My 11 week old son is sick yet again. This time he has a really bad dry/wet cough (sort of like the crupe, but different). He started with a dry cough and now has bad congestion. I was on the brink of taking him to the emergency room, but his coughing and choking fit finally calmed down. I want to try to keep him at home if at all possible. I think he caught this cold from being in the hospital. We've been keeping him upright during naps and have been trying to keep him as comfortable as possible, but we still wish there was more we could do. This morning when he woke up, he was trying to cough up everything in his chest. He was having trouble breathing because he couldn't stop coughing. My bf and I did our best to suction out his mouth and nose and cuff our hand and firmly pat his back. We've had the humidifier on for the past 2 days, but it seems to be getting worse. (Maybe it has to get worse before it gets better, but I don't know). I'm just scared he can't breathe and it's freaking me out. I'm trying to keep calm for him, but I'm still really concerned. (First mom syndrome)
Does anyone have any ideas on how we can help him to breathe better or make him more comfortable. He was sick with bad congestion and a mild cough at 6 weeks and was in the hospital after Christmas due to choking. He was diagnosed with acid reflux -- it's been causing him to choke -- and has made him extremely irritable. He's currently taking 2 ml of Mylanta and will be more than likely on Zantac by next week. We feel extremely helpless. He is struggling right now and we wish there was more that we could do. We've tried the hot steamy shower thing. Any other ideas?
Thank you to everyone for their responses and support. We took my son to the pediatrician this afternoon because he was wheezing and breathing heavily. The nurse practitioner ordered a chest x-ray, but didn't see anything in the lungs. Our ped said his lungs were too small to see much since he was a preemie. To help with the wheezing, they gave him a breathing treatment...but he didn't like it at all. My son is a strong boy and he screamed and pulled his head from side to side the entire time. We have another appointment early tomorrow morning. They were supposed to deliver a nebulizer and call in 2 prescriptions (one for the breathing machine and the other for antibiotics) but after hours of waiting and tons of phone calls, the machine still isn't here. The doctor's office told us everything was taken care of, but neither the company with the breathing machine or the pharmacy received anything. I finally got ahold of an on-call doctor who is helping me take care of things. It's 10 pm and I've been told someone is on their way. I should know more tomorrow. Thank you to everyone.
1/9 - We took my son to the doctor on Monday as soon as the pediatrician's office opened. He first started coughing on Saturday. The PED did an x-ray and they couldn't see anything....they mentioned his lungs were small because he was a preemie. They gave us a nebulizer and albuterol sulfate. My mom suggested patting his back with a cupped hand under the shoulder blade. She mentioned that the respiratory therapists did that for my brothers when they were in the hospital. (3 of my brothers were on breathing treatments when they were young). The doctor also gave us amoxicillan in case its a bronch. infection. They didn't have the machine to test his oxygen on the Monday, but it was 95 on Tuesday (96 after the treatment) and was 95 again today. 94 means hospital time. We have to go see the nurse tomorrow to have his oxygen checked again. I really hope it goes up. He started wheezing on Monday and his chest was slighly sinking in. His congestion was mostly stuck in his nose...but now it's slowly coming out (when he was 6 wks old he had bad congestion and a mild cough -- once the congestion started coming out, he got better). Today she put him on steroids. It's prednisolone(a generic for prelone). I have to give him 3 ml for a few days to help things in case it's asthma. My son was in the hospital for choking a few days after Christmas. I woke up and he wasnt breathing...or at least I couldnt tell that he was. I sometimes have him sleep in my arms in bed when he won't go to bed. I usually put himn down after a few minutes, but I fell asleep. When I got up, he was awake and okay, so I put him down. Moments later, he was choking and had clear liquid in his mouth. I immediately picked him up and he was shaking like crazy. They did an EEG and it was normal, so I'm assuming he was just in shock because he couldn't breathe. I started patting his back and suctioning his mouth. I've had small choking episodes alot since he was born -- the doc said he had acid reflux and to keep him elevated after feedings and