My 4 month old daughter has had a little cough for the last 4 weeks (been to the doc twice, lungs were clear, they said it could be the weather or dust in our house) and yesterday it got pretty bad. She has this hacking cough that sounds awful...her appetite is still pretty good, she's smiling and playing, but her episodes, oddly enough, seem to coincide with breastfeeding. When she breastfeeds she begins to cough uncontrollably and within a few minutes of stopping the feeding is pretty much back to normal. She does not do this with a bottle of formula. She does have some mucus and when she sneezes, sometimes it's clear and sometimes it's yellow. We have a doctor's appt. tomorrow for 4 month shots, but I am a little freaked out. I don't want to take her to the ER unless I absolutely have to because the first thing they're going to do is a chest x-ray and I don't want her to have one unless absolutely necessary. Anyone else encountered this problem?
So we went to the doctor...she has an ear infection, which is caused by her sinus drainage. (Also what's causing the cough.) We're on amoxicillin for the ear infection, so we'll see what happens. She was tested for flu and RSV (both negative, thank God) and since getting the antibiotic her cough has improved drastically. We are also doing nasal saline drops and the suction to help with the mucus. Thanks for all your responses!!!
A.,
Put a little bit of Vicks Vapor Rub
on the bottom of her feet then put socks
on her. You will notice this works
N.
She may have an overactive salivary gland which is causing her to choke on her saliva, acid reflux, or you mentioned she has had mucus drainage. In all of these cases, the coughing is most likely caused by her being in a reclined position where the saliva, acid, milk, or whatever is gagging her. You mentioned that it only happens when breast feeding and not with the bottle, is she sitting more upright when she takes the bottle? My suggestion would be to try breastfeeding in a different position...sit her up as straight as possible. If that doesn't work, you may have to pump your milk into a bottle for her. Another thing to think about...you said this only started 4 weeks ago so is there a soap, deodorant, perfume, etc. that you started using in the past 4 weeks that she may be allergic to?
You may want to have her checked for her swallow reflex?? If it is mostly when feeding it seems reasonable to have that checked.
You said that the doctor has given her the "all clear" as far as her lungs go, and since this only seems to happen when she is breastfeeding, then she goes back to normal, I would guess that you may have an overactive milk ejection reflex. This is common, and really no cause for concern. If you have her sitting up a bit more when you breastfeed, or if you breastfeed while reclining, this may help with this a bit. As she gets older, and is able to handle that quick burst of milk, my guess is that she will no longer cough. She is also at the age when some babies will begin to produce more saliva due to the early stages of teething. This will cause some to cough. If she is otherwise happy and showing no signs of illness, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Good on you, being an x-ray tech you know the dangers of too many on a young body, especially for a girl. Milk does create mucus, it might just be building up while she eats. You might also start journaling what you eat - she could be having a reaction to something. I noticed when I ate broccoli, my little ones got farty, etc. They literally "were" what I ate. What you eat should take about 12-24 hrs to process into milk, so add that to your calculations and check to see if she's having reactions to certain things. Try cutting out all processed and prepackaged foods and drinks first, and eating more antioxidant rich foods and drinking lots of water. This should also help flush her system of irritants. It'll take some time, so be patient. I hope this helps :}
If this is happening only when your breast feeding it may be when your milk lets down that it is coming out too fast at the beginning and its making her cough. This happened to a friend of mine and I think she would pump for just a few minutes to get the milk to let down and then the milk would come out slower and then she would put the baby back on to nurse and the baby wouldn't get choked by the milk coming out so fast at first - she also would let the baby nurse until her milk let down and she would let it spurt into a towel till it slowed down and then would put the baby on when the milk slowed down. She got all this advice from the lactation consultant at the hospital where she had her baby. You should call your hospital and talk to the lactation nurse and see if they can give you some good tips that will keep your baby from coughing/choking. The lactation nurses seem to know allot more tips on feeding than some doctors do.
