Weird Breathing

My little guy did that a lot, but as long as he's able to eventually catch his breath... no worries. Reflux is a pain, but if you're worried about it at night, just keep him in his carseat... Good luck.

Please delay his vaccines until you figure out what is going on and when you do start them, spread them out. If it is reflux (everyone ask yourselves why so many babies are getting reflux in the past ten to fifteen years when it was not around that much before) then change your diet if you are nursing (no dairy and no soy, switching to almond or hemp being the most nutritious and rice being the most popular).

Please make sure YOU have done the research on vaccinations for YOUR child. The AAP recommended schedule of shots for children is too many, too soon. Here are sites and books that I always recommend for people to start their research:

www.909shot.com
www.tacanow.org
www.nvic.org

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders, by Dr. Kenneth Bock

The Vaccine Book, by Dr. Robert Sears

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Childhood Vaccinations, by Dr. Stephanie Cave

Evidence of Harm, by David Kirby

K. -

I can't reply re: the reflux, but I can relate to your worry about breathing - we had a friend whose daughter tragically died of SIDS, and we were so worried it would happen to us.
The thing that saved us countless sleepless nights was the Angelcare Movement Sensor baby monitor. It's a device you put under the baby's crib or bassinet matress, and it senses your child's movements - even breathing movements. It's the same as apnea monitors they use in hospitals. It beeps if your child stops breathing for 20 seconds.
A few times it beeped for us, so we knew it was working. Both times, we heard our son take a big deep breath, and fall back asleep. He wasn't really haveing any issues, and we learned that babies normally do this sometimes.
However, it gave us peace of mine, to get some sleep, and worry a bit less.

I would definitely pursue it with another doctor. Ask your pediatrician if you can get a referral for a pediatric cardiologist. I have had 2 friends with babies that had open heart surgery. I don't want you to panic, but I don't think that you should ignore it. It probably is nothing, but better safe than sorry!

Sounds like he might be aspirating his food, which I believe can go hand in hand with reflux.
This sounds similar to what my son did at birth. He had difficulty coordinating breathing, eating, and swallowing all at the same time and his oxygen levels would fall down below normal. He ended up being diagnosed with asthma at about 8 months of age, which perhaps is all related...
I would definitely suspect reflux in your case. There are lots of good message boards out there on infant reflux. I would suggest doing a google search and see what you find.
Best of luck,
K.

I TOTALLY second Jamie .... do your research on the vaccines. This is NOT normal breathing nor is reflux a normal phenomenon for babies. When I talked to my granny (a while back) about this idea of reflux she was confused and then later appalled at the idea that a child this young could get it... and she said she NEVER heard of a child with that, especially not a baby. You can't dump poisons in to his little body and not expect side effects.

My son had the same symptoms when he was a few days old and it turned out that he had jaundice. After a few days of indirect sunlight he was fine. I hope that you and your son are doing well.

I am not sure if that is reflux. My son had reflux and did not do anything like that. I would get a second opinion and maybe try to find a new pediatrician/family practice dr. who takes your concerns as a parent seriously. We use a family practice dr. who has never doubted anything I have told her that is going on with my son and she has always been very proactive with his care. If you want the contact information just let me know.

K.,
Don't mess around. If you as concerned, then by all means, get a second opinion. It doesn't sound like a normal body function. You would think, that if there was a slight breathing problem, they would take a chest xray or whatever they do. If you are not satisfied with the doctors concern, then get that second opinion opinion. Fight for your child to get the proper assesment.
Congrats on your new baby! And you are absolutly NOT being paranoid!!!!!!!

hi ..so i reposted your post and here are some of the answers.

I remember our babies breathing strangely in the beginning. If your doctor
witnessed it, it should be fine. It is alarming, I know.

Both my babies had reflux, so if that turns out to be the case, I'm happy to
talk to you about it.

Best,

Emily ____@____.com

another mom said.. sounds like reflux to me..I would have a doctor really test to make sure that is what the problem is..instead of just taking some medicine and hoping it goes away.
good luck..

another mom...This woman needs to take her baby to a pediatrician immediately, and if they don't think anything's wrong, then she should go to another pediatrician and insist on waiting until the incident happens. This is not normal.

ok and someone else said to google adenoids

hope this helps..i would go get a second opinion and try to keep him upright. If you are formula feeding try Good Start Supreme comfort proteins ...introduce slowly..if you are breast feeding watch what you eat..and eat very bland..avoiding certain gassy foods ..stick to carbs..plain sandwiches ..try drinking chamomile tea..lay off greens.

good luck

xo

D.

My son had reflux and used to do that. However, my son 1-2 months older and according to his GI Dr. you can't diagnose reflux that young. I beleive he said they normally have to be between 4-6weeks of age before an accurate diagnosis can be given. When I first took him in for his breathing problem he was given a nebulizer as a precaution. I would suggest getting a 2nd opinion.

