My 16 month old son just faceplanted into the couch, and his one little canine tooth perforated all the way through the skin just below his lip, from the inside out. He's not crying anymore, so it's not really bothering him, but being as it's a perforation, I called the pediatrician. They want him to go to the ER and get it checked out, cleaned, and possibly sutured.
It's really not THAT big a hole.
It's still lightly bleeding, 2 hours later, but it's not gushing. ... but its also not clotting, even with a hard cold compress.
What would you do? Doc says go to the ER, but I'm still on the fence. If he was still crying or showing any signs of blood loss or concussion, I would have already left. WHAT TO DO?!
WHOA mama's, put the claws away! Obviously I was concerned about this, but not so concerned that I rushed him to the hospital immediately. Do you realize how many people clog up the ER for minor things and postpone the people who REALLY need urgent medical care from getting it immediately?? Don't EVEN go there with me.
I got a second opinion from the pediatrician, they checked him out, no stitches required (I called that one), but they did send us to the hospital, only for a quick in and out application of anitbiotic cream and an RX.
Like my gut told me, it really wasn't that serious.
To all the non-haters and women who provided USEFUL RESPONSES.... THANK YOU!!!!! :)
Wow, some people got up on the wrong side of the bed. It doesnt sound like its life or death here ladies.....But I would take him and see if it needs to be treated and so it doesnt get infected. Hope he feels better!
if it cut ALL the way through to the other side, then I would take him in. This happened to my brother when he was little and he needed stitches. At least do it to be on the safe side
I would follow doctor's advice and go to the ER. But I'm not one to ever mess around when it comes to stuff like that. To me, peace of mind is worth much more than the cost of a visit to the ER. Good luck!
If my doctor ever told me to go to the ER, I'd go! Why would you trust the advice of women you don't know over your own kid's doctor?
I would do what the DOCTOR said to do and get off the computer trying to justify NOT following a Dr's advice.
Don't skimp on health and safety. If it was bad enough to call the Dr and the Dr tell you to go to ER, then GO TO ER. It is still bleeding? Why do you have to ask a public forum.... it is your child and your child is hurt.
your child + injury that is bleeding and needing possible sutures = ER
I know it is not "life or death" in this situation, HOWEVER he could be scarred for LIFE. Do you want to be responsible for not doing what you could as a parent and he ends up with a scarred FACE.
"not THAT big a hole". GEES.... what's next the arm is "not that broken?"
instead of being on the computer, you should be at the ER. Peace.
Are you kidding me? You are on this site asking people you don't know what to do and your pediatrician told you to go to the ER! My kids DR doesn't say go to the ER for no reason. I sure hope you took him. You are not a Dr so if its costs you a couple hundred bucks and its not serious whats the big deal BUT if you don't or didn't take him and it causes problems then how would you feel?
Glad everything turned out ok! However, if you call the doctor to get their advice, you need to listen to it. If they say go to the ER, then go to the ER.
NOT TELLING YOU NOT TO, but I probably wouldn't unless it is still bleeding in a few hours. They probably will want to suture whether REALLY needed or not...guess how they do that with a little one, NO, not put hem under. They wrap them up in a cocoon & make you hold them down screaming while they stitch him up :''(
My nephew got stitches about that age, and still remembers it at 4!
Melissa: I believe strongly that moms are more qualified than physicians ;o)....99% of the time.
R. - honey if the lip is perforated - TAKE HIM IN!!! It may not look like a big hole on the outside - but we don't know the damage on the inside!!
I would listen to the Dr on this one and take Roman into the ER and get him looked at!!!
Let us know how it goes!!!
R., I completely agree with your SWH. I think you did the right thing. You kept a level head, you assessed the situation, and you made a decision. Good for you and I'm glad your son is ok!
And I can't believe the venomous responses you got here! Sheesh!
If my doctor told me to go to the ER, I'd go. And you should too.
Wow! People on here can be hateful!
My son did this last summer (he had just turned 2) and I didn't take him in cause it stopped bleeding pretty quickly and didn't bother him. I gave him a popsicle and he was fine.
My neice did the same thing about a month later and my sister took her in to the ER and they didn't stich it.
I don't know if your sons is worse than theirs were but I'd go with what YOU feel about it. There have been times that I haven't taken my kids in when the on call nurse said to just cause I know I'm gonna get there, stay all night, and them not be able to do anything!
The pediatrician told you 2 hrs ago to the er? And you are on here asking us if we think you should go? If your ped says go you go!
