9 week old - sick & retching & scaring the life out of me: Handhold please

[jent85]

Hi all, hoping someone can talk me down off the ledge whilst I wait for the doctors to open (and a reasonable time to ring my mum!)......
9 week old baby girl, PFB 💕 She was 3 weeks early, born by emergency c-section due to reduced movement but no issues/ailments post-birth (not sure if relevant at all but don't wish to drip...)
Had 1st set of jabs on Monday, been slightly out of sorts all week. EBF - yesterday morning feed at about 7.30am she threw it all back up, not spit up but actual retching and all the milk came back up. She seems to have a cough and when she coughs, she's sick. Has probably thrown up 8 out of the last 10 feeds - she'll cry for a little while afterwards but then she's fine! Active as ever, sleeping fine, pooping & weeing as normal, temperature is normal, has an appetite so wants to feed... Ive tried giving her short feeds as she is a very efficient feeder so tends to guzzle but this hasn't helped. Waiting for my doctors to open at 8am for an emergency Saturday appointment whilst she snoozes happily next to me but any ideas what this might be? I'm a first time mum therefore might be completely overreacting but had a sleepless night worrying & watching her and need a hand hold please ☹️ xx

So she's obviously still getting a lot of the feed if she's pooing and weeing normally. She sounds absolutely fine. And you sound like you already know what it is - the cough. It's really normal for coughing to bring back milk, and she would cry, because that is a bit horrible for her. But she doesn't sound unwell in herself at all.

Certainly go to the doctors but she sounds like the cough is forcing the food back.

Hope it all settles down soon.

I had this with dd2 and DS when they were babies. Both times it ended up being a chest infection unfortunately. Keep a close eye on temp and continue to feed in demand. GP or 111 is also a great idea given baby is so small.

I was going to say chest infection or tummy bug.
It’s too far away from the jabs to be vaccine related - probably more likely a bug that you picked up at the drs!

Ps don’t be fooled by temp - babies under 3 months don’t have a good temp regulation system so often don’t get a temp when ill. Temp is therefore not a reliable indicator of whether she is ill or not at this age. As they get older you can use it but not under 3 months. It seems most people don’t know this.

Ah no didn't know that about the temperature - good to know.
Reassuring responses, thankyou 😊 Have been through a rollercoaster of emotions the last 24 hours - seeing her coughing so violently is heartbreaking.
I'm presuming it's just something we have to ride out? Will obviously see what the doc tells me though xx

Take her to the nearest hospital if you are worried about her.

I'd go to gp just to have the cough itself checked as pp's have said it may be a chest infection but the actual vomiting from the cough is mostly normal even as they get bigger. It is scary so I'm here to hand hold with you, I hope you get an appointment xx

Thankyou xxx much appreciated, she's started holding her breath now and getting a bit more distressed. GP not answering but will persevere and will ring 111 if I can't get through shortly - very scary xxx

I sincerely hope you’ve gone to a and e op.
A young baby’s breathing is not something to take risks with and they can decline quite rapidly so better to be checked out and be safe.

Currently sat in children's emergency room waiting to see the paediatrician. She's been seen by the nurses who seem to think chest infection so we're getting somewhere.
Thankyou all xxx

Oh glad you’re getting good care and advice.

Good you are being seen. Hope everything is ok and your baby gets better soon.

Glad your baby's getting checked out. Bronchiolitis?

Spot on - Bronchiolitis. Bloody scary. Hospital are being fab, staying in over night and being monitored so feeling a little bit better/safer/less dramatic. Plus