First Fever & What I Learned

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Layla officially has her first fever.

It all started yesterday. Mommy and Daddy got to stay home because of a snow day and Layla decided to be fussy and clingy ALL day. This is not like her at all! She is such a happy baby. However, I didn't think much about it (except the inconvenience of it). As I was nursing her at the end of the day I noticed she kept flapping at her ear. This made me think maybe she was getting an ear infection and that's why she was so fussy all day. I put her down for the night and a few hours later headed to bed myself. I went in to check on her and noticed the humidifier was leaking. Needless to say, I woke her up with all my commotion. I lifted her up and noticed she was very warm. I took her temp. and it showed 99.8. I was slightly concerned. Usually when I take her temp it's 97-something.

I woke up this morning and she still felt warm - her temp. was down to 99.2. I decided to send her to "school" and told the ladies of her behavior yesterday and temp. this morning. I called to check on her mid-morning and she ate breakfast well and had just gone down for a nap. They told me she felt warm and would check her temp. when she woke up and call to let me know the results. As I was enjoying a lunch out with my team to celebrate Christmas I got the call. Layla's temp. was 101.8!!! I couldn't believe it! I was thinking maybe 99 still...but not 102! I left lunch early, made up my plans for the afternoon, made a doctor's appointment and picked her up. She definitely felt hot!

We came home for a bit and she took a little nap before her appointment. By the time we finally got called back to get her temp. checked by the nurse it was about 3 hours after the child care initially called me. The nurse's thermometer read 99.6. I was a bit relieved, but curious as to the big difference in temps.

The doctor comes in and is at first excited to see that Layla has gained 5 oz. since her last appointment! Then we get to business. She checks her ears - no infection. She tells me that their thermometer is pretty accurate because it's some high-tech silver thing and that 100.3 constitutes a fever. She's curious as to how Layla's temp. dropped so quickly with no fever reducer and asks how they took her temperature at child care. At the time I didn't know, but I later found out it's under the arm. We're not sure why there's such a difference and the doctor prescribes an antibiotic in case she gets worse or starts showing other symptoms over the weekend/holidays.

We leave with not much resolution to the reason for the fever and therefore my mind isn't at peace. I know my daughter is not her usual self and has temp. readings around 2 degrees higher than her "average."

I call the child care to tell them that nothing contagious was determined and asked about the possibility of her returning tomorrow since she doesn't technically have a fever. It turns out that 2 other kids were sent home with fevers...one being Layla's friend Macy. So maybe there really is something to this.

I take her temp. around 4:30 or so and my thermometer reads 101.8! Now I'm just confused! I check it later in the evening and it's about 100.8. I'm not sure why her temp. didn't read higher at the doctor's office.

Regardless, she's still fairly happy and is showing no other signs...and I hope she doesn't! I'm not looking forward to our first vomiting episode or exploding diarrhea!!


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What I learned:
1.) You do not need to add a degree when you take a temp. with a digital thermometer under the arm (the child care & a couple other people told me this which would have made her temp. near 103)
2.) Check at least 3 times under the arms to get an accurate idea of temp. (rectal is best...no thank you!)
3.) You do not need to rush to the doctor at the first sign of fever - I think I always knew this...but I wasn't necessarily thinking rationally with the knowledge that my first child has her first fever.
4.) Going to the doctor too early might result in missing the true cause of the fever
5.) Although fevers aren't good, it allows for a bit more cuddle time than usual. :-)


On a lighter note...Layla kept saying "uh-oh" when the doctor was in the room. In fact, the doctor noticed it before I did...I think I was too intent on listening to what she had to tell me. She was very impressed with Layla saying this at 9 months. It looks like we're going to have quite the talker on our hands.