during sleep. We changed his formula to soy, but it didn't work, so we changed it to GentleEase and hes doing better. Less spit up. In the last episode, he wouldn't stop choking. He kept choking and then would cry and choke again. The clear fluids just kept coming. My legs starting jumping up and down on their own because I was so scared, so I called 911 because my bf had my car. We were in the ER for hours and were admitted later that day . They did an EKG, 12 hr sleep test, EEG, and upper gi. All was normal, except the upper GI gave up with some acid reflux. They said the reflux gets stuck in the back of the throat and causes babies to choke. After the hospital, my son did nothing but scream all day long. I knew something was wrong, so I took him in. They gave him mylanta and told us to try it for 2 weeks. His screaming stopped after the mylanta. They gave us a prescription for reglan and zantac, but I don't want to start him on anything unless he really needs it. He's too little. I am scared he's on too much stuff right now. When he was born, he had a tremor in his leg. it would just shake rapidly for a few seconds. As he's gotten bigger, it's almost completely stopped except for once a week or so. Since the breathing treatments, it seems like it happens all the time. The doc said it's nothing to be alarmed about and we'll monitor it after he's off the breathing treatment medicine. Since that appt. it's gotten worse. Today I mentioned it again and she said it's not an issue they're concerned about, but it's gotten worse. When I grab his leg, it doesn't automatically stop and in the last treatment, his arm started trembling. It's scary for me. I think everything will be okay, but I'm scared....he's so little. He was in special care for 2 weeks when he was born....sick at 6 weeks, hospital for choking, and now sick. He's been through alot and I feel so bad....but he's a strong guy and I know he'll pull through. Right now he's fussy. I don't know if it's the acid reflux again or whether his stomachs upset from the steriods.
Dear M.,
You need to take him to the doctor and now. Ask all of these questions of the doctor. there are a lot of things that could be causing this - maybe allergies - Get busy and go. Now. C. N.
I am sorry but YOU NEED to take him to His Pediatric Physician tomorrow, none of us can tell you what the inside of this babys lungs look like or if they are filling up with fluid, only a physician & a chest xray can do that .... You definately and I cannot say this strongly enough because of his age (11wks) you need to get him to his doctor NOW, because of his breathing, cough etc....he could be wheezy & already moist in his lungs & the humidifer is making it worst. He is much to young (He is ONLY 11wks old) to be coughing that hard...if you are here in CALIF everyone has it...but the doctors are putting everyone on antibotics and it lingers & comes back, but you need to get him diagnosticaly checked out FIRST.
Please, I will keep your son & you & your husband in our prayers....
Has the doctor/nurses or hospital mentioned Pertussis (Whoping Cough)? If not--YOU should. You might get pooh-pooed by the doc, and told it is rare but it is NOT and it is on the upswing in our country despite the vaccinations! The syptoms you mentioned sound like it. My daughter had it at 3 weeks old and it lasted for months. PLEASE have your son tested for it!!! God bless and I hope your son gets better.
use eucalyptus on his chest, or vicks, keep up w. humidifier, tea w/ chamomille mixed w/ breastmilk in his bottle for relaxation, and chest massage w/ vicks or mint or eucalyptis. Tis the season for cold and such, breastmilk, breastmilk, breastmilk, but maybe from a bottle. Breastmilk o his side can lead to ear infections if already congested. Keep upright to feed. But keep up w/humidifier.
hi M.,i am a mom of 17 yr old and 6yr old children.my daughter is 6 last year she had a lot of problems.she was coughing a lot and breathing weird,her doctor told me to watch her breathing,if she breathes very fast or if i see her stomach and chest is being pulled inside when she is breathing.so i am not a doctor but if you think your baby is breathing fast or not normal take him immediately to the doctor.First time mom or second or third mother's intuition is always right.if you are worrried i think it is better if you take him to the doctor they will say oh,he does not have fever don't worry but you should make them see your son.probably it is nothing but for your own peace of mind i think it is better if you go to the doctor.your baby is only 11wk old i know how it is for first time mom.if you want to talk to me you can call me at ###-###-####,my name is ajanta even if i am not home leave your name and phone no i'll call you.
