Sunken fontanelle?

**Arimeh** · June 14th, 2010, 08:22 AM

DD2 has woken up this morning with a visibly sunken fontanelle.

She's been off her bottles for about 2 weeks now, I'd be lucky if I could get 50 or 100ml at a time into her. I'd keep trying but she would just get cranky at me for trying to make her drink. So I didn't force her to drink them. The most she would drink would be about 150ml of her night time bottle (she usually has about 220ml each time)

She has been drinking a little bit of water, not much cos she is still learning how to work her sippy cups at mealtimes.

So today, her fontanelle is sunken and it seems like its a bit sticky? Just in that one spot? And looks like it was wet and has dried? Its very strange.

If she was younger I'd be going to the doctor or something but since she's acting pretty normal - she's happy, laughing, cheery as anything this morning - is it ok or something more sinister?

**MantaRay** · June 14th, 2010, 08:48 AM

Hun, I really don't know. I know it's a sign of serious dehydration in a younger baby. I would probably get it checked out just in case. If it's a public holiday there you might not be able to see a doctor easily, do you have a 24 health line there that you can call and ask? Otherwise maybe you could call a hospital and ask them?

**Alan** · June 14th, 2010, 09:03 AM

I think that you should get this checked

**Arimeh** · June 14th, 2010, 09:39 AM

Thanks guys. I forgot to mention that her bottle she had at 5 this morning she drank all of that quick smart, but only 100ml just now.
So would you still recommend getting her checked even though she hows no signs of illness etc? (ie no temp, happy, colour is good, wet & dirty nappies,)

***Beema*** · June 14th, 2010, 09:59 AM

I would get it checked as it can take quite a lot of fluids to return hydration to normal levels, with N is took a couple of bags of hydrolyte, and she was at the point where she had no tears but her fontanelle wasn't sunken, HTH's

Thinking of you both hun

take care xxoo

**MantaRay** · June 14th, 2010, 10:35 AM

I would hun

**Arimeh** · June 14th, 2010, 10:52 AM

Ok. DH is taking her to the hospital (DS is tagging along even though we have told him how BORED he is going to be, he still wants to go).

I get far too emotional bout things like this, and if she needs a drip or anything, I don't want to see them doing that to her. Seen it once before when she was 3 months old, and I just can't do it again.

***Beema*** · June 14th, 2010, 10:58 AM

Mel, they would be more likely do an NGT if hydration is needed rather than IV, I know how horrible it is to see, seen it too many time myself so know exactly where you are coming from xxoo

**MantaRay** · June 14th, 2010, 01:27 PM

Let us know how she goes hun

I am sure she will be fine and you will feel better for having it checked.

**~mamaspice~** · June 14th, 2010, 02:05 PM

Hope she's okay Mel

**~me~** · June 14th, 2010, 02:10 PM

Hope all is ok Mel, I probably would've stayed home too!

**Arimeh** · June 14th, 2010, 02:38 PM

OK DH is back home now (as people who are my friends on facebook know!)

The doc checked her out, and doesn't know why her fontanelle is sunken, she's not displaying any other signs of dehydration - lots of spit in her mouth, eyes are bright, and generally a very happy healthy baby. He said sometimes its the shape of their head that makes it go sunken, but her head is perfectly round so not that reason either.

SO he doesn't know why its sunken - just "one of those things" and just because it is a sign of dehydration doesn't mean she is dehydrated - she's fine.

Soooo.. we have no idea.....