Poorly 11 week old baby

[clouiseg]

Hello all. Hopefully someone can give me some advice....?

Have an 11 week old DD (third DD!) and am a bit concerned about her.

She was diagnosed with Whooping Cough on Sunday by our out of hours GP, and commenced on ABs as she had a HORRENDOUS barking cough (but no fever etc). In the early hours she was taken into hospital as she was struggling to breathe between coughing fits & not breathing straight away. She was in for 3 days and monitored, swabbed, bloods taken, etc etc. The X ray she had showed a shadow on her little lung, but as she seemed bright enough & is on ABs they sent us home.

She is still coughing, but it now seems VERY chesty. She can hardly sleep. What is worrying me is that she seems to be making a "rattling" noise when she breathes (I can feel it on her mid back when I hold her). As shes only 11 weeks old, and as its the weekend coming I'm concerned. I don't fancy the whole NHS Direct, Call from a nurse, refer to a GP, refer to Hospital hassle!! My GP surgery told me @ 5pm I'd left it too late to have an appointment unless its an emergency(small village practice with a lack of sympathy!)

She doesnt appear to have difficulty breathing at the mo except for a bit quick at times IYKWIM?

Am I just being a paranoid mum?? Thanks ladies. X

[3littlefrogs]

If she is breathing quickly, she is at risk of getting exhausted and dehydrated. If GP won't help, take her to walk in or A&E.

Could you phone the ward she was in and ask their advice?

I would just take her TBH.

[belgo]

agree with 3littlefrogs. I think your baby needs to be seen by a doctor today.

[luvaduck]

agree

you could call the ward where she wa discharged from and say you are not happy with her, and she is breathing fast again, they will most likely ask you to bring her up

or go to A+E prob best route as OOH docs will prob just refer 11 week old to A+E anyway

you are probably just feeling transmitted sounds from phlegm (ie nothign to worry about v common) or the area where the infection is as identified on the CXR, it can feel rattly. However i can't say over the internet if its somethign new or not, and the owrry with whooping cough is secondray bacterial infections - ie pneumonia. so yes I would get her checked out in person
(I'm a GP and think that your surgery is out of line, how do you know if its an emergency???)

[luvaduck]

sorry for typos

[clouiseg]

Thanks so much for your advice!

I have tried the steam in the bathroom thing that was suggested to me by a friend this evening. Although she is not breathing fast all the time she is still rattling. Also she has quite bad sickness & runs too...poor mite. This is prob the ABs?

She has had a few screaming fits this eve which is out of character for her and even her bath which she normally loves was a disaster. She has no fever as of yet but if she doesn't improve I'll pop to A&E with her.

Incidentally, I rang the ward and because it is now outside 24 hours since discharge they won't see her back there unless she is referred. Just said if I'm worried go via A&E. Still waiting on swab results too but no word as to the cause yet.

I really appreciate the input, if nothing else I realise I'm not just being overly worried, Thank you. X