Bronchiolitis and an addiction to oxygen

[Italianbride]

I'm writing this from hospital where my 10 week old DS (7weeks prem) is recovering from a bout of bronchiolitis. He's been here for 6 nights now and is pretty much fit and well again. However, he seems to have developed an addiction to oxygen when he's asleep! It feels like we're going to be stuck here forever.
Has anyone else been through this? I really need some reassurance that he will wean himself off and we will get home again.

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

I don't think he has an addiction to it, its just that when you're asleep and your muscles all relax, he may need more oxygen than he does during the day.

How are you doing? It must be really upsetting and stressful to have your 10 week old so poorly and in hospital. Make sure you take care of yourself too, and I hope he's out of hospital soon. {{hug}}

[alibobins]

Ds2 had this at 3 weeks old was 4 weeks prem he was in for 8 days in total the last 2 were spent trying to wean him off the last waft of oxygen. In the end a senior nurse just turned the oxygen off and all the monitors and observed ds to see how he coped and it all went well from there.
He will get better it's just a slow process.

[Marrow]

I know exactly how you are feeling after going through very similar with my DS.

He was 8 weeks premature but was readmitted at six weeks (after being home for a week) with bronchiolitis. We had difficulty getting him off the oxygen. He had to be off oxygen for 24 hours before they would discharge him. Everytime they tried to take him off he would manage for a few minutes and then the alarm would start beeping. I forget the figures but I think he ended up on something like 0.1 or 0.5 (very low!) amount of oxygen for a couple of days before he managed on his own.

We were in for nine days all together. It really worried me that it was going to damage his lungs especially with him being premature. However two years later he has only had a couple of minor colds since then and nothing else. Hope your DS is better and out soon.

[Italianbride]

Thanks Keema. This is the second time he's been hospitalised since we got him home from SCBU. He spent a week in intensive care when he was 5 weeks with a bacterial infection. So it's fair to say I'm pretty much sick of the sight of hospitals!

I'm just feeling frustrated that he's so close to going home but is just clinging on to that last bit of oxygen.

[Sirzy]

Its normal.

This time 3 years ago DS was 8 weeks old and on CPAP for bronchiolitis, he was in for 11 days in total, when he was weaned off oxygen during the day it took about 48 hours for him to manage to sleep without needing any.

Our hospital have a 24 hour with no oxygen before discharge policy in place as it is so common to struggle overnight. I remember being in tears with the nurse when she had to put the oxygen back on one night as I knew that mean another night in.

Hope he is better soon

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

Poor you! My DS was in the SCBU when born for a GBS infection and I was so relieved to get him home. Having to go back in again must be so hard and I really hope it makes it through the night without oxygen soon, so you can get home.

[Madsometimes]

Dd2 was the same. She could maintain sats of 95 when awake, but they would drop in her sleep. She was in hospital for about 10 days at 14 weeks, and was a full term baby.

I know how tough it is, but your ds is in the right place.

[dikkertjedap]

As others have said it is normal. First they will come off oxygen during daytime only. Slowly, they may need less and less oxygen during the night. So try not to worry, he will come off oxygen when he is ready. He doesn't need to be weaned, at the moment he simply needs the extra oxygen. Depending on the situation, he may need oxygen during the nights for a few days, a week or even several weeks.

You are having a very rough time, but at least he is getting the care he needs.

I hope he'll get better soon and you will be able to take him home.

[ComfortablyCurvy]

ItalianBride we should hold hands together.

Just spent our first night in hospital with our 8 week old. I hate seeing him being prodded and poked and blood taken, fluids in etc when I just want to cuddle him. He's in a tank at the moment So i can't hold him, just stroke him-which isn't the same.

Have to say the staff here have been amazing.

We've been told he has to stay until he can go a night without oxygen, I was hoping it would be tonight but by the sounds of others on here we'll be in a few more nights at least!

Hope your lo is comfortable and getting better.

[Marrow]

How did he do last night ItalianBride?

Hope your LO is on the road to recovery soon ComfortablyCurvy.

[Sirzy]

Comfortable I know what you mean about not being able to cuddle them, it makes it even harder when all you want to do is hold them close.

Hope they are both home soon

[Raeray]

Hiya Italian, sorry to hear your little one is poorly. I've looked after lots of babies with bronchiolitis and quite often they cling on to that last little bit of oxygen, especially if they were born prematurely or have additional health needs of some sort.
Practical things that might help-

*ask your nurse to give your little one a suction of the mucous in their nose before trying to wean or remove oxygen.

*if they are turning oxygen off to try without - get them to remove the nasal prongs rather than them just leave them in nose with oxygen off as babies are nose breathers so this will help

*has your little one got reflux or any symptoms of reflux? If so get meds started for that as reflux can add to thing when trying to wean oxygen.

Hope some of that helps - baby will get off the oxygen don't worry, hang in there

[Italianbride]

I'm pleased to say we're home! DS just seemed to turn the corner really quickly, managing 2 sleeps without oxygen.

Thanks for your messages - made me feel better to know it was not just me. And to those of you with lo's in hospital now, I'm thinking of you.

[ComfortablyCurvy]

That's brilliant news Italian! glad your baby is much better.

Hope you're enjoying all your cuddles and being back home.

Hopefully be joining the 'at home' group in a day or two.

[Sirzy]

How is your lo doing comfortably curvy?

[ComfortablyCurvy]

A little better today thanks Sirzy.
On a little less oxygen and we'll be trying with a bottle on his next feed (tube fed ATM) so were going in the right direction.

Had my first cuddle this morning since tues night and I was in tears! Didn't expect to be, just a wave of emotion came over me. I felt very ridiculous to the nurses looking on, but loved every second of our little snuggle

[Sirzy]

The nurse will be used to it, I know I cried when I could cuddle Ds for the first time after he was ill

Glad he is on the mend