This is another impromptu post. Prior warning: put-you-off-your-morning-coffee-and-crossiant details included. And also, I’ll start at the end so this doesn’t appear to be some OTT dramarama – Mabel is much better now.
Last weekend we moved Mabel into her nursery, she was sleeping in our bedroom in her Snuzpod until that point. Our intention was to have her with us until the recommended 6 month mark* but as she is a long and chubby healthy baby unfortunately she simply became too big and has been waking herself up by hitting the sides of the crib with her arms.
The timing wasn’t exactly ideal, Mabel has also just started teething so it’s been a week of little sleep and general restlessness (I wake up countless times with the thought “is she ok” rattling around my subconscious). We were due to go away with friends this Friday for a three day break in Wales, we decided to cancel based on the fact it wouldn’t be fair that they would probably also be woken several times in the night at ungodly hours and that Mabel would possibly be further confused by her surroundings.
At 1am I was woken by Mabel gurgling in her cot, I checked the monitor (we have an under mattress sensor with associated video) and couldn’t see anything suspect. Call it intuition if you will but I decided I would go and check on her regardless, she seemed fine in herself but was absolutely soaking wet. The bed linen, her pyjamas, her hair – pretty much everything basically. She had been very very sick. I called James into her room and we set about cleaning things up, as I said, she seemed well in herself – even smiling as we put her in fresh sleepwear.
As soon as we lay her back down in her cot she went bright red and started choking, or at least that’s what it seemed like, James whipped her up in a flash and with a few pats on the back she was projectile vomiting like nothing I have ever seen before. We went into panic mode, what was wrong with her? why couldn’t she catch her breath? did she have some terrible illness? What would have happened if I hadn’t have gone in to check on her? What would have happened if we had been at the Wales location, practically in the middle of nowhere?
We dialled 111 (I haven’t used this service before but from what I can gather, it is very similar to the NHS direct line that stopped in March of this year) and discussed her symptoms with the operator, whilst on the phone the same thing happened, the choking, the projectile vomiting….only this time she appeared distressed. As she was not limp in any way and was relatively alert the operator suggested it was more than likely a bug, but that we should take her to our nearest hospital to be checked. We flung what we could remember in terms of little person paraphernalia in the car and went on our way.
She was seen by a staff nurse and the doctor that was on duty, her vital signs were fine and would you believe, in typical Mabel fashion, she was beaming at everybody she came across. After (a very long) hour we were told we could go home, and that they too thought she had contracted a (albeit unpleasant) non life-threatening virus. It was the “choking” that bothered me the most, the medics thought this was simply a gag reflex, scary, but normal. That was until she started again whilst the doctor was there, at this stage she was bringing up a thick yellow bile. Our nearest hospital* didn’t have a specific paediatric ward so again to ensure it was a virus and nothing more suspect, we were transferred to Heartlands in Birmingham so that Mabel could be monitored in their PAU (paediatric assessment unit).
Mabel was seen by two doctors who both concluded the same – it was a virus. They suggested we give her formula little and often and look for signs of dehydration and deterioration. We were finally discharged at 7.30am. It was a long and emotionally challenging night, I am usually known for keeping my cool in difficult situations but I was a complete mess. And I couldn’t help but wonder if she might be unwell because of something I did or didn’t do.
You learn from every experience, good or bad. What I came away with specifically was a generous dose of perspective. The last few weeks I’ve been running around like some kind of mad woman, juggling several work-related projects on little sleep, not eating properly, stressing about the prospect of weaning, moaning about my lack of holiday wardrobe and my post-baby physique and generally not knowing my arse from my elbow.
Did I not learn anything from my own recent head-over-the-toilet debacle?
At least we have our health. At least my baby girl, although pale and wan, is A-ok. I have a supportive and loving family, amazing friends, a roof over my head and a job that I love. I am more than aware that there are plenty of folk that have non of these things.
I told myself to get a bloody grip.
Although the content of this post is not exactly pleasant, it’s not supposed to give you the Monday morning blues, quite the opposite (I hope). Sometimes you’ve really got to appreciate what you’ve got, and not dwell on what you haven’t. It could be a lot lot worse.
And to make you laugh (or to put you off your porridge) Mabel managed to get puke in my eye. And down the inside of my brand new designer bra. No, I don’t know how she managed it either, the girl has aim.
*I have many friends who have put their babies in their own room much earlier, and some later than 6 months. There is not a right or wrong amount of time, it’s personal choice and what you feel comfortable with. Please free to voice your opinions in the comments section however.
