baby coughing, doctor no help, what to do???

[LetThemEatCake]

our ds is now 3 mo and has had a snuffle/ cough practically since birth. I started out by putting a bowl of warm water with a few drops of eucalyptus by his cot to ease his breathing at night, which seemed to help with the snuffle but his cough got progressively worse, a real old man's cough, awful to hear in such a wee baby. Took him to the doctor who said there was no congestion on his chest and just to use saline drops when needed for the snuffliness. Cough still hasn't cleared up and there is sometimes a definite rattle in his chest, can feel it when holding him - also, sometimes he coughs after a feed and it makes him throw up. Worst of all is when he is crying in the car (he hates the car, great ) and it brings on the coughing, sounds like he's choking - we've had to pull over lots of times to get him out and pat/ soothe him. Very stressful in traffic!! DH took him back to the doc at 12 weeks - again, we were told there was no congestion but to give antibiotics .. these don't seem to have improved matters either, however.

He's not listless and doesn't seem unwell in himself - feeding well (bfing exclusively), sleeping well (but not scary amounts iyswim) but his cough is really getting me down ... and I've met lots of other mums whose dcs were born around the same time and have the same-sounding cough. They, like me, have been told by the docs that it's "just a cough"

How can a newborn have a cough for no reason? and what else can I do about it?

sorry so long. Appreciate any advice.

[Ewe]

Have you tried snuffle babe/vicks on his chest? My DD had a cough as a small baby and it is awful, there is so little you can do.

[festivenameneeded]

Hi its awful when they are like that, I know there are really bad chesty bugs going around just now, have you tried putting a rolled up towel under his mattress so his head is raised slightly? Or taking him into the bathroom when you have a hot bath so the steam helps to clear his airways a bit. I had a cough for ages and antibiotics didnt help it either but it did clear up eventually. Hope he is better soon.

[anonandlikeit]

Not sure how this stacks up with the best practice sleeping advice for young babies... But DS1 was very similar & we raised the head end of his cot by placing a folded towel under the matress, so his head is higher than his feet.
Also added a few drops of that oil (olbus stuff for babies) on a dampened flannel on the radiator.

Also we had the window open slightly but the heating on, so it was warm but with air.

Is he actually coughing in his sleep or is it only when awake?

[LetThemEatCake]

only when awake, or sometimes when dozy .. like after a feed, he's all sleepy, we go to put him down and he coughs ...once he's properly asleep he doesn't cough and doesn't sound congested

[festivenameneeded]

lol. anon xposted, I think my HV advised this when I had DD1, but not sure what the afvice is now but am sure if its only slightly raised it sould help. Or you could try putting a book under the top legs of cot moses/basket?