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?

Yes as others have said it’s routine after any hospital visit. Not just ambulances

HV followed up with me once when I took my baby to urgent care with a rash. It's normal for them to be informed of any hospital visits.

The nurse telling you that now it's been identified your baby has low blood sugar you should keep an eye on him, isn't a criticism of putting your baby down for a nap then taking a shower.
Every parent showers when their baby is napping.

You guys are probably right, and it is for the best of both baby and parent to get additional support.
I am a bit edgy as you have understood and I take everything personally/as criticism when in reality these services are there to help me recover and get the best outcome for DC.

I'm still waiting for the appointment to be arranged and I won't deny it. Just telling you I have found the previous HV derogatory and unqualified.

Hopefully everything will be over quickly without and underlaying condition discovered.

HV are highly qualified. It’s an additional role for people who have nursing or midwifery qualifications

Thanks everyone for sharing your perspective.

The HV is there to support you after an A&E visit, which is completely normal. If your baby is, for example, diabetic or has another health issue causing low blood sugar, it would be negligent of the health service not to follow up. My guess though is that this has something to do with your anxiety and wanting to make sure you are supporting because you are struggling right now.

Yes, there was a poster on another thread who had a HV turn up after her child was in A&E with an ear infection. No specific concerns, just an A&E visit had been flagged somewhere.

It’s pretty variable though, we didn’t have any visits after my toddler fell the whole way down the stairs!

Well the HV seemed uneducated in matters of jaundice from the OP s previous post resulting in a 10 hour trip to hospital and was asking intrusive questions about how they afforded their house

Yes, exactly. Of course I never refused the appointments or their suggestions, instead I understand they were made with our best interests in mind.

My understanding is that they are better qualified in other fields than baby health.

Also, coming from a country where children are monitored by actual pediatricians from birth about their development (from feeding, to speech development and skin rashes) I find the HV a bit inferior, again without wanting to be dismissive of a whole bunch of excellent HV, which hasn't been the case for me.

OP leaving a baby alone whilst you have a shower when they've been put down for a nap is not neglectful. Its normal.

Now that you know baby may have difficulties regulating their blood sugar the nurse was right to advise that you keep a closer eye on them until you know what's going on. I doesn't mean you were neglectful before.

It sounds like it's normal practice in some areas for a health visitor to be in touch after a hospital visit. It isn't where we live so I don't think this is standard everywhere.

The fact it's only the health visitor they want you to talk to is evidence in itself that they aren't especially concerned. It's a health visitor, not a social worker.

Thanks for the reassurance @Crumpetring
I'm trying to keep optimistic. I guess yesterday I was still in shock after the hospital visit.

Hi all,
Quick update: just received a cal by the HV and was told the circumstances of the A&E visit don't call for a home check and my reaction to call emergency services was justified.
By the looks of it (ie baby is baby to his old naughty self) it was a one off scare. Of course bloods will be redone next week to rule out any underlying causes. If that is the case though
I could always contact them to get help with establishing a medication routine for DC etc.

Exactly. When my poor mum was in agony waiting for an ambulance, they took ages. What are the chances someone like her was waiting when the paramedics were with you?
Should they drive round to everyone with a baby, everyday, because it is true that every single baby could potentially be at risk?