Okay, I do NOT understand how the Pediatrician said it looked like he has reflux...but then does NOTHING about it/examines further/refers you to a specialist/etc., and then you all just go home, WITHOUT any further information or diagnoses... besides just a casual remark from the Doctor that is looks like he has reflux.

Next, I would just take your Newborn to the ER. And see what they say.

His "breathing" if that is what it is... is not normal sounding to me. But I am not a Doctor.
Next, perhaps get another Pediatrician, because this one does NOT sound very effective and sounds lazy, nor did he advise you of anything regarding your son's "breathing."
If that were me, I would be irked at the Doctor's disregard and not explaining anything nor any follow-up.... and I would take my baby to the ER, because the ER is something you can do right away. Meanwhile, seek out another Pediatrician or get a 2nd opinion... UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CONCLUSION/Diagnosis to this.

All the best,
Susan

Sounds like it could be reflux but if I learned one thing from being a mommy GO WITH YOUR GUT! If you think this pediatrician isn't providing the medical care that you want to receive MOVE ON and keep moving on until you find someone who does.

My son had reflux too. I don't recall him doing this. I would get a second option. I go to Dr. Stephen Tang. Southern Orange County Pediatric in Rancho Santa Marg. Ca. He is the best. ###-###-####. I drive a very long way just to go to him. I have been to other doctors for my son and none are a great as him. Let us know how your baby is. Please don't wait call another doctor asap. New mom's call there kids doctor lots. I know I called him seems like everyday for awhile because of my sons reflux etc.
Sue

Seems like reflux is a popular diagnosis for the past few years. I hadn't heard of it much before that, which leads me to wonder if many of these babies have been misdiagnosed. I'm not saying your doc is wrong, but perhaps a second opinion would be in order.

It appears your message was cut off, so I'm not sure what kind of treatment (if any) your doctor recommended. I would be leery of prescription meds at this young age, and would rather look at food sources (what you are eating if you are breast feeding, and what kind of formula you are using if you are formula feeding).

ok yes it could be reflux. but if it is then he needs an upper gi scan which should be schedualed to confirm what your dr thinks. on the other side of the spectrum it could be allergies. does your son sound congested/very wet in his throat when he breaths? if so that will cause him to act like that because the mucus is covering his airway. if you are breast feeding i would demand that your son gets a blood allergy test for eggs, milk, wheat, soy, dust, mold and nuts (thats a basic screen) there for if any come back positive then you remove them from your diet. if he is formula fed try soy formula good start brand :)

my baby nephew does this also and his upper gi showed minimal reflux. he also has asthma and possible allergies. his older brothers were the same way. i try to get his mom to change his formula to soy and to keep up his asthma meds and to get him allergy tested. but she wont shes die hard to stick to what her dr says.

my daughter has asthma and allergies and she would stay wet sounding in her throat and lungs. it took us 2 months of back and forth with her aweosme dr (althea daniel with loma linda university medical center). since she have been on her asthma meds shes been great and her breathing is awesome. she was older then your sweet baby by far. 8 months when she got sick and 10 months when she was diagnosed and she will be 3 in march.

i wouldnt delay vaccines. your baby has only had one so far. vaccines are totally up to you and your husband though. my daughter is the most vaccinated kid in her drs office and i have seen no ill efects from any with her. anyways trust your insticnts if you think something has been overlooked get a second opinion. oh elevate the head of his bed it may help :). good luck

My daughter did that and it was reflux. She has had it since birth - is now 4 1/2 months and is still on her meds (we tried last week to wean her but her reflux is still pretty bad). She is a silent reflux baby - which means instead of spitting up, or vomitting what is coming up - she swallows it again, and again, and again. This is where the swallowing over and over comes from and while you are swallowing you can't breathe so when they finally get the acid and food to stay down, they are out of breathe and have to gasp to catch up. It sux but they do have meds for it and they were a life saver. First they put us on Xantac but because it is SO weight sensitive it only works for a week, then you up the dose, works again, up the dose...forever. So they switched us to Prevacid which is much better - twice a day and it's under control. You are going to have to be the one to ask the doctor for the meds though - call them and tell them you think your son has reflux and they will see you right away. Good luck.

A mother's intuition is best, the only thing I would do in your situation would be to go to the e.r. if it really started to worry me, @ the e.r they can run tests that they usually can't @ the doctor's office.

Before getting to the end of your post, I thought it sounded like reflux. And then I read what your ped said. My daughter has reflux, too. It sounds like your son is spitting up, but not enough to vomit out. The swallowing is him trying to manage the regurgitation (swallow it back down) and you can't swallow and breathe at the same time, hence the gasping. Did your ped recommend any medication? Ask him about putting rice cereal in a bottle. Our ped recommended one tsp per two to four ounces of breast milk or formula in the bottle. Most kids grow out of it by the time the babies are sitting up and especially crawling and walking. Hang in there.