It is very painful
for a mother to see her baby weakening due to sickness. It was more than a week
now since Bella got out of the hospital due to Acute Viral Gastroenteritis with Moderate Dehydration. This was the
first time I saw her go through this although I know that once in her life
she will eventually get sick but I am still not prepared for it.
I am sharing this
story for my readers especially for the mothers to know and understand its symptoms
and how to overcome it based on our personal experience. I learned a lot from
this one though hoping and praying that it will not cross our path again.
How
It All Started
At around 2AM of
Monday, my visiting sister and I were awaken by the sound coming from Bella’s behind
then we saw that her stool was watery. I
thought it was just normal and after changing her diaper I go back to sleep.
But after an hour she again gave out another watery stool and from then on I
knew something is not right.
By 6AM, she already
had fever and when I checked it, her temperature went up to 38.5 degrees
Celsius so I immediately gave her paracetamol for babies which are readily
available at home. We went to her doctor by 10AM and we were given
prescriptions. It includes Hydrite Powder to be mixed with 250ml of water which will be
given to her as fluid replacement every time she poops; Organic vitamins like
Vitagard and Vitasquare and also Acidophilus which helps control diarrhea. We were also advised to have her urine and
stool tested if diarrhea persists for the next two days.
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| soundly sleeping |
For the whole day, we
just stayed inside the room while I was monitoring her temperature and giving
her medicines. Late that afternoon, she started to vomit. She
vomits everything she eats. I was glad that Bella didn’t refuse her milk and even
drinks her water with hydrite on it. I
was so worried seeing her that way so I send a message to her doctor and we
were advised to give her 1.6ml of Domperidone syrup hoping that her vomiting
will gone. I am just so thankful that
her fever was gone that night.
Another day came but
still no improvement on her condition despite the medicines we are giving her. For the whole 24 hours, she poops and vomits
like around eight to ten times or maybe even more. Early morning the next day, we
finally decided to bring her to the hospital.
In
The Hospital
After the usual
Emergency Room SOP’s like resident doctor’s inquiries, getting the weight and
all Bella was given dextrose. At first
it was supposed to be on her left hand but the nurse said that it was not
appropriately placed so it was transferred to her right hand.
My heart was torn
apart seeing Bella cry in pain. It was so unbearable seeing her so helpless.
She was crying and looking at me as if asking me to rescue her. I can’t do
anything but go on with the procedure and just be strong for her. Bella was
crying out loud the whole time the nurses in the ER tried to put the dextrose
into her. It was just less than thirty
minutes but it seems like forever to me. She was just ten months old and yet she
has already experienced this kind of pain.
Part of the
hospital’s SOP is to direct their patients in the ward so I requested to be
transferred to a private room for Bella to have a comfortable and convenient
place only to herself. That morning, she was given Immuno Zinc and another
synthetic medicine which I forgot the name. We were also advised not to give
her anything yet like milk or water to let the medicine work.
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| with IV |
Within the
twelve-hour period that we were at the hospital Bella didn’t vomit although she
poops like around 3 times. Her stool ( fat globules) , urine and CBC test
results are all within normal limits except for her hemoglobin count which are
relatively lower due to lack of sleep the previous days. Based on the
laboratory results, the doctor’s diagnosis on Bella’s condition was Acute Viral Gastroenteritis with Moderate
Dehydration and she was recovering fast although it was very
obvious that she develops phobia when she saw nurses coming near her.
We were discharged
from the hospital after twenty four hours with the advised that medications
should be done continuously for another seven days. We were so happy because
that day is also my mother’s birthday and Bella’s recovery is a birthday gift to
my mom and of course to me and to the whole family.
What
are the Possible Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis
Based on her stool
laboratory results, no presence of bacteria or any virus but only fat globules.
As explained by her doctor, it was caused by indigestion in infant which I agree.
My mom likes to feed Bella breads and anything she can think of eating which may somehow caused it. We are also
taking into consideration that since Gastroenteritis is viral; Bella possibly
got it from my visiting nephew who first showed signs of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis.
Yoshi and Bella are both sleeping in the same room with us
and since it is air conditioned, virus are possibly transferred from one
another. Although Yoshi has not been brought to the hospital, he and Bella are
taking the same medicines and since he is a year older he somehow has a
stronger immune system to combat Viral Gastroenteritis.
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| in her tita jing's care |
Overcoming
Acute Viral Gastroenteritis
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| eyes swollen from crying |
Even though Bella’s hospital
sojourn was short, it greatly helped her recover. The monitoring, the medicines
and the dextrose helped her speed up her recovery. I have also develop immunity
to Bella’s whimper every time the nurse was around to check her vital signs or
give her medicines. It hurt me really bad to see her cry and all I can do is comfort her and let her feel my love and assure that everything is for her own good.
I have to
choose and I chose what the best is for her and that to let her undergo medication the hospital. After a day in the hospital though less frequent, Bella was
still having a watery poops that is why her doctor advised to change her infant
formula to a Lactose-Free one. I am still breastfeeding Bella but I am
supplementing her with infant formula to prepare her for weaning anytime.
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| Lactose Free Milk |
Lessons
and Realizations
Do not take chances
with the life of your baby. In whatever sickness if you see that the symptoms
persist immediately bring her to the hospital to be given proper treatment
before it is too late. I thank God for giving me the wisdom to decide that
before Bella will be severely dehydrated, we right away brought her to the
nearest hospital. As a parent, always invest in your baby’s health because
prevention is better than cure. I would
rather spend some penny in boosting her immunity which will give me peace of
mind thinking that she can overcome whatever sickness that may come along
rather than spending money for the hospital bills and even see her suffer all the more.
That particular experience
alarmed and pained me for I realized that I can overcome anything and
everything in life and face it with strong heart but I am very fragile when it
comes to Bella. She is just a baby and should not be in pain. I know that I should
be prepared for whatever and just be strong. I always
pray to God that He may bless Bella’s life and that she may grow up to be happy
and healthy and become a child God wants her to be .
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