[quote author="SoCal78" date=1243551824][quote author="graphrix" date=1243524126]
This is one of those birth control threads. I think... if every time I bump my head, or whatever body part if I had to go see the doc, I'd be fawked with medical bills. </blockquote>
But that's what I want to point out... you don't have to run to the doctor every time the little one gets hurt. When you are a first-time parent you run to the nearest E.R. at the slightest thing. As you get more experienced, you realize that a lot of times it is really unnecessary and you learn what signs to look for to determine if you need to go to the doctor, or at least if it can wait until the next day when they open. A lot of times the doctor can not do anything differently than you would do at home. Now obviously when they are newborns it can be different. You have to be more careful as they have a lower threshold for things like running a temperature and there are special things you have to look for. I'll give you an example (and this will probably happen)...
You are a first time parent. You put your 9-month old baby to bed. It is late at night and he suddenly wakes up with a loud cough that has a barking sound to it.... a type of cough you've never heard before. He sounds like a seal. You notice he has trouble inhaling and when he does, it has a high-pitched sound. This causes him to cry and the barking cough & difficulties inhaling are amplified. He may or may not be running a low grade fever. His lips are even turning a little blue! Uh-oh! You should:
A) freak out, throw some clothes on while your spouse starts the car and speed to the E.R.
B) perform CPR
C) get him bundled up and take a stroll in the cool night air
D) give him decongestant / Sudafed
Surprisingly, the answer is C. Congratulations, your baby has croup. He is sick with an infection that causes inflammation to his airways. The crisp night air will help open this back up. As you take your walk (or a drive with the windows down), see if he is showing signs of improvement. Many parents choose option A and their child is better before they reach the E.R. because getting in and out of the car, the baby was exposed to the cold air. When you are ready to go back inside, you prepare a humidifier for the room or your may stand near a steamy shower. These will help in the same ways the outside air did. Do not give a decongestant because it will dry out the airways that you are trying to open up. If the baby's symptoms improve and he is able to breathe without struggling, you can let him return to sleep but stay in the room to monitor him. If he sitting up coughing but not struggling to breathe, you are ok. If symptoms improve and the croup gets better, you do not need to see a doctor. If symptoms do not improve, you can take him in. The doctor may administer epinephrine to help him breathe, and may give him some oxygen. Croup can be viral or bacterial. Each will respond to different treatment at the doctor's.
I have been through all of these scenarios myself. With the first baby, we chose option A. With the second baby, option C.
Don't worry, graph, you will not have high doctor bills if you follow simple rules and keep a level head.

It is also important that parents learn how to treat their children's injuries so as to minimize injury and better their outcome until help is available, if it is needed. (I also highly recommend that parents take a CPR course. It is one of the best things I ever did was become certified before the baby was born.)</blockquote>
I probably would have went for the "steam in the bathroom" scenario. Whoops.