Baby Sick for the 1st time - Viral Fever

[fennho]

hello everyone

thanks for all the advices and comments. Turns out my gal has got viral gastroentitis, which translates to diarrhoea. True enough the fever subsided after 48hours. But the PD said the diarrhoea will contd for up to 2 weeks! It has now been 2 weeks. We've gone for a short trip back to Spore and now back to HK, but still the diarrhoea persisted. It went from dark green, to mustard yellow, and now alternating between greenish and sometimes yellow. It's mucuosy all the time, sometimes with lumps (sorry for the graphic description!!) and sometimes when she's passing, it'll be with bubbles (got a lot of air?)

It's heartbreaking having to change her diaper and waking her up in the middle of the night, cos not changing is NOT an option, rite? She'll be all cuddly (we're co-sleeping with her) and sleeping soundly and contentedly when we had to change her and that will almost always wake her up to a screaming fit.

My PD has said he's not inclined to give meds to babies to stop diarrhoea. Usually, he said he'll let them stop naturally. But 2weeks of diarrhoea is really mind-boggling! It can be 4-5 times in 24hr.

As for food, i'm currently still BF-ing her 5-6 times a day. For her solids, i'm jus feeding her plain brown rice cereal for breakfast and then plain porridge for lunch and dinner, as per PD's suggestion. It's jus to keep her full but i reckon this has got no nutritious value. I cant give her any fruits or veg since her bowel movements are so rapid now.

Anyone with similar experiences can advice. Is it really best for us to sit it out and wait for it to stop?

 

[fennho]

oh, forgot to add that the PD tested her stool samples and it's negative for major virus. Thankfully she has had her rotavirus vaccine completed prior to this.

 

[fennho]

I feel so demoralized that despite struggling so hard during the initial stage and pressing on with breastfeeding, it has not prevented my gal from falling sick or at least recover faster. Feel so disheartened...heartbreaking to see her trying to "push the watery poo" out.. I can imagine us adults feel so much pain and discomfort if we have diarrhoea, let alone such a young baby. I was just starting to feel somewhat confident of being her caregiver, now feel could it be me not detailed enough? I was already being pretty anal of hygiene issues yet this happened. And what kind of viral did she get that's infecting her for so long?!? sorry just ranting here....

 

[carang]

kids get sick. that's part of growing up. it is NOT something that you did or didn't do. it happens!

hk is such a crowded place that it would be impossible to live here and not get sick. children get sick easier because they haven't had a chance to build up immunity. yes, bf helps to protect them, but it isn't a magic cure-all.

remember, as your girl gets older, the more anal you are about hygiene, the more she will get sick! she NEEDS to be exposed to germs and yucky stuff and she NEEDS to get sick in order to build up the much desired immunity.

so, again, my advice is relax. i know it is terrible to see your little ones in any kind of discomfort. (my girl has a stuffy/runny nose right now and is a little miserable.) but, there is NOTHING you can do about it except try to help them feel as comfortable as possible. if you are doing that, then you are doing your job.

 

[louisouis]

When my son had diarrhoea, the pd advised us to put him on soya formulae for a week so that he will not get any reaction with lactose when his stomach is still so sensitive.

I feel for you, my son had diarrhoea twice and he is only slightly over six months! There is really nothing you can do when it is a virus...

 

[barbwong_130]

It has not prevented my gal from falling sick or at least recover faster. Feel so disheartened......

Please don't feel dishearten that you are breastfeeding or that it hasn't worked at protecting your baby. Although your baby is ill she hasn't been hospitalised. Formula fed babies are four times more likely to be hospitalised for gastroenteritis in the first 12 months than breastfed babies.

 

[fennho]

hi everyone

again, thanks to all for your comments and kind words. Took my gal to the PD again and was given meds this time as the PD agreed as well that beyond 2 weeks is not good for the baby. After slightly more than 24hours, the diarrhoea has FINALLY stopped! Hallelujah!!! Now she didnt poo for 24hours, but that's the least of my worries. She nows keep farting real foul smell, so i'm a tad concerned if the meds has cure her or has it just curbed her diarrhoea but whatever "toxic" or virus that causes the diarrhoea is still "lurking" inside her? Sigh.