Talk to me about how your LO handles common illnesses

gutsymama · April 2014

Crowdsourcing because I want to push for challenging Luke and getting rid of his line sooner rather than later, and the biggest hangup as far as I can see is that he's great when things are good but as soon as he's a little congested his appetite decreases and we have vomiting and I really don't know how he'll handle that without the boost of fluids and calories from TPN. So I know that this will likely be different for Luke, but I'm just trying to get a frame of reference for what's normal in this situation. I know I could reasonably go for a day or two without eating, or take a significant decrease in calories for several days while sick with no significant effects, but I have no idea how this works in tiny people. (I've also posted something similar in my SBS group so I can get several points of reference.)

So, when your LO is sick - how much less does he or she eat? For how many days? How much vomiting have you endured with no significant ill effects (like needing IV fluids or hospital stay)?

sparkymcgeee · April 2014

going through it right now and ^^^ that is about what we are experiencing. Hence the engorgement.

ETA: We're just like nkaeding. Robyn was too fast.

Stina2012 · April 2014

Only dealt with vomit once. It was terrifying. Like bad SNL sketch amount of vomit. It was from her second day of DC. And then I got it and vomited twice. I never puke.

Other stuff is mostly green snot and DC nose. The kind where her upper lip is a booger zone. No fevers really, only from 6mo shots (with flu shot I think).

I'd ask your SBS board. What did your pedi say?

Also, he is adorable and beautiful!

gutsymama · April 2014

Thanks, ladies!

Basically what I'm getting at is that I know how Luke handles colds, etc., and that it involves decreased appetite and some vomiting but I think this is pretty normal. He will likely get dehydrated easier, and vomit easier, but other than that we shouldn't hold him to different standards than anyone else and a day or two or a few of this won't be disastrous. I'm expecting some pressure here from our doctors and I just want a frame of reference for "normal" if I have to push back.

lancomechica · April 2014

V is a trooper with common illnesses but when he had RSV and was vomiting a ton...he was very lethargic and wouldn't eat...only nurse and no bottle. We syringe fed him pedialyte 1 hr after each vomit.

thewif85 · April 2014

DS has only been really sick once, but when he did he hardly ate anything. He altogether refused solids and would only take in 1 or 2 oz at a time. He was sick for 3-4 days and lost almost half a pound. Our pediatrician was concerned, because he's on the small side (under 10th percentile), but she said as long as he had at least 4 wet diapers a day, he probably was fine. After the sickness finally passed he quickly regained the weight, which really surprised me, because he had never (and still doesn't) gain weight quickly.

MRads · April 2014

B has had a perpetual cold since starting DC in September. It doesn't affect his appetite really at all, even on days that it is worse than others.

When he had his six week ear infection, his milk consumption dropped to 8-10oz at 10 hours of DC and two lackluster nursing sessions. He had diarrhea from the meds, so it was hard to monitor diapers.

When he had the flu, his consumption dropped to 10-12 oz at DC.

No vomiting. So common cold, there is no change. Ear issues there are changes.

klepa20c · April 2014

My LO has been sick once and refused all solids (which she didn't love anyways at the time) and nursed only slightly less while puking a TON. Sometimes right after she nursed she would just puke it up. I was so freaked out but it lasted maybe 3-4 days and she didn't lose much weight and still had 5 or 6 wet diapers a day.

flkong · April 2014

M refused most solids but nursing was normal. It lasted for 3 days and she felt lighter when she was feeling better.

gutsymama · April 2014

I feel bad love-titting all these posts about sicky babies, but I appreciate all the input!

@thewif85 we weigh almost every single day, and weight is so fickle....it's so dependent on how much he's eaten, how much he's pooped, fluids, etc. The one time he didn't poop for almost 24 hours he was up nearly half a pound when we weighed him! His last big round of puking, he lost 13 oz in 4 days but then put it right back on after we started giving him fluids again. I'm not surprised your LO put the weight back on quickly - I would assume it's not really weight gain in that case, it's just regaining the lost fluids (which resulted in the weight loss to begin with).

thewif85 · April 2014

mimi4347 said:

I feel bad love-titting all these posts about sicky babies, but I appreciate all the input!

@thewif85 we weigh almost every single day, and weight is so fickle....it's so dependent on how much he's eaten, how much he's pooped, fluids, etc. The one time he didn't poop for almost 24 hours he was up nearly half a pound when we weighed him! His last big round of puking, he lost 13 oz in 4 days but then put it right back on after we started giving him fluids again. I'm not surprised your LO put the weight back on quickly - I would assume it's not really weight gain in that case, it's just regaining the lost fluids (which resulted in the weight loss to begin with).

I agree the weight is so fickle.

I know I'm new around here, but I sincerely hope everything works out with your little guy. He seems very well loved around here and pretty fantastic.

KTZ17 · April 2014

DD went on a nursing strike while she was teething. She had a fever for three days and wasn't eating well for 2/3 days, but she bounced back after the third day. Since she was a preemie, I worry about her eating, but I try to tell myself that some days I eat more than other days. A couple days of decreased appetite shouldn't hurt her. Hopefully the pedialite can help you ward off dehydration with Luke when he gets like that. FX you can ditch the line!!

notaffected1 · April 2014

When we dealt with stomach flu a couple of months ago, we just trickled in fluids, offering an ounce or two every hour. It even got to the point where we had to do half strength bottles with pedialyte for a couple of days because full strength made him throw up no matter the quantity.

We were told one very wet diaper a day was the bare minimum requirement during that time.

Only you know your baby, be his biggest fighter and you can't go wrong! He's already proven he is a tough little man

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