Scout is getting over her first fever. I must say that the absolute worst thing about being a parent is seeing your child in any type of pain or discomfort. Monday evening, DH noticed that Scout felt a little warm, but I didn't take her temp.
I was still up at 2 am, making chocolate covered pretzels for christmas gifts and heard her fussing. I could tell by the sound of her cry that she didn't feel well. When I laid next to her to nurse her, she fought it and would not calm down. I picked her up and realized she was really hot. She had a 103.2 degree fever and was just inconsolably cranky. She vomited once. I've always wondered how one could tell if a baby is vomiting or just spitting up...I mean, after all food is coming up either way. But I knew this was vomiting - it was accompanied by that gaggy upchucking sound and there was much more force behind it than when she spits up. She's had a little bit of clear snot running since her cold a couple weeks ago, but her chest sounds clear and she hasn't been coughing or pulling at her ears.
The fever did not let up through the rest of the night and through the morning, so I called and got her an appointment with the pediatrician for yesterday afternoon. I got maybe 2 hours of sleep that whole night because she just wanted to be held...but even in my arms, she would cry and squirm like she just couldn't get comfortable. There was a long stretch when she wouldn't nurse at all and wouldn't take a bottle filled with water, so I took the bottle of water and squirted it on her tongue. I got about 2 ounces in her that way. She wouldn't nap. She was just miserable.
Right before we left for the doctor's office, I took her temp and it was exactly 103.2...no change. Usually she is very rambunctious while I am strapping her into the car seat and super vocal during the whole car ride into town. But this time, she was limp and had a glazed listless look in her eyes. It scared me. I kept reaching back to make sure she was still breathing while I was driving. I know that's stupid, but I had just never seen her act that way. I could tell that she wanted to scream in the car seat, but couldn't even muster a cry, so she just moaned until she fell asleep.
In a way, the doctor's appointment was a waste because all he did was tell me that it was a virus and to give her baby Tylenol and wait it out. I could've figured that out without paying $48. But I'm very glad we went because he did get a good look in her ears and throat and they looked fine. If I wouldn't have taken her in, I would've been left to wonder if she had something going on in her ears or if there was more to the problem than what I could see.
Instead of taking her to the last pediatrician she saw, I took her to the clinic where she had her first check-up at one week old. I wasn't impressed with the other pediatrician and his office is an hour away, so I decided I am done with that place. She had never seen the doctor she saw yesterday (the clinic has something like 11 pediatricians, so you pretty much never see the same one). I was surprised that he didn't chide me for not keeping up with her well baby visits. He asked if we have her on the state-subsidized free health insurance for children that is available for low-income families. Sadly, our income is just above the maximum amount a family can make to qualify. He said that at the very least, I need to take her to the health department to keep her shots updated. I should've just kept my mouth shut and said, "okay". But instead, I said that we are thinking of delaying or selectively vaxing (or not vaccinating at all) and all he said was, "The health department will not allow you to make up your own vaccination schedule, but we do have a modified vaccination schedule for parents who would like to space the shots out." That's all that was said. I was glad. I did not have the energy to get into it with him.
He gave me several bottles of baby Tylenol, which was nice because the thought of having to stop at the store on the way home was exhausting. He told me to come back on Friday if her fever did not let up by then. I'm a first time parent, so what do I know....but I'm thinking that letting a 103.2 fever last for 4 days without seeking any more medical attention is a little weird. I don't want to be the kind of parent who runs her child to the doctor with every sign of the sniffles and doses her up with Tylenol at the drop of a hat. I really would rather treat her illnesses with natural remedies. But to be totally honest, I'm too scared to do that. I'm too nervous that I'll let something go on too long and will do my child damage by being too stubborn to seek help from the medical establishment. I guess my natural parenting license needs revoked.
After the first dose of Tylenol, her fever let up a little bit and she was acting more like herself. She played and smiled and nursed great. She went to bed very easily and slept wonderfully. This morning, her temp was down to 100.7 and she is completely back to her old self.
Labels: firsts, health, tough parenting decisions
