It’s definitely sick baby season, Aidan is snotty and uncomfortable and some of my friend’s kids are really not dealing with the change of weather too well (feel better soon babas)

I got this very valuable advice from Sr Teresa Hayward a private Registered midwife, specialising in Neonatal Intensive Care  and had to share…

You can get hold of her FACEBOOK or WEBSITE

ADVICE: WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND DECIDE IF YOU NEED TO TAKE BABY TO THE DR:
I often hear from moms how they feel the Drs think they are paranoid. I also know as a mom myself how difficult it is to get an appointment with a Dr. Here are some things to look at and decide whether you can need to take them to a Dr

1. has baby got a temperature – anything above 37.8 is a fever. Babies under 6wks must be seen before giving anything, babies under 6months must be seen but you can give something 1st, if temp comes down, then you can wait till morning, if it doesn’t then go straight away. Remember any temp higher than 38.3 is not related to teething or vaccinations.

2. Feeding – if baby is not feeding or is taking in less than half the normal daily volume then they should be see. Please don’t go to Dr with breastfeeding problems, that is why there are lactation consultants. They will generally just say put on formula

3. Is your baby having wet nappies – how many, colour of urine, blood in nappy (girls under 6wks can have bloody discharge). Remember babies can also get urinary tract infections. Babies urine should not be orange and should not smell strongly.

4. Vomiting – if they are vomiting large amounts after consecutive feeds and if vomit green

5. Is your baby unusually drowsy

6. Does baby appear floppy and focusing visually

7. Is your baby having difficulty breathing – wheezing on out breathes, flaring nostrils, rattly cough, runny nose that is yellow or green

8. Circulation problems or blue nails

9. Diarrhoea

10. Dehydration – this usually goes with no drinking, lethargic, no wees, vomiting and diarrhoea

There are a number of things that a clinic nurse can assist you with and save you a lot of money:
– thrush
– nappy rash
– feeding problems – eg breastfeeding and formula and introduction to solids
– colic and reflux
– constipation
– teething

If you go to Dr:
– be able to tell him the symptoms you are concerned about and what you have seen
– what was last temp
– what meds have you given, when and how much
– how long has baby been sick
– normal meds eg teething, colic, reflux (these can influence what he prescribes)
– other medical conditions eg reflux, colic, asthma etc
– allergies
– when last did baby eat, wee and poo/vomit

Be careful of changing Dr too. Every time you go to a different dr it can affect babies treatment as they don’t know history.