Jenny On the Spot

I learned something new this week. Fevers at 100.4 or higher are considered dangerous for babies under 2 months.

Lucy felt a bit warm. This was Tuesday afternoon - at 2 weeks and 2 days old. Her temperature was 100.2. A bit later she sneezed a nasty snottty goo. I called the nurse about the goo and mentioned the low-grade fever. Having preschoolers, I\’ve learned that a fever of 103 doesn\’t cause a doctor concern. If it wasn\’t for that goo, I might not have called.

The nurse said I needed to keep a close eye on her temperature. She said, \”You need to call if it reaches 100.4.\” I said, One hundred AND four???\” She said, \”NO, 100 POINT 4.\” OH. If it did, I\’d need to call the doctor on call.

Later that evening Lucy\’s temp reached 100.6. I call the doctor. He was concerned, but his \”fever point\” was 101. He encouraged me to closely watch her temp, and if it stayed at 100.6 or rose, to take her to the emergency room. The emergency room for 100.6??? Fortunately, her fever went down to 100.2, and by morning it was 99.3.

I took her to the doctor Wednesday morning (Tuesday morning I took her in for a small belly button issue). By the time of our visit, her temp was normal. Yippeee!!!

Apparently, a fever is sometimes the only indication that a newborn has something wrong, and fevers are taken very seriously. If her fever were to return to 100.5 or.6, we would have to bring her in. At that point she would need to be hospitalized for 2 days while put on antibiotics and a series of tests would need to be done (even a spinal tap). I\’m thankful the doctor on call was conservative in his opinion about taking her in the night before (he said we could take her in if we really wanted to — and we nearly did). I wasn\’t aware of all that would be done at that time.

Her fever returned and has remained normal. I am so relieved. I entered the appointment Wednesday morning in tears, worried about my new baby. I woke up Thusday, relieved and thankful her temp remained nomal through the night. She was eating again and not moaning. She ate VERY little the day before and slept almost the entire time. Oh, she is making up for all that silliness now!! I pefer having my sleepless nights with a piggy than sleepless nights with worry!