Astrid's Hospital Visit

[ailbhe]

We went to hospital with Astrid twice last week, because of the whole not-breathing thing, varying from inadequate but ongoing to temporary total cessation. The second hospital trip was less dramatic than the first, because of being in the daytime instead of the middle of the night, but based on more dramatic events. Her bronchiolitis was worrying for the first visit, but not actually frightening until she stopped breathing and went very very pale and then grey. However, by the time we were in hospital (after I turned her over, walloped her, cleaned up the mucus, took her out in the cool fresh air to breathe more deeply, etc) she was pink and cheerful and friendly and smiley and chatty. The paediatrician looked at me and said "But obviously there really WAS something, no question of that." Either 12-year-old boys find all women my age haggard or I looked particularly grim and gruesome, what with tear-tracks on my face and furrows on my brow. (I do the paediatrician a disservice; he was very young, but not twelve. Probably at least thirteen).

Here in the UK, one only sees paediatricians as consultants; for most first-contact stuff or checkups, one sees a Health Visitor, a Nurse, or a General Practitioner.

Anyway, after listening patiently and kindly to my story, the paediatrician praised my quick thinking, logical reactions, etc, and asked me where in Ireland I'm from - his parents are from Up North - and whether I'd let him take Astrid's temperature with a Boots Forehead Thermometer. Apparently they get a lot of parents using them, getting really scary results, and coming in, and in general the forehead thermometer reading is miles off. It so happens that when he did Astrid's it was only a degree higher than it was with the auxiliary (I know, I know) one but he wrote it down anyway.

Linnea and Emer, meanwhile, played in the playroom. It was amazing. They had a telly in there but I have no idea what it was showing. My two were more interested in the wonderful glossy red toy kitchen with fridge, ice-trays, microwave, dishwasher, breakfast bar, etc. Can't have been CBeebies so.

It also turns out that the local firm we use has at least three taxis with two built-in child seats. We only needed to bring Astrid's own one.

Comments

[serene]

Oh, love, how scary! *hughughughug*

And my thyroid surgeon was twelve, tops.

[puzzlement]

Poor Astrid. How scary!

That's pretty good with the taxis. Here the situation is that some taxis carry one carseat. It will not be pre-fitted to the taxi, they will fit it with the meter running (a good seat fit takes at least 10 minutes even if experienced). And there is a fairly good chance that of the three different sizes of carseat, they will turn up with the wrong size.

[rmc28]

I'll add my praise to the paediatrician's: erk, baby not actually breathing and going blue?!? Terrifying just to imagine.

I'm astonished that there are taxis with built-in child seats. Perhaps I should ring around the Cambridge taxi firms to discover if any of them have such a car on their books. One of the things that has put me right off getting taxis in Cambridge except in the direst need is the very wide variation in driving standards and aggression. I'd just have to hope that someone thoughtful enough to have fitted child seats is also thoughtful in their driving.

[cabbagemedley.livejournal.com]

God, how terrifying. My heart's banging in my chest at the thought of it.

[pauamma]

Yay for the outcome!

[nonhae.livejournal.com]

This is a much calmer post than I'd have made in similar circumstances and it wouldn't even have been my baby! (Only one blue/grey baby so far, still get adrenalin rushes just thinking of him.)

I remain firmly convinced that there are only two varieties of paediatricians - aged 12 or 70. Unless they migrate for their middle years. Like, uh, swallows or something.

[clarahippy.livejournal.com]

How scary, I hope she is much much better now.

In my old age (31) I have noticed doctors appear to be about 12, I feel even older when the new rotations start!

[barakta]

Eeep at A going greyness, you definitely sound like you reacted well. I'm glad paediatrician responded respectfully. I know what you mean about them being about 12.

[akcipitrokulo.livejournal.com]

Seem to have missed a lot - lot of best wishes or you all from here.