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Astrid's Hospital Visit
Nov. 14th, 2010 06:56 pmWe 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.
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.