country where society cares for children in this way? Would you rather they just ignore everytime a baby turns up in a&e after being reported floppy?

your HV isn’t interested in you. They are just interested in the baby. But sounding so anti HV or oversight doesn’t look good really.

It’s totally standard for a HV to do an extra visit after a trip to A&E. They are just checking that your baby is safe at home, and it sounds like your baby is so I wouldn’t worry about it!

Yes I'm a bit on edge after that family loss I had. After receiving a terminal diagnosis I have sworn I won't let the slightest symptom go unnoticed. Maybe I'm overreacting I know but I feel like i made a mistake and I'm made even more redundant as a mother.
I had bad vibes from two Hvs before and with the 2 year review in a few weeks I think it's too much for me ATM.

An ambulance call for a young child will trigger a follow up, I don’t think it would have anything to do with allowing them to fall asleep alone. Has anyone actually said that or is this your anxiety?
Refusing a follow up appointment to check your child is okay after a 999 call will come across strange.

Maybe they’re just confused with timeline, did you phone 111, they dispatched ambulance then you jumped in shower?
Either way they are looking out for welfare of your child and that can’t be a bad thing so take the help/advice if needed.

The nurse said something along the lines that baby shouldn't be left alone in his condition until we find what caused the drop in blood sugar.

Is it a routine response to get a HV after an ambulance trip?

Fair enough.
I'm grateful for these services and the support offered to children.
No I was in shower then made the call.

“After receiving a terminal diagnosis I have sworn I won't let the slightest symptom go unnoticed”

and that’s why (both times) your baby was taken to hospital to be checked and tested. Babies can go downhill quickly even if they appear to be ok, eating drinking etc. the cancelling of the ambulance and you deciding he was ok means nothing to them, they need to be sure he doesn’t have something wrong with him.

There is a real movement in criticising HV and the social care system but sadly it’s been hijacked by abusive parents to keep them away, so being anti HV won’t come across well.

they really don’t care about things like 2 year checks, they’re just a tick box and they’d rather you in and out asap tbh