Hi M.,
Glad to hear that you went to the doctors. My response is to the reflux. My daughter, now, almost 13 years old was born with extreme GERD.(reflux). we did the mylanta, zantac, propulsid, carafate, in and out of the hospital. Her problem is she couldn't keep anything down... threw up about 20 times a day which caused a hiatal hernia. We had to prop her crib up at one end to keep her head higher than her tummy etc... It is all very frustrating and scarey but they do get thru it all and so do WE! :) She is very healthy and an athlete. If you ever need to talk about it, e-mail me. Been there done that and understand completely. She was a very miserable little baby in lots of pain with it.
One thing that I learned when she was sick is to strap her into one of those baby bounce seats-(I think that they still have them, metal frame that is covered with quilted fabric, leans them back like a recliner with a strap between their legs that fastens on both side by their waste)- keeps their head elevated, very comfortable and when she got older and could get around, I would put that inside of her playpen, that way if she did get out of the velcro in the night and I didn't hear her, she was still confined to the playpen so she couldn't get hurt.
Good luck-- one of my greatest joys, but is a lot of work to do it the right way!
I would definitely take him to his pediatrician as soon as possible and tell him your concerns. He is the best one to advise you on something of this nature. Sounds like there is more going on than "1st time mom syndrome". I have four, and this would alarm me. Plus, since he is a preemie, he has special medical needs. Good luck!
My daughter had a horrible time sleeping when she had a cold (she's 13, and thank God, seems to have grown out of this, yea!). We had to sleep sitting on the couch with her sitting up on our lap for her to be able to sleep. When she was a little older, she and her sister shared my bed (I slept on the couch), and when she had a cold, I would close up the bedroom and run the shower when they went to bed . . .
This is a tough time - good luck!
I just read your up-date, and to let you know, it's not abnormal for those home-health companies to take a long time and run late at night like that. My son once injured his knee around noon, and we saw the doctor and had x-rays, etc . . . he was supposed to get crutches, and I thought we were out of luck that evening bc they hadn't come yet - when to my amazement, they showed up at 10 p.m. - I was shocked!
Hi M.:
Just to tell you a bit about me, I am 43 years old, a mother of two girls, one 22 years old and the other one 11 years old and I know how you feel as a first time mother. My mom used to do the following when we were babies, and I did the same with my girls: She used to put vicks on our chest (in this case because he is so young, may be the vicks that looks like cream) and in our backs and then, you cover that with newspaper (yes, newspaper). For some reason, that keeps that part warm and it makes that area les congested.
Give it a try it works. I did it my girls and it worked everytime.
Good luck and your baby will be fine because you are a caring mom.
M., Please call your pediatrician immediately and let them know. They are there to help you; never hesitate to call them with questions. It sounds like you baby should be seen by a doctor.
hi M.,
my cousin has the same problem with her son. acid reflux plus a cold is harder to deal with. try putting a pillow or blanket under the mattress of the bed or crib where your baby sleeps. use humidifier, vicks plug ins if your baby is still congested, constant suction. if your baby is having trouble breathing take your baby to see the doctor or call your doctors nurse to see if you should bring the baby in or not. your doing a great job!
a little about me
33yrs old mother/nurse 2 girls, 15 months and 4 yrs old
M.,
This is a little trick that has worked for my family, and it is super easy and safe. Buy the vick's vapor rub - they make them for kids too. But rub it on the bottom of your son's feet and then put socks on him. It is very helpful in calming the cough down so that they can sleep better. My husband was skeptical, but when he had a cough, it worked and now he is a believer. Plus, it is helpful for all kinds of coughs.
