OT: Moms of more than 1 child.

I am overly worried when Nylah gets sick, and I mean with just a runny nose or cough. I have seriously taken Ny to the doctor every time she has even a cold. With two I am not going to be able run to the doctor every second. Ny now has a fever tonight and I wanted to run to urgent care but refrained giving her some Tylenol and putting her to bed. Everytime she even gets a little rash or anything I want to run to the doctor. How do I calm down? I am scared of every illness and get scared I am a bad mom if I dont bring her in. Help!

I was raised by an old school mom/nurse....heheh. Her favorite saying when we were growing up was " Are you bleeding? Can you move it?" We had to be coughing up a lung, have a fever over 102(even as teens), or have a broken bone for her to take us to the doctor. And, yes, she had insurance.  I broke my foot in 20 places when I was sixteen and she didn't believe me. I had state vocal competition the next day---so she wrapped it in an ace bandage and gave me a cane to use. She took me to the doc after...and couldn't believe that it was broken that bad. She felt really bad. 

As a result, I'm caught between trying not to be paranoid and being compassionate. As for Ny, our ped says that if they have a fever for more than 24 hours or it is over 102, or if it is not reacting to the fever reducer---bring them in.

Big Hugs. It's so frustrating.

Angie

P.S. you are NOT a bad mom---or you wouldn't be worried about it in the first place.

well i think with our first most of us are like you...at least i was...when i had my second i was the same but always called the nurses line at the doctors office before going straight in...alot of times they were right and had great suggestions...running to the office for the simple stuff ...i realized was ridiculous...but dont get me wrong...always go with your gut!!!!! and if it makes you feel better and puts your mind at ease GO IN!!! because you just never know....
you are definately not a bad mom if you arent able to rush their every time....trust me...if it was a broken bone, extreme fever, horrible rash you wouldnt hesitate....when its a low grade fever, sniffle, scrape...realize there is no emergency...
when you have another child you wont get as panicked...you wont sweat the small stuff...there is no time...
wishing you the best of luck...
tricia

yea. fever OVER 103 with no response to tylenol/motrin

throwing up for more than 2 days

no liquids going in

no pee diapers for 24 hours.

odd rash/bumps that do not go away with benedryl

reaction (hives) to medication/food.

these we havne't had yet but I'd go for:

bleeding that won't stop

broken bone or maybe broken bone

deep cut.

so far those are the only reasons we hop in the car.

Thank you for the response. I needed advice from ladies who cant just get up and run to the doctor for every ailment. You and Ksandra had alot of the same advice and I appreciate your response!

Working in the healthcare industry I've learned NOT to go to Urgent Care for reasons that aren't emergent.  If the fever is under 103 for less than 3 days, they don't want to see you.  You end up filling up spots in and urgent care setting when real urgent matters need to be addressed and people end up waiting unecessarily.  OR, I end up waiting forever with cranky kids when we could just be at home waiting for Tylenol to kick in and having a nap!  :-) 

I always make an appointment for the next day or two.  If it hasn't gone away by then, then we had good reason to see the doc.  If it goes away before the appt, I cancel so someone with more urgent matters can be seen.  

We do make appointments (not go to uc) for diarhea that lasts more than 2 days, coughing for more than 4 days, mysterious rashes, fevers of 101+ that haven't gone away after 2 days, and injuries.  I let the doctor's office decide if we should go to urgent care, be seen that day in the office, or if it can wait until the next day.  I HATE going to the doc's and so do the kids.

But with that said, I think you did the right thing tonight.  Maybe it's different because I have boys?  I don't know.  Plus, having worked in healthcare for 10 years, I hate going in if I don't have to.

Good luck, it might get easier to do with 2 kids...but you are right...it's much harder to pack up the kids and head out EVERY time.  I don't think I've been on time anywhere since Kellen was born.  I don't think I'll even try when the twins get here! LOL!

Sandy

I truly appreciate your response, I have just always heard that if she has a fever she has an infection and that put red flags in my head. But I feel much better now, her fever was only 100.1 went down with Tylenol and she went to sleep fairly fast and is still sleeping its almost 2am. So for daycare would you just give her Tylenol and send her with the low grade fever? I really need to go to work the last few days I can. Thank you for your input!! I may make an appt for a cough she has, it started as a dry one two weeks ago now has been a little croupy sounding, other than the fever now she has no other problems.

 Im  firm believer that mothers know there children the best. IF you feel something isnt right then call.

My son was sick.. throwing up off and on for a couple days. no fever no signs of being sick but vomiting. I told my ex i was taking him to the dr. He was upset with me for doing so. My son ended up in the hossy. Then transfered after a week to LVH( which has an awesome children's unit) To where they found that he has acidohpillic esophagitis.  Which will effect my son for the rest of his life.

So i say if you really feel it warrants a dr trip. GO!!

I do agree to trust your instincts but you have to be able to distinguish your instincts. kwim?

a cry will be different, a moan will sound off.  something will put up a flag at some point to get checked out.

Ahhh, you are one of THOSE moms! LOL

Just kidding. I work in the medical field, so besides being used to minor sicknesses, I also have amazing docs that I can ask questions to, so I don't have to run to appts all the time for nothing.

You will mellow out. It's just part of human nature to be over paranoid with your first. You don't know what to do or expect. You learn from the first one's colds/fevers and know how to handle it when it happens with your next.

You will be fine!