I'm probably in the minority here, but I probably wouldn't go to the ER. That would probably be way scarier than getting hurt. It's only 8:30, I would wait awhile more and see how it's looking.
If it's all the way through, I would go. That area has a really high infection risk and if there is any chance of milk or food particles getting into it then it should be closed up. The lip is so mobile that it's difficult to keep a wound closed (as you've seen over the last two hours) so yeah, if it were my kiddo I would have it sutured (what a pain that they won't do it in the pediatrician's office!)
R.,
Last summer, my son, then 4, was playing in our pool with his 8 year old cousin. They were throwing pool toys (squishy balls, ect.) at each other, when the cousin picked up a hard plastic McDonalds toy that had somehow made it into the pool and filled with water at my son. It hit him on the eye, about 1/4 inch below his eyebrow, and he had a cut about a 1/2 inch wide. It bled pretty well for a while, and I could see that the skin 'split' but the bleeding did stop, but it continued to seep for hours after... I debated taking him in for a probable suture, but figured the trauma of going in for a suture would outweigh any benefit. Well, now he has a nice scar on his eye... I'm thinking he probably needed sutures more than I realized. I know it may have still scarred, but I'm inclined to think it would have healed better if it was sutured.
I'd be worried about infection, but of course this can happen with any cut. Do you have insurance? I mean, if you're worried about the cost of an ER visit, could you just take him to an urgent care facility? The ones in our area are $140 for self paying patients, which isn't too awfully bad...
My sister did this when she was about your sons age. My mom took her to the ER & they did give her a couple of stitches, but to this day my mom will tell you that she wishes she hadn't put both of them through it. I guess my sister (I was little at the time, too so I don't fully remember) had also stopped crying, but when they started poking her & giving her a novocaine shot she freaked out & they put her in this contraption to hold her down while they gave her 2 stitches. IDK, I think it's your call, but if it's tiny & you've cleaned it & he's not still really in pain, I'd let it be.
This is a no-brainer.
Go to the ER.
Sure it isn't a life or death situation but this could cause problems later in life.
Listen to your child's pediatrician.
Face/head wounds bleed the worst. My 3 year old threw him self off either the bunk bed or his own bed about a month ago. I say that with out knowing because he didn't cry or even scream when it happened. All I saw was him walking out of their room, his face covered in blood. he had busted his eyebrow open. He only started screaming because of my reaction to all the blood. I also was flustered because, I was trying my hardest to get us out the door for school.....I should have probably taken him to get staples...again. But with this baby he is constantly getting hurt! I joke they should keep an open room just for us. The end of last summer he AGAIN fell(jumped/threw himself..again) backwards off our sofa. I had been mopping so our bar stools were right behind it. He was not expecting barstools. Cracked the back of his head open...four staples later! Blah!
Sorry to give you all my gore... I guess I just want you to see, being a sitting duck on injuries is part of being a mom, sometimes at first the ER seems inevitable, but if you wait to see whats going on under the blood...it usually is something you can clean up at home. I hope he is doing better!! sounds like you did a good job!!
Take him to the ER!!!!!! Lord I avoid hospitals like the plague and I would take him. If it gets infected you will have a scar for life not to mention the emotional issues. I know it is easy to play it down now that he is calm and you don't want to stir him up again but really you need to take him in!!!
Take him to the ER. Our son fell off a pipe fence and split his chin open on the way down. In the ER they gave him something for pain and to relax him and then did the stitches. He didn't even flinch, cry, nothing. If they want to do stitches, ask them if they have something like that.
Well, now that I know what happened...I'm STILL w/ you. ;)
my daughter bit thru her lip and had to have stitches. i would take him just to be sure.
I think it's best to go. If it is still bleeding then just like you said it's not really clotting. What a little trooper, hanging in there like a big boy. I am sure that hurt! No fun going but it sounds like the best thing to do. Ultimately it's your call. We can't see it, nor can the ped. Good luck and I hope it heals well.
The mouth is tough - it's hard to leave it alone and so healing can be tough. I'm baffled as to why the pedi won't look at it and put in a stitch if necessary. Why the ER?
Glad everything is alright with your son. For things like this when my pediatrician can not see my children I will take them to patient first. This way there is usually not a long wait and my children still see a dr plus I don't have to pay the higher co-pay for an ER visit.
Does the injury cross the lip/skin line? If so, I was told it is always important to get stitches/butterflies/something there because an uneven scar will be super noticeable and can make their face asymmetrical.
