Your baby’s first sick day is never exciting or fun. It’s actually quite frightening. Yesterday I took Annabelle to the doctor after we had another night of screaming and inconsolable crying. We were going on day 3 of strange behavior and sleepless nights. Even though she didn’t have a fever, B and I just knew that there had to be a reason she was waking up out of a sound sleep so miserable.
Our baby’s first sick day doctor visit
The doctor didn’t see anything visibly wrong with her (we were counting on an easy-to-treat ear infection), but was worried about the way she had been acting. She said she had to draw her blood to check for infection. Watching your little one get her finger pricked and then squeezed over and over again so they could fill a tube with blood is no fun. Annabelle stared at the nurse and cried and cried as if saying, “Why are you doing this to me?”
The blood work came back almost immediately with high levels of infection, so the doctor worried she may have a bladder infection. Apparently bladder infections are common in little girls, but the only way to find out if she had one would be to get a urine sample by using a catheter. This was worse than the nurse taking her blood. I cried and she cried and the doctor apologized over and over again for having to hurt her.
Of course the initial urine culture came back negative for infection, so now we have to wait until Monday to see if she in fact has a bladder infection. If she doesn’t, then she just has a virus of some sort and they can’t give her anything to feel better.
This is our first experience with Annabelle being sick and I know it won’t be our last. While I am grateful that she isn’t suffering from a fever, runny/stuffy nose, vomiting, or a cough, I hate that we can’t see what is making her feel so bad. The unknown is frightening and I pray that this virus goes away soon. Yesterday I spent the entire afternoon cozied up with her on the couch. I kissed her and hugged her and rocked her until she fell fast asleep. It was all that I could really do for her though.
I remember being sick when I was little – sick meant staying home from school and getting to watch cartoons all day long. It meant eating pastina and toast for lunch, and Italian Ice for dessert. If my belly was sick, then it was ginger ale and saltines. All of these things made me feel better… and I couldn’t do any of them for Annabelle since she is just a baby. I just worry so much that I am not doing enough for her.
It made me wonder… As parents of a sick baby, what can we do to make our little ones feel better so we don’t feel helpless?
Poor A!!! Mav has RSV and we are on week 5 of it, they say it can last 6 weeks!!! Hate babies being sick!!
I know how you are feeling right now! We have been to the ER once, the doctor twice, and have another appointment set for Sunday for my little man. We went from being told it’s croup, to an upper respiratory infection, to a wheeze that could possible mean asthma. It’s so hard when you feel like you can’t do anything for your baby!
Oh I hate it for you. It does pass, but it does come back too. And it gets a little easier the next time. We had the finger prick situation (and blood drawn from the hands….and a catheter), and I just cried. My husband held the baby, and I stood outside crying. The nurse didn’t think I would help the situation. Why do babies who DON’T UNDERSTAND have to get sick? You should only be able to get sick when you can understand what’s happening! 🙁
Poor sweet Annabelle. On a positive, you both look great!
aww sweet girl 🙁 it’s NOT fun seeing your little one in pain and you feel so helpless. Miss L caught a bit of a cold from daycare this past week and woke up last night with a horrible stuffy nose. I hear ya lady- we just want them to be their happy selves!
Oh my goodness. That poor little one! I sure hope she starts to feeling better soon or that the doctors are able to find something to help her. I’m sure you absolutely hate not being able to help her–that has to be one of the worst feelings ever.
Thank you!
I’m so sorry, that sounds horrible. I hope your sweet girl feels better soon!