(8/15/13) Tonight was pretty warm and the house was about 78-80 degrees. Everything was pretty normal and you were sleeping on our bed around 10pm and we were taking a lot of cute pictures. We were about to go to sleep around 11pm and it had been about 3 hours since your last feeding, so Mom tried to feed you once more before we went to sleep. You were really fussy and wouldn't eat. You were crying a lot and your whole body was getting red and hot.
We had a hard time getting you to stop crying so we looked at some things online. Maybe you had growing pains or maybe you had a fever. We took your temperature but the thermometer may not have been very accurate. It said 100.4, so we took your clothes off and tried to cool you off. Mom wiped you with some wet rags.
I took you into the back room because it was the coolest room in the house. I held you and tried to keep you cool. You had some moments where you stopped crying. You were still crying a lot and you stopped crying and went limp. I looked at your body to see if you were breathing and I couldn't see you breathing. I ran to get mom and told her to call 911 (this was at 1:30am). She ran and got her phone and I threw you on our bed and did a couple chest compressions and you came to and moved your arms and legs again. Mom handed me the phone and I talked to 911. I told them our address and they transferred me. I told them that you went limp and unresponsive for 5-10 seconds. They sent over a fire truck and ambulance immediately.
You were crying a little still and finally went to sleep in mom's arms before the fire truck came. I joked with mom saying that you were freaking us out and then just acting normally. The fire truck came and dad went outside to let them know what house it was. 2 firemen came in the house and chatted with us. They didn't see anything wrong with you and couldn't really to any tests or check your temperature. A few minutes later, an ambulance arrived and they said the same thing. Because I saw you go limp, they suggested I bring you in to the ER and we can go in the ambulance or by taking you their in our own car.
We called the advice nurse at Kaiser and they suggested we take you to the ER. Mommy fed you and you ate a lot. We took you into the ER around 2:30 at Fremont Kaiser. There wasn't anybody there and you got seen very quickly by the nurses and doctor. The doctor chatted with the pediatrician that was in Hayward. They both agreed that you should be checked for an infection by these things:
-Complete blood count: This is when a sample of your newborn baby’s blood is taken. The complete blood count (CBC) will determine the number of each type of blood cell. Special attention is focused on the number of white blood cells (WBCs), as these can be abnormal in number when an infection is present. An abnormal number of WBCs often indicates that the newborn baby’s body is fighting some sort of infection. Results of the CBC can be obtained quite quickly.
-Blood culture: The blood culture will determine if any bacteria can be grown in the blood. If bacteria grow in the culture, the baby has an infection in the bloodstream. The results of this test can take up to 24 hours and sometimes longer, which is why treatment is not delayed while waiting for the result.
-Urine test: This is when a sample of your newborn baby’s urine is taken to determine its white cell count and sent away for culture. This is done through a catheter.
-Chest X-ray: A baby needs a chest X-ray if pneumonia is suspected.
-Spinal tap: A lumbar puncture is also called a spinal tap, and it is necessary if an infection of the lining of the brain, called meningitis, is suspected. Before doing a lumbar puncture, a numbing cream may first be applied to the area of the spine where the lumbar puncture will take place. Local anaesthetic is then used to numb the site of the lumbar puncture. A hollow needle is inserted between the bones, called the vertebrae, of the spine. A sample of the cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn through the needle and tested for infection. This is not a comfortable procedure; however, sedation and pain relief are provided to reduce your baby’s discomfort. Meningitis is a serious infection and the diagnosis can only be confirmed by examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. If your baby requires a lumbar puncture, try to remind yourself that the procedure is necessary in order to make an accurate diagnosis and provide the best possible treatment for your baby.
It took a few hours to get all this done but you were pretty good. They gave you a pacifier and that helped a little.
I had to hold your arms and legs down while you were on your back during the x-ray and you were moving a lot. Then when we turned you on your side to take the x-ray, you fell asleep.
They tried to put the IV in your foot, but they had a hard time getting to the vein, so they put it in your right hand.
They drew a lot of blood from you and you were being really good. Mom and dad watched them do the catheter but we chose not to watch the spinal tap. Dr. Yao tried twice on the spinal tap but was unsuccessful.
All the nurses couldn't stop complementing how cute you were and they also said you were great for the spinal tap and Dr. Yao said that too.
It was getting close to 4:30am when they were finished with all the tests. They called the transport because they wanted you to be watched 24/7 at Hayward since Fremont did not have 24/7 pediatric care. Mom fed you a lot and you went to sleep.
The ambulance came and I worked with the driver to figure out how to attach your carrier to the gurney. We strapped you down so good with a lot of straps so you wouldn't move. Mom got to ride with you in the ambulance and I drove the car and met you at the Hayward ER. They took you to Pediatrics Admission in the 3rd floor of the hospital. You got a room that is shared with another child and their parents, but they have curtains up.
Mom went straight into the bed and slept while Dad talked to the nurse. You fell right asleep in the bed and the nurse checked all your vital signs. The doctor came in and chatted with us. We have to wait for your blood samples to see if they grow bacteria and that could take 36-48 hours. All other tests were normal. You are still feeding very well and not crying too much. The doctor thinks you may have had a breath-holding spell. Dad may have overreacted and maybe you were breathing fine but you were tired and not limp. You may have also had a seizure. But most likely nothing serious.
After chatting with the doctor, it was almost time for breakfast and mom and dad had not had any sleep the whole night. We tried to both sleep on the small bed in the hospital for about an hour or two. We woke up and ate some cereal. Beth and Grandma came to visit and held you and you seemed happy. You are getting very close to smiling. Daddy left to go home and get Grandma Ying. He brought her and brought Mommy some things from home. He went home to get some rest. You are staying the night with Mommy and Grandma Ying. You will probably have to stay another night. You are still feeding well and only want to sleep on Mommy. We can't wait to bring you home again.
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