I am 32 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I am a nurse, I work nights. I am sleep deprived, uncomfortable and so worried about my first born. she will be 2 next month.
She just had 3 ear infections in a row in the RIGHT ear. I took her to 2 ents docs for 2 separtate opinions. I was just @ ent # 2 yesterday and he said infection is clear but there is still a lot fluid on the right ear. he said he anticipated it to dry up being spirng was coming. she had A LOT of colds this winter. she has been of f the antibiotic omnicef for 4 days now. she has a fever now of 99.5, rectally. I know this is not considered a fever but with all these other ear infections she ran low grade a few days and then spiked to 101. ENT doc explained to me how the fluid can take months to go away and it just sitting there makes it prone to getting infected again. her nose is not running. i am just so worried about her. I dont want her to have another infection and increase her chance of tubes when i am about the deliver baby # 2! If ent just looked at her ear YESTERDAy could it already be getting infected TODAY? I always know when something is brewing with her because her cheeks get pink.
i am hoping and praying it is just another virus! it has been such a tough winter. she and i have had multipe, multiple colds. i just feel so bad for her.
should i take her for an ear check this weekend? should I sit on it the weekend? i know if she spikes to 101 i will bring her in (my peds office has hours on sat and sun). My gut feeling is the fluid sitting there is brewing another ear infection!
Please someone make me feel better! i am a hormonal mess!
I agree with Jane, 101 is not that high. And, while the number is important, more important is how she is behaving. Is she listless or uncomfortable - if so, take her in.
Perhaps tubes will be necessary for her eventually, but that is no big deal. My eldest son use to get ear infections all the time, so when he was barely a year and a half, he had to have tubes in his ears - it was such a relief. His ear infections ended!
I know it is hard for a mom and especially a hormonal pregnant mom to not worry but it isn't helping your daughter or your unborn baby to be worrying this much. What is the worst case scenario? Your daughter gets tubes in her ears - which is a pretty simple procedure which will help her, not hurt her. Try to work on things you have control over, like taking care of yourself and loving on your wonderful kids. Worrying about something you have no control over does nothing to help the situation, it doesn't change the outcome or make things better. Deep breathe mom, everything will be ok even if your daughter has to get tubes in her ears.
I dont think 101 is that concerning myself. I'd watch more for pain and behavior issues before I'd run to the doc. When I was little they always put warm glycerine in our ears and I did the same thing to my kids... never took them to the doc for an ear infection. Even the outer ear infections they get in summer I would cure with vinegar and peroxide after swimming. I wonder if a drop or two of vinegar would help, it neutralizes the ph.
You are awesome working nights. I just delivered and those night nurses have my respect. It sounds like your little one is just fine. Ear infections are troublesome but it'll work out. Hope she can get meds if she's in pain.
I would take her. She is your baby and you know her body. Trust your gut. As a kid I had constant ear infections. I was at the dr one day with no infection and returned the next day and I had one. Good luck. I will pray for you and her.
sigh... follow your instincts... but try to relax.
I am not trying to sound overcritical... but I think that nurses sometimes get a little bit paranoid... My mother in law is a nurse and I swear every time my daughter (2) has a sniffle she becomes worried to death that she has a sinus infection or deadly virus or something and she thinks I should run her right in to the doctor right away! If she has "green boogers" she must be on her deathbed...
But- with time, rest, fluids, and care- every time she pulls through in a few days and is OK. Other nurses I know are mostly the same way... and I think it is because they see so many super-sick people all the time, that they forget that tons of people do get sick and get better all on their own at home! (and I do really respect nurses for what they do... )
With a recurring ear infection, i won't tell you to not be worried... just try not to over think it! If you are really going to put yourself in knots- then take her in again. My question is, fever aside- how is she acting? is she picking at her ears or acting cranky or generally unhappy? If she is acting ok in general... I myself, would wait a few days- watching her carefully, and see if her "fever" resolves itself. If she seems like she is unhappy or really uncomfortable, that call the doctor and see if he is willing to check her out again.
Good Luck!
-M.
Okay, 101 is not a "spike," it's a slightly elevated fever. Actually, if that's rectally, it's barely a fever at all. A normal temp is 99.6 rectally. Nothing to worry about at all. If it "spikes" to 103-104, then take her in. She's old enough to get tylenol to keep her comfortable.
If she's going to get another ear infection, she's going to get it, so worrying about it isn't going to help. I don't mean to be harsh, but that's just the truth. Really at this age, there's nothing you can do to keep them from getting ear infections, short of getting tubes. So just keep her on the omnicef (make sure you feed her lots of yogurt too to keep her gut regulated) and try to just enjoy the weekend.
Finally, if she has to have tubes, it's not the end of the world. Actually, it's not even something that will take a whole day. So if that happens, it happens, and I wouldn't worry about that either.
Try to get some rest!
I can understand the fact that your hormones are making you antsy. Tubes in the babies ears are really not that bad. When my son got tubes he was just over a year and it only took the doctor about 30 minutes total to put them in. That remedied the problem but if you don't have to go that direction then that is good. I would just wait out the weekend and see what next week brings. She will let you know what is going on. You know the signs that the baby gives off. She won't sleep and she probably tugs at her ears, right? You might try getting her on probiotics to combat the negative effects of the antibiotics.
Have you talked with your ent about your concern over the TIMING of the tubes....if needed? I think I hear you being more concerned about taking care of her/being there for the surgery with a new baby or while you are in the hospital....I was amazed when my son got tubes (I was terrified) at how smoothly it went. He was home PLAYING normally that same afternoon! Hang in there. Love on her and if her fever goes up, take her in to ease your mind and her comfort :)
tubes tubes tubes and ear infections will either stop or reduce. no your not hormonal and follow your gut.
