How concerned should I be? (Dehydration)

[scm1011]

DS has been sick since Monday. He had a 103ish fever + a bad cold Mon/Tues. he was nursing like a newborn, every 90 minutes or so around the clock. Weds he started refusing nursing/bottles/food and still had a fever so I brought him to the doctor. She said he had a borderline ear infection, and had he not been refusing to eat/nurse she prob would have held off on abx, but since he was she prescribed them.

He hasn't nursed since Weds evening, and is refusing bottles as well. He had about 4oz yesterday and less than 3oz today. He did eat a lot of raspberries and a yogurt today, but otherwise nothing else. He had 3 diapers that were barely wet today (like one small part of the stripe was blue). Today he definitely seemed better in that he was playing/happy, just still not interested in food/BM. Before he went to sleep I force fed him 10ml of BM by medicine dropper because I'm so paranoid about dehydration.

Tomorrow is his 1st birthday and party. We have 40 ppl coming over. Id like to avoid urgent care but obviously his health is more important. If he is in good spirits again, should I just KOKO? Is he ever going to nurse again? I've had horrible clogged ducts the last couple days, it sucks (plus I'm not mentally prepared to stop). HELP! 

[scm1011]

His fever is gone, btw

[icedcoffee]

Oh no! I'm sorry. I would keep offering to nurse as often as you can. I'd also offer a sippy of water as often as you can. I would also offer high water content foods--melon, applesauce, etc. Assuming he is in good spirits and continues to have some wet diapers I would KOKO with the party.

I hope he comes around soon!

[icedcoffee]

Also---I'm normally against juice, but this might be a situation where I offer it.

[vtdiamond]

I’ve had times where I’ve been worried about dehydration and have called my pedi office nurse line. It’s been a while but I think their guidelines were no wet diapers for like 10-12 hrs, lethargic, no tears when they cry and also something about skin not springing back when pressed on. It would make me worry less that he’s eating other food and in good spirits. I would guess the sucking from nursing or a bottle is bothering his ears. Have you tried a sippy or straw cup as a different option?

[raangoli]

I’ve been told that as long as the baby urinates and is able to produce tears you are fine. When BB would get like C, I would feed her formula with a medicine dropper like you have been doing. At first she would fight it, but I needed to get something in her.

I agree that maybe focusing on high water content food is a good idea as well.

It’s possible that if he has fluid in his ears and congestion it’s hard for him to breathe and swallow at the same time. I’d keep offering liquids and keep and eye out on his diapers.

[scm1011]

vtdiamond, we did try a sippy cup and he has no interest. Thanks for the guidelines, that's reassuring. We also tried to give him some pedialyte in a sippy, he drank maybe half an ounce.

[lessel]

Our pedi recommended G2 Gatorade diluted with water. It’s less evil tasting than pedialyte and still hydrating with some electrolytes.

It’s good news he’s on the upswing. I’m sure he’ll perk up soon.

[scm1011]

Good tip, thanks lessel.

[kath16]

Pedialyte is gross. It's really salty.

When sick, we push popsicles, Water, juice... anything they'll eat. He might be a little young for popsicles now that I'm thinking of it. Has he had juice? Maybe dilute it?

Also try eating watery food like fruit.

I'd skip urgent care, but call your pedi if it would ease your mind.

[lolo]

I would try spoon feeding breast milk. You could partially freeze so it's slushy.

Also, watermelon, cucumber, etc. And I think the yogurt was a great idea.

[icedcoffee]

scm1011 How is C feeling? how was the party? Congrats on hitting one year!

[scm1011]

He's doing much better today, FINALLY!

[scm1011]

oops, hit submit too soon. His party was a bit rough. He was still under the weather; not enough to cancel but enough so that all the people were a little too overwhelming. He clung to me like a sad panda pretty much the whole time, and attempts at singing happy birthday and eating cake were a disaster (see photo, lol).



He is nursing again though, finally! He barely ingested anything for 3 days. His one year visit is this afternoon and I'm a little worried he may have fallen off the weight chart



Thanks for checking in, icedcoffee!

[icedcoffee]

Aww---glad he's finally feeling better. Sorry the party went roughly!

[raangoli]

Aw I'm sorry that the party was bit rough, but am glad to hear that he is feeling better.

Don't worry about the weight chart - as long as he eats, he will be fine. Says the mother of a 21 month old who is often called "petite" and is at like 2% on the chart

[galaxy8227]

Nov 10, 2017 21:13:25 GMT -5 lessel said:

Our pedi recommended G2 Gatorade diluted with water. It’s less evil tasting than pedialyte and still hydrating with some electrolytes.

It’s good news he’s on the upswing. I’m sure he’ll perk up soon.

We do this as well, DS would never take the pedialyte cause of the taste but he would get excited that he was getting "juice" so even when he was sick he would take it.  

Hope he is on the mend!  

[icedcoffee]

Oh yeah---I wouldn't worry about the growth chart either. DS has actually always been 5-10% on weight and at 1 year he was 15%. The doctor was SHOCKED because he says most babies drop on the chart at 1 year. He says he actually expects them to drop at 1 year.

My kid decided around 9 months old to start eating like a viking though, so there we go--up to 15%!

[midwest07]

Just so you don't feel too bad, I think 1st birthdays can be like that whether the child feels good or not!

[momin2013]

Oh geez, that picture!! Glad he's on the mend, though!

[scm1011]

Thanks, guys! Just got back from his 12 month appt: holding steady in the 5th percentile (17 lbs 13 oz). Phew!