Sorry I don't have any other suggestions for the other symptoms, but I hope the cough thing gets better.
Wow, Helath issues with my children makes me very uneasy too. My thought is that we have access to good doctors I'd use them. I don't want to overwhelm you with possible things that it could be, but with your baby's age and the new "super bugs" that are being introduced to our environment- I'd just see a doctor. Don't wait till it gets too bad to go to the ER. There are extra germs there.
Since he was a premie, did you have him checked for RSV? From what I remember one of my nephews had it and he was premature so I think that made him more susceptible to it.
Also I have personal experience with reflux and this causes breathing issues. Getting that under control will help out tremendously. My asthma flares when my reflux does. Also my nephew(not the same w/rsv) was in and out of the hospital as an infant for asthma and real trouble breathing. His reflux went undiagnosed for 2 years until they got a second opinion. He's had a couple surgeries and now is breathing better with less reflux.
Also.... What is his diet? Nursed or bottled? Allergies are a HUGE cause of reflux and breathing issues. If you nurse something your eating can be causing an issue. My sister-in-law can't eat beef. Her baby can't process it through her milk and he just cries and is in pain. If you bottle feed he may not be able to do a dairy based formula. Again back to my personal experience, once I got off dairy for myself I do NOT have to take my reflux meds. I also take probiotics to put natural bacteria back in my body to fight the bad stuff. They have infant ones too.
So this is a lot of info to consider, but basically visit the dr's before it gets too bad, second opinions are a must, and consider the diet/allergies.
AND MOST OF ALL....LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH THE NATURAL INSTINCTS OF A MOTHER!!!
C.
take him to see his pediatrician asap if not the hospital. they'll probably give him a nebulizer, which helps with wheezing and cough.
my baby recently had a bad cough & my pediatrician said she could get worse and i'd have to take her to the hospital. sounds like you should seek professional advice asap. sorry to sound scary, but that's what i would do especially if it's visible that he's struggling.
Hello M.. Don't panic, but you must take your son to the doctor. At his age, plus he was a premie, he is not strong enough to cough everything out. When the congestion stays in his lungs he is more likely to get pneumonia. Also, sometimes when a child coughs so hard, they might vommit, and they will have difficulty catching their breath. Sometimes this is due to Asthma, or another underlying condition. I spent many nights in the ER and I know it is not fun, however it is there to help. Also, remember, your son is too young to remember it anyhow. It is usually more difficult for the parent. However it is best to get it undercontrol before it gets to far. I would help in anyway I can. Take care. N.
Hi M.:
I suggest that That you visit NAET.com, order and read the book "Say Good-Bye to Children's Allergies" and go with your son to an NAET doctor at your first opportunity. One of the wonderful things about NAET is that for children or the infirm, they can be treated through a surrogate, i.e., you. Here is the description paragraph from the book information.
"Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies
By - Devi S. Nambudripad, D.C., L.Ac., R.N., Ph.D.
Paperback-1st Edition 2000
350 pages, 8.5’ X 5.5’ X .75’
ISBN: ISBN: 0-###-###-####-8-4
In Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies, Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad, the developer of NAET®, will help you understand your child’s illness and will assist you in finding the right help to achieve better health for your child. This book will show you how certain commonly used products in your foods and environment can cause health problems in your child; how you can test your child in your privacy of your own home using the Nambudripad’s Testing Techniques described in the book. This book will educate you how your child’s health problems can relate to allergy, a traditionally under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed condition; and, how allergies can manifest into myriad symptoms that might seem unrelated. The author also provides remedies for mild conditions of common childhood ailments arising from allergies and how to find help in assisting your child find the right help for serious problems such as, asthma, hay-fever, common colds, sinus problems, milk allergy, peanut allergy, sugar allergy, hives, gastritis, vomiting, colic for newborns, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, bronchitis, drug reactions, and many other conditions. Dr. Nambudripad explains how allergies are often the underlying causes to pediatric problems and how NAET® testing procedures and NAET® treatments can offer relief from these allergies. The book is supported by NAET® practitioners’ testimonials and patients’ success stories."