*In the panic both of us completely forgot our “nearest” hospital didn’t have a paediatric unit, Warwick was just as close and does have the facility, it’s things like this it would be handy to write down/have recorded somewhere if at all possible, in case of emergency.
As you read this I will be having a relaxing “proper” breakfast before I begin my day. The world isn’t going to end if my list of tasks get delayed by half an hour or so.
Yep, perspective.
What an emotional night! So pleased to hear Mabel is ok now, must have been terrifying though! You did well to trust your instincts and should give yourself a huge pat on the back for acting quickly and getting her to hospital for the pros to check her over. Good parent skills! Also pleased to read you’re having a proper breakfast! By looking after yourself you look after Mabel. Take it easy!
My husband and I have recently been giving ourselves a hard time lately about the things we don’t have (our own home). But we had friends to stay this weekend who gushed about how lucky we are to have so much. They could see all the amazing things in our life we hadn’t been seeing. Easier said than done at times but gaining perspective from time to time is a good reminder of what’s important in life. We all forget this in life’s mad day to day chaos don’t we. Hopefully next time you won’t have as stressful a reminder!
Hi Melissa! I have just had a big bowl of porridge 🙂
Sometimes it does take other people to remind you how lucky you are – it shouldn’t but it does. You are absolutely right about the day to day chaos, it is so easily to get lost in a sea of not so important things, and forget about the things that are. x
Oh my gosh. You poor thing, but so glad little Mabel is ok now. I love your outlook on this and you definitely don’t need to beat yourself up about it. You did everything you could and reacted really quickly. Unfortunately these things happen with little ones and they are extremely scary but babies are quite resilient. When my first little girl was born I had just been moved off to post natal in the hope of getting some rest when Molly started making funny noisy. Being a new mum I had no idea and the midwife just told me to change her nappy. After that she carried on and started going a bit blue. Cue pressing of the button and another midwife whisking her away. they were all so calm that I just got back in to bed thinking I could go to sleep (I blame the excessive gas and air I’d just had!). It was only a few minutes later that I really realised my few hours old baby had been taken away and was now undergoing xrays and scans before being taken to neo-natal. She had some problems with her lungs due to being born early and a quick delivery but it wasn’t till I saw her in the incubator covered in wires and drips that I actually got very upset. I managed to stay quite calm most of the time really as I guess I knew she was in the best possible care, and she was. Luckily she recovered quickly and was back with me in 2 days but was very scary non the less. Luckily my second was ok after birth but has had constant chest infections since having bronchiliatus as a tiny baby. I am therefore very used to the projectile vomitting and a cough that sounds like she smokes 50 a day! She has been on antibiotics so many times that I think she must be immune to them. I’m not entirely sure how my mum coped with me as I was constantly ill, having asthma attacks and basically not breathing! I appreciate now what she went through. Also, do not worry about moving Mabel in to her own room. Both mine went in at between 4 and 5 months as they got too restless and actually slept so much better once they moved in. I did get a bit paranoid with Alice as she sleeps on her tummy (a big no no I know) and constantly checked on her the first night but an angel care monitor helped. You just have to do what’s right for you. xx
Whoops, just realised how long that post was! Sorry! x
Never apologise for a long comment! Bloody hell, what a lot to go through, asthma must have been incredibly scary for your Mum, as must be the constant chest infections for you.
I am not surprised you were upset by all of the wires and a drip, I would be too, they just seem so small and defenceless.
We have the angel care monitor – I couldn’t manage without it at this stage. It’s one of the purchases I always recommend to friends that are expecting x
Bloody hell what a fright that must have been. I’m glad to hear its nothing too serious (although it must feel pretty serious having a poorly baby regardless) and hope her recovery is speedy.
I had a hospital drama myself this weekend, I’m 24 weeks and have been at Bestival. I had a bit of an incident which saw us being shipped across site by paramedics to the medic tent and I found myself in the bizarre situation of having to explain to a field doctor why I wasn’t exactly comfortable having an internal examination on a camp bed in a semi-exposed cubicle in a muddy marquee filled with 17 year olds staggering about smashed on ket.
Thankfully common sense prevailed and I was referred to the fabulous St Mary’s maternity unit where a UTI was diagnosed, and everything is otherwise fine.
Moral of the story? No, I’m not going to apologise for or regret going to a festival while pregnant, other than this incident we had a fabulous time and I don’t believe the safety of my bump or mysf was compromised at any point but I would wholeheartedly recommend buying a When Nature Calls loo pass to ensure clean, comfortable ‘rest breaks’ rather than hanging on to avoid the rank festival portaloos!
