Our First Anaphylaxis Exposure

Welcome to my first blog post!

 

Today I want to talk to you all about the first allergy and anaphylaxis exposure I experienced with my baby, Zara.

At the time of her first episode, she was only 5 months old.

Earlier that day, we had been at a friend's place for a playdate. We were sitting outside on the grass having a picnic. Sounds cute, but chaotic with three toddlers and two babies. I was holding some homemade banana bread (not made by me) for my toddler (Mackenzie) while she tried to get something out of her shoe.

In the blink of an eye, Zara had swiped the banana bread out of my hands, and it went straight into her mouth. I didn't even notice. I was distracted and it was my friend who noticed and drew my attention to her.

Acting fast, I used my finger to scoop the food out of her mouth. I watched her for any reaction, but nothing happened.

The banana bread had the following allergens: wheat, eggs, walnut and honey. I breathed a sigh of relief - I hadn't started introducing allergen foods yet and was relieved she hadn't reacted.

We went home. About two hours later, after a quick lunch, Zara became unsettled. I thought she was teething so popped some teething gel on her gums and settled in to breastfeed her to sleep. She was very unsettled and so I gave up on the nap and put her on the play mat - maybe she wasn't tired after all.

A few minutes later, she began making a weird hoarse sound while she was babbling. I thought, "that's strange" and went over to her to have a look. Something just wasn't right. I undid her jumpsuit and pulled it up so I could look at her belly. She was breaking out in what looked like hives. And I mean, ALL OVER. They were red and raised and spreading all over her arms, legs and torso. Her face also began to swell and her neck.

I grabbed my phone and called my husband (Ben), saying "I think she's having an allergic reaction". Meanwhile, Mackenzie has picked up something is wrong and is constantly asking me what was going on. Ben tells me to take her to hospital. I think through what that would look like with a toddler, and baby, and car seats, and getting a car park. I deduct it would take way too much time, my baby needs help now.

I called 000 and ask for an ambulance. In this moment, despite remaining calm on the phone and to Mackenzie, reassuring her everything is okay, I am freaking out internally. I can hear my voice break to the attendant on the phone and I know I need to pull it together until I can get Zara help. I try to distract Mackenzie, asking her to look for an ambulance as one is coming to our house.

Meanwhile, Ben is on his way to us from work and the ambulance attendant tells us they are on the way. Honestly, it felt like an age in between calling the ambulance and the ambulance arriving. I looked back on it later and it only took them 10 minutes to get to us, which is actually pretty good in the current climate in Adelaide, Australia.

My little five-month-old baby had to have her first shot of adrenaline that day. The length of the needle was about three times the width of her leg (obviously they didn't stick the whole thing in). She was so brave. I was so proud of Mackenzie who recognised something serious was going on and was very good at listening to me and following my directions - something she isn't always great at.

Since then, we have had another ambulance ride, and I am sure it won't be our last.

 

Thanks for listening,

Aneleise xx

15/08/2024