If the doctor isn't worried, we always put my girls in a hot and steamy shower. The water may be too hot for it to run on her, but you can hold her and let the water run until all of the hot water runs out. The steam will really break things up. You might want to check with another dr. if a few sessions of this doesn't break it all up.
Hi my name is from Mobile Al . I have been struggling with a cough for 9 months and been to ever Specialist in Mobile and Some at UAB Research Hospital. The ENT Here in Mobile just told me for sure a month ago that this was a reflux cough. The put me on Predisone for 2 weeks and Put me on Protonix and Zantac and to montor what I ate. I tell you this because Just things as Milk, Choc, Tea along with a list of other things makes the cough worse. The Baby my not be able to do Milk. If sheis not coughing after formula it could be as easy as not doing milk, I know that is hard but it might work. Try pumping the milk out and give it to her by bottle if the same thing happens its something in the milk. I have a friend with a 2 year old has been doing the same thing and they say she is allergic to milk and soy and several other things so Keep on top of this you baby is young she may grown out of this. I was OK as a young child this problem started happening about 4 years ago and got really bad Since Nov of last year. Also If you live near UAB or close enough I would check the Children Spec there. I love the Hospital and Staff I was just depleased with the Gastotal Dr I had. He told me one thing and did another. If you live in Montgomery it would be worth checking into. Good Luck and I will keep you in my Prayers.P. (Mobile)
Hi A.! Acid reflux can cause upper respiratory symptoms such as a cough. My daughter of 9 mos. now was put on Axid (to treat reflux) at about 4 mos. b/c she had similar symptoms that wouldn't go away. My pediatrician told me that Acid reflux can peak at about 4 - 6 mos, and usually they outgrow it by 9 mos. Unfortunately for me, my daughter hasn't outgrown it yet, but it's constantly getting better & better. I have weaned her off of the Axid several times, but have always had to put her back on it. Talk to your Doc about that, maybe ya'll can do a trial run with it. It may a take a couple of weeks after she's on it, but it's worth a shot if her lungs are clear.
Good Luck
Could it be lotions or something you are putting on or around your breast or nipples? Try wiping your breast and nipple with a clean bath cloth.
It sounds like an overactive letdown, where your milk comes out too fast at the beginning. Some things you can do to help are:
1. Pump a little until you feel the letdown then latch the baby on.
2. Nurse the baby on one breast for three feedings before switching to the other side.
3. Put your feet up and lean back a little while nursing so gravity isn't working with your flow.
4. If your baby is starting to sputter, take her off the breast until she calms and then put her back to the breast.
5. Use the bulb suction to clear her nose after feedings.
If these don't help, go to a lactation consultant. Most doctors have next to zero lactation education and at worst will be giving you weaning advise because they are ashamed to say they don't know how to help. At best your pedi is a certified lactation consultant and can help without referring you out.
My first thought is that she may be allergic or having some reaction to perfume or deodorant or body powder that you wear.
The closer she gets to you, the more she inhales. I have two sisters who are both allergic to certain ingredients in some frangrances, and they will both go into coughing frenzies when the are near it.
Your daughter may have mild reaction, meaning she has to be very close to you, such as she would be when breast-feeding, but when you bottle feed, most people don't hold a child quite the same way. Breast-feeding puts her in close proximity to your bare skin and especially your armpits, and if she is having a reaction to your deodorant, that would explain it. Most people when bottle feeding a baby do not have their faces so close to the bare armpit.
If this isn't the case, then I have no other ideas. Try breastfeeding her one day right after a shower using non-perfumed products and BEFORE using your deodorant. If she still has a coughing problem, at least you will know it isn't from any frangrance you are using.
Good luck.
I do not want to scare you but I would have your dr. check for pertussis (whooping cough). Just to make sure that it is not that. My daughter was doing the same thing and the dr. told us it was just a cough, two days later we were in the hospital for whooping cough and we didn't leave for 13 days. I hope this is not the case with your daughter, good luck.
