My 3.5 month old has a cough. It's been getting progressively more often for the last week or so. We just moved and don't have a pediatrician. Should I take her to urgent care now or in the morning? She is fairly normal maybe a little sleepy but not too much. She occasionally is a little loud breathing but nothing consistent.
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Hmmm that's tough. I feel like coughs take forever to go away, but it's scary when they're so young.
Is the cough only certain times? If it's more when she's sleeping or just waking up I would let it go... but if she's wheezing then she probably needs to be seen
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@BabyBoecksMom: it is very inconsistent. It doesn't wake her but she has it while sleeping. This is why I'm not sure what to do. It doesn't seem urgent but I don't have a doctor to question.
Eta: I thought originally it may be a reflux cough or related to her food intolerance issues. I'm not sure either way now.
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@brownie: if she doesn't have a temperature and is sleeping through it, I would wait til tomorrow and see if you can find a pediatrician to take her to.
Do you have a cool mist humidifier in her room? -
If it were one of my own, I would probably wait but go in first thing in the morning. Do you have a humidifier, or breathing treatment machine? You could do a steam shower too.
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@chopsuey: I won't get into a ped. I may find a family doctor but unlikely. I'm looking at having to find a primary care doctor in the next big city. Which is fine but I can't get recommendations there until I see the allergist a few weeks from now. So urgent care or nothing. This little town doctor thing sucks.
Eta I don't think she has ever had a fever
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If it's a virus the cough gets worse on day 5/6 then gradually improved. R had bronciolitis at 12 weeks and we had to go to urgent care for his fever. The cough started the next day and I was back at the doctor on day 5. The pediatrician told me day 5/6 is the worst. Not sure if that helps?
Hope she is better soon!
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The big thing is wheezing and other signs of respiratory distress. I think it's hard for an untrained person to identify those but if she is doing okay maybe go first thing? Could you call urgent care and ask them how long the wait is?
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Do you still have the after hours line for your old pediatrician that you could just call and ask the nurse line what they suggest?
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@Truth Bombs: I thought about that. But I'm not sure if it would be her or her backup. It's been a week so I don't think it's going to get terrible over night. Just wish I didn't have to go in at all. Especially to urgent care.
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I must be a crazy mom but I wouldn't go to urgent care for a cough that isn't causing problems.
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@Ash: how long would you wait it out? It's not likely we can find/get into a doctor for weeks at this point. So it's either no medical care or urgent care.
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@brownie: well it could be because I'm a nurse but I wouldn't be concerned unless lo is in distress or isn't eating... stuff like that. But a simple cough doesn't seem concerning. If you're worried though, mama knows best
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@brownie: our doc was adamant that we bring him in for any coughing at that young of an age because of the risk of bronchiolits. He ended up having it at 3.5 months so I am glad I did. I couldn't tell he was wheezing. I wouldn't wait weeks or days.
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@Ash: I'm not sure that I'm worried. I think it isn't normal but in not sure it is a problem. If I had a ped I would go and see them. But without one I'm not sure what to do. I've been waiting it out but it is getting more frequent and I'm not sure that's normal without other symptoms.
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@brownie: I would just go in the morning to be seen. I definitely understand your concern with not having a pedi... missed that in your original post (oops!).
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@Ash: yeah that's the major concern. Ugh small town problems. Looks like my to do list tomorrow is urgent care, shopping, and calling for a doctor. My understanding is only one ped is taking patients and they don't want us. So I'm gonna start looking at family practices tomorrow.
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@brownie: I would take her in the morning too. My baby's cough got worse too and it turned into bronchiolitis as well.
Eta: hope she's OK!
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@brownie: keep us posted & good luck on finding a doc... how frustrating
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Urgent care said just continue to keep an eye on it. Her lungs sound clear. If it gets worse we can go back for a chest X-ray but I couldn't justify it right then. It is still really scary to me when she coughs (like she's choking) but I'm just gonna wait it out and see.
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It is official that there are no pediatricians taking patients in town. We can drive 30 minutes or more away.
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@brownie: I'm glad she is ok but that really sucks about pediatricians. I feel like that's not even possible! If you live in town someone should have to take you!!!
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@winniebee: I agree they should have to take you if you move or birth a baby. I don't think they have to allow you to switch necessarily. So frustrating
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