Premature baby stopping breathing after being given his vitamins...

[GruffaloSoldier]

Hi this is actually a message on my sisters behalf.

Baby was born just under 2 weeks ago at 34weeks.

He is home now, once in the hospital and once at home last night, after his vitamins had been administered, he seemed to roll them round his mouth for a few seconds and then just seemed to stop breathing. He went bright red and eyes went very bulgy. An ambulance was called but he was ok by the time they got there after lots of attempts to get him breathing again by Dsis and her DH.

The hospital have not being very helpful at all. The doctor and HV at local practice have suggested not giving them anymore. My sister is fine with that but obviously as a new mum does not want to do the wrong thing if he needs them.

He had them today out of a bottle with some expressed breast milk and was ok.

He is BFding well and everything else is fine. Obviously this is very distressing for my sister and the hospital seems to be no help.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

TIA

[AitchTwoZone]

my dd was also born at thirty four weeks and i confess i didn't often remember to give her all the vits. there are so bloody many of them. plus, when i did give them she just spat them out anyway so it was a bit disheartening, and when i mentioned it to the docs they didn't seem that bothered.

as soon as she could chew a bit and swallow (after six mos obv) i used to break off a bit of dinosaur vit and give it to her. she still likes them now. and she's eighteen mos and a pretty robust little thing, although prone to catch everything going at her disease-ridden big sister's nursery. i think her immune system will be rock solid by the time she herself gets there.

tell your sister well bloody done from me on the bfing front. i hope the baby will just sook out what's needed and leave her with some vitamins to be getting on with.

[GruffaloSoldier]

Thank you so much for the response, I will pass this onto my sister!

[yellowbutterfly]

My DD was born at 34 weeks, sent home on vitamin, folic acid and with a view to starting iron after a month.

We gave up. Basically advice we were given was at 34 weeks it is borderline whether they are of any benefit.

Listen, its really tough enough having such a small baby to be farting around with syringes getting repeat prescriptions etc.

I read you thread because coincidently a friend of our has just had a baby at 29 weeks, they gave her vitamins in the hospital and she stopped breathing.

The second reason i read your thread is because we had a problem with our DD and constipation, after 2 weeks we were advised to give lactulose via a syringe, we did, she chocked and stopped breathing for 2 minutes until the paramedics arrived. Horrible.

We now never use syringes, just spoons.

DD is now 21 weeks and has not had any extra vitamins or iron. If you sister manages to breastfeed she should just make sure her diet is fabulous. I didn't breastfeed as DD was in a hospital 2 hours away for 5 weeks. I have been advised that formula milk has enough vitamins and iron.
When we wean we are just going to make sure she gets lots of green etc

Best of look to you all.
Its tough but you sound like a great brother.
look after each other and congratulations xx

[walkingaround]

You sound like a lovely sister!

Congratulations to your sister and tell her so well done on the BF.

My DD was born at 33 weeks, the same thing happened with vitamins and choking - a couple of times, alas. She was breastfed. But we did eventually decided to give the vits in a bottle with some expressed milk and it worked great. We used a "micro-bottle", small bottle with a smaller teat - we live abroad - and only added v small amount of milk. I would give the vits after a feed. After a few weeks, she was able to take them without the bottle.

I promise, it does get easier week by week.

In general, your sister will probably be having to come to terms with all sorts of emotions over the next couple of weeks, so don't be afraid to post again or to contact Bliss.

Well done to the whole family and enjoy your lovely arrival xxxx

[walkingaround]

just to second the advice on using a spoon. DD turned out to have silent reflux and needed meds for that every night for months. They were very hard to give (fiddly, plasticky granules) and we gave them with expressed breastmilk on a spoon (it was a special plastic spoon that came in a baby pack from a greek kids supply store!)

[bagpuss]

Ugh, same thing here I'm afraid. DTs were born at 32+5 and were discharged with vits and iron supplements which we were supposed to give in a syringe. DT1 choked on hers about 2 weeks after discharge reducing me to a nervous wreck one day - ended up using the resuscitation training we'd been given in SCBU to stop her from choking which was very frightening. I ended up adding the vitamins to their milk in the end (they were not bf for similar reasons to those that yellow butterfly gave) but must admit that I have for the past week or so forgotten to give them . They are supposed to have them for 12 months but I can't really see why when it is so hit and miss who gets them. My friend's twins were born at 35 weeks in the same hospital that mine were discharged from and because they needed no special care she didn't get any vits at all. Mine needed special care and because the hospital policy states that babies born before 36 weeks have to be prescribed vitamins we were given them and have to administer them for 12 months.

I think if your sister feels that it is too much hassle and stress getting him to take them then she should follow GP/HV advice. She is doing a fab job bfing anyway and he will no doubt be getting plenty of benefit from that alone .

[johnworf]

My DD was born at 24 weeks and was never prescribed vitamins (apart from folic acid). I have only started to give them to her (mixed in with a drink) since she became fully weaned. Why are you giving them to your baby if she is doing well being breastfed?

I never use a syringe to administer anything, not even medicine. Too much going in too fast. Always use a spoon. I know people who use these and think they're great.

Prem babies can tend to gag/choke very easily, especially ones that have been ventilated.

HTH

[yellowbutterfly]

Some lovely threads here. Give us an update gruffalosoldier

[ladylush]

My premature baby choked on gripe water. I had to rescusitate her. It was terrifying. She was about 7 weeks old at the time (born at 30 weeks gestation). I didn't give her anything for a long while after that as I was so scared. Have to confess to being a bit slack with the vits as she spits most of it out. She is 9 months old now and has a good diet so I'm not sure how essential they are.

[GruffaloSoldier]

Thanks so much for all your responses!

I apologise for not revisiting the thread sooner but I went on on holiday on Friday until last night.

I did email a link to my sister so that she could read the replies and I have just read an email from her thanking me for the thread and that she has found the replies so reassuring, especially knowing that this seems to be something common happening to prem babies and that she is not alone. so once again thank you so much everyone.

baby is doing well, but things are by no means easy as you all know. I am hoping to speak to her soon but any spare time she has at the mo she needs to rest so Im giving her some space.

Im sure after all your help she will be probably use this forum herself, should she have any more concerns

[yellowbutterfly]

Its tough but it does get better. When I think of how small my DD was it makes me feel a bit sick if i'm honest and I had a late premature baby!!!.