WWYD - diarrhea and really really slight temp...? (x-posted in LWAB)

[Baby_Cakes]

Nora's had 3 runny poopie diapers today, I think it's pretty much diarrhea. She's almost 6 weeks old. Her under the arm temp is 98.9 and her rectal is 100.4. I call the ped and since they were "closing" they told me to take her to the ER.

WWYD? I just don't think it's warranted. I've been nursing her all day, and she is fussy but what would they do in the ER? Take her temp and tell me to keep her hydrated, right?

Would you give tylenol at this point? Would you go to the ER?

Thanks in advance.

[Changed]

I would do nothing but nurse often and make sure you're not overdressing her. Runny isn't diarrhea in a breastfed baby usually. Is it possible she's getting too much foremilk? That makes my babies have really runny frequent poops. If it gets over 101 I'd take her to the ER but I wouldn't give anything to her like tylenol for fear of masking something.

[Baby_Cakes]

Thanks for the reply. I took her temp a few more times, and it's been 98 or 99 or lower every time (rectally). I'm thinking false alarm. I'm nursing her constantly. She finally just went down for a nap. If it weren't for her incredibly bad mood and need to nurse w/o stopping for hours, I wouldn't necessarily think the poops were anything out of the ordinary (except for volume and they smelled a little different).

I just think the whole ER thing is a little much. Symptoms less than 24 hours, barely a fever?

I didn't give her Tylenol. I looked at the box and it doesn't even have dosage info for a baby as young (as light) as she is.

[mkmb129]

I don't medicate a fever that low. We get fevers for a reason, I don't like to interfere unless it's necessary (like to avoid a febrile seizure or something if it's too high). That said, I was told with this baby to call the ped for a fever 104 or more. Just nurse, nurse, nurse!

[sonshine_rae]

a rectal temp of 100 is generally considered normal .. so 100.4 is so very slight she might have just been over dressed or something.

Really I think she's fine.. but I would think all the eating.. and pooping could be her 6 week growth spurt.

[PicnicBear]

Just checking in here, used to be part of this DDC way back but couldn't keep up.

I am up b/c my LO had a temp. recently, too. She is two weeks old. If your gut instinct tells you she is fine, she probably is. But from what I have been told 100.4 means it needs to be checked. My LO had a fever (not that high) that went down on its own but she still had blood drawn for cultures today and a CBC. Because of elevated white blood cells, she started abx till we get results from the culture.

Don't mean to hijack, but wanted to let you know what happens if you do decide to go in or treat it. My doc said her gut says it's viral but she says under 2 months you have to be careful.

So, to answer your question, in the ER they would take a blood draw for CBC, blood culture, and perhaps start abx.

[Changed]

How is Nora this morning?

[Baby_Cakes]

She's FINE this morning. She slept really well last night, and it seems those 3 diapers were the only 3 that were runnier than normal.

Originally Posted by sonshine_rae

Really I think she's fine.. but I would think all the eating.. and pooping could be her 6 week growth spurt.

Yes, this!!! I realized it last night after Chris got home! She's acting EXACTLY like she did just about 3 weeks ago.

I do think she was overdressed, and I had the heat up to 74 in the house. I think it could have been too much foremik, or, I'm guilty of having a large margarita the night before last which could have upset her tummy. :

[Changed]

So glad to hear it. I was thinking of you guys last night and hoping you weren't sitting in some Er miserable.