Is it OK to have a baby shower for baby number 2, or baby number 3, 4, etc.? Or is this a completely greedy tradition? Liza Sinclaire, Jill Simonion, and I share our views on the matter. Oh dear, what would Emily Post say…. Actually, she says it’s just fine!
Leave your thoughts below or head to New Momversation to join the conversation and see what other people think about this tradition!
Well, here’s what I did. I kept taking my poor daughter’s temperature at what seemed like every hour, maybe every thirty minutes. So much so, she started grabbing the thermometer and sticking it in her armpit all by herself. She even pressed the button to start the reading! The fever stuck on an off for just over a day, topping out at 99.9. I gave her acetaminophen in the day and then some ibuprofen in the evening before bed, and although she seemed fine, I was still concerned about this lingering fever. So, the next day, I ended up filling the prescription at the pharmacy. One nice pink, chalky bottle of amoxicillin. Yum. There, I had it. I was prepared to start the antibiotics if she still had a fever that evening. That would have been two full days of a fever, which meant she probably wasn’t kicking it herself. Still, the louder part of my mind was saying, give it another day. One more day. Was I wrong?
As evening rolled around, her temp was 99.3 and I opted to try one more night… only because she didn’t seem like she was in any pain whatsoever. So, long story short, I didn’t give her the antibiotics and on our return appointment to the doctor, she came up free and clear of the ear infection. I’m so glad I stuck it out one more night and didn’t start a ten-day treatment. How very European of me, right? But man, was I a huge stress ball for two days. Some of you might think I was over thinking the whole thing, and maybe I was, but I guess that what you do as a mom… especially a mom with access to Google.
I just wanted to update everyone and say thanks for the feedback. Giving antibiotics for an ear infection is such a personal choice, but if I were to give advice on the matter, I’d say follow your own gut instinct along with your doctor’s orders… that is, if you can decipher them!
So my daughter has a fever of 100.6 and what appears to be conjunctivitis. Of course, I head straight to the doctor’s office where I’m told that she has an ear infection. I’m sent off with some drops for her eyes and a prescription for amoxicillin. But before I left, I expressed some concern about treating her with antibiotics…. Here’s a snippet of my conversation:
Me: Is this the only way to treat an ear infection? Do I have to give her antibiotics?
Doc: Well, let’s just say that in many parts of Europe they don’t prescribe antibiotics for this type of infection.
Me: So then I shouldn’t give it to her?
Doc: Well, you can treat her with acetaminophen and ibuprofen instead. And then if she still has a fever after 24-48 hours, you should give her the antibiotics.
Me: OK. So I’ll give it to her.
Doc: Well, it’s up to you. Like I said, there are countries that don’t use antibiotics for this.
What?!?! I left not knowing if I should or shouldn’t give her the antibiotics. The last thing you want is for your baby to suffer from an infection that’s easily treatable. But if it’s detrimental to her long-term health and it isn’t really necessary, then of course I don’t want to give her something that will weaken her immune system. This is the conversation going on in my head:
Me: But I don’t want her to suffer.
Me: But I don’t want to give her something so harsh at such a young age.
Me: But I don’t want her to suffer and the doctor did prescribe this.
Me: But they don’t use it in Europe.
Me: Are we over medicating our kids in America?
Me: But I don’t want her to be in pain.
Me: I should just give her the antibiotics.
Me: Or maybe I should wait.
Me: No, I’ll fill the prescription and start the treatment.
Me: But it’s so bad for her.
But, but, but!!!! And on top of this crazy dialogue in my head, I’m still not exactly sure what my doctor’s advice was. Did she tell me that I should or shouldn’t give her the antibiotics? Sigh.
So I went home and Googled. Ugh. What a mistake. As you know, this is a very heated debate… just as controversial it seems as the topic of vaccinations. Now, I’m even more confused. What to do….
What would you do?