It also reaffirmed for me the important things too, Charlotte, namely exactly the points you make in your post and appreciating what you have, so thanks for sharing your experience, it really resonates today!
On a side note, what are your plans for the snuzpod? Are you hanging on to it for potential Mabel mkii or selling? If the latter, give me a yell, I’m about to buy a dove grey one myself and am midlands based so in the market for a local preloved one!
Phillipa my goodness! what a nightmare, glad to hear you are ok now. I plan to go to a “proper” festival in the future so will bare in mind the fact you can get a loo pass!
The snuzpod has already been promised to a friend unfortunately with the proviso it comes back to us in case of baby number two…. so sorry! but I promise they are worth every penny – and they should retain a decent re-sell value should you decide to invest x
We’re already planning to go to Camp Bestival as a family, I checked and When Nature Calls loos will be available which is a result. No worries on the Snuzpod, very glad to hear you endorse it!
Firstly – am so glad Mabel is OK. Bless, bless, bless you, for your awful scare.
Secondly, thank you so much for posting this – it absolutely outlines what it’s like to be faced with the unknown illness of a baby in the middle of the night (terrifying!) – and both how normal it is to feel like this, and how best to deal with it. I wish wish wish i’d read something like this before I had George, now almost three. We had a couple of these incidents in the early months and they knocked my confidence hugely, just knowing other people are out there going through the same thoughts and feelings is so reassuring, thank you Charlotte, keep up the great work.
Anne.x
Thanks Anne, glad it was useful for you. I know I’m going to be paranoid about the next few nights, I guess that’s only natural, I’ll be checking the monitor every 5 minutes! x
Yikes! Scary stuff, so glad she’s OK now. I can totally relate to the perspective point – I’m a born worrier and it often takes events like this (albeit not as scary as this!) to remind me to slow down and take stock.
With my baby making his appearance in December, its about time I get myself prepared for his arrival. Which baby monitor do you have? I want one that does video and monitors breathing too!
Also – if I can use this forum for a future post suggestion/request – I’d be really interested in your essential new-born items. It seems that there is a ridiculous amount of baby paraphernalia out there – how do I know what I need and don’t!? Its like wedding territory all over again!
xx
Hi Georgina! absolutely – I’ve actually made a small video (!) of the sleep paraphernalia, Adam is just editing it as we speak. It’s the Angel Care monitor – it detects breathing (an alarm goes off after 20 seconds if the sensor pad doesn’t detect movement) and there is a video part so you can see your baby in the crib, make sure they are not up to no good! Sounds like you have the same one 🙂
Thanks for the post suggestion – depending on what this video turns out like I was going to do one on my top things you need x
Angel care monitor sounds great! I’ll add it to the many things I need to look at in John Lewis!
Oooooo a video! Looking forward to it!
🙂
So glad little Mabel is ok! Sounds like a really scary time.. Oh and I also had the Angel Care monitor and highly recommend it! On a side note, have been trying to get in touch re advertising but the contact form doesn’t seem to work?! Would be great to hear from you 🙂 x
Thanks Helen, she is much better thank you! I’m sorry about that, please email charlotte@rockmystyle.co.uk if the contact form doesn’t work x
Email sent last week – let me know if not received! Sometimes my emails end up in junk folders due to my mental surname.. 😉 Thanks xx
Sat here feeding my 8 week old reading all your posts reminds me of the roll coaster we too are living. We had one day of projectile vomiting and diarrhoea with Matilda, after lots of panic realised is eaten pepperoni and due to me breastfeeding the next day the spice had affected her tummy, luckily mum was at the end of the phone and after 12 hours of me expressing milk down the sink and bottles she was better. It’s horrible and scary seeing them vomiting and when they look at you crying in pain you feel so helpless. All we can so is stay calm and think logically. Glad to hear your lil one was ok. Im sure we’ll have many more moping up sick days in the next 20years! Have to say these posts are lovely and helpful for me as you are a few months ahead of us, gets me planning ahead!
So I’m alittle late to the party…with a 5 month old baby girl, blog reading happens alot less but can I just say thank you for writing this! Having a baby COMPLETELY changes your life (obvious I know) but it’s so wonderful to read that other people have the same thoughts/ problems/ fears/ as you. I suppose it makes you feel alittle more normal than just a panic stricken mother. Not sure you if have read this article but I think it’s so amazing. It completely sums up the way I feel http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6471948 Motherhood certainly is a roller-coaster but it’s a ride I wouldn’t miss for the world.