Please take your baby to see his pediatrician right away. I work in the medical field and this time of year RSV is very common in infants. It is better to be safe than sorry. If your infant was hospitalized , he could have been exposed to this respiratory infection. I would call his Dr. today and have him checked out....M.
Hi M.,
This is scary to watch, and unfortunately, I have to suggest taking him to the doctor. I try to avoid medication whenever possible but someone needs to listen to his lungs with a stethoscope and see how bad and where the congestion is. If it is in the lower respiratory track no amount of back clapping and steam can get it out, it can lead to pnumonia. My son had a similar cough (he is much older- 4 years old) and since then, every time he gets a cough it has the potential to fill his lungs. This is called "reactive airways" and I think it means the small sacs in his lungs get filled and his passageways aren't big enough to clear them out. This is something kids can outgrow as their lungs/air sac relationship gets stronger.
When he got it the first time, he was put on antibiotics, a nebulizer and (yikes!) prednisone. I really hated all the meds and I'm not sure if he needed the steroid, but he did need help to get past the infection. Now he uses a nebulizer (same meds as an asthma inhaler but in a mist that he can take in easier) when he gets that "coupy" cough that isn't croup before it gets too deep in his lungs.
My son, though not a preemie, was born the same time of year and caught a lot of colds when he was such a little baby. A fall birth means making through cold and flu season with an immature immune system, scary stuff indeed!
Overall, please take him to the doc. If your doctor is an overmedicating zealot you can address that later by finding someone willing to work with you in a less alarmist fashion but right now, it sounds like he needs help to breathe. You shouldn't doubt yourself and your "first mom syndrome". Mom's need to listen to their babies and trust their intuition. If you are scared, there might be good reason.
You're doing a great job, stay calm and have someone take a listen, maybe he doesn't need any meds and you'll feel better knowing that too. Good luck!
I wouldn't mess around, but would take him in to the doctor to check his lungs. I know the ER is something you want to avoid, but if you can take him to your regular pediatrician, atleast you'll have peace of mind that he doesn't have pneumonia. We went through this with our baby too and it's really scary, and a pain to keep taking him to the Dr., but it's the only way I could relax. It took forever for him to get better, I guess b/c babies aren't really good at coughing. I hope things get better for you soon.
Hi I am a mother of three. You might want to take him to the doctors and have him tested for asthma.My son was very young when he was diagnosed. They can give him a nebulizer machine and albuterol for him to take in. If the hot showers and humidifier don't work then that might be your best bet. Vicks also has a medicine that is placed in the humidifier and has helped my kids in the past. Try that! Good luuk! Being a first time mom can be a little unnerving especially when your child is sick.
when my daughter was a baby & had congestion, her dr. recommended i put salt in the humidifier/steam from hot shower...like beachwater, it will dry up the congestion. good luck :)
Try to rub some Vic Vaporub Baby on his feet and put socks after, it really helps with the cough.
So glad you got help!
I have to agree that the doctor is in order - my little guy had a ear infection and a sinus infection and I never would have guessed that was the problem. With antibiotics, he cleared up in a day.
Also, though, our babysitter, who is from Mexico, taught us to make a tea that really helps him sleep when he's congested and coughing. We boil a chamomile tea bag with a stick of cinnamon, a couple cloves of garlic (smashed but still in one whole piece), and honey (or a little sugar if you're not doing honey yet). We strain it into a bottle, and either let it cool until it's drinkable or add a little ice. He just sucks it down and sleeps so much better. It also gets liquids in him. Not sure exactly why it works, but it does!
Good luck. Sick kids are no fun.
-D.
Please take your son to a doctor as soon as possible and let him/her check the lungs. He's so young (11 weeks) and you want to make sure it's not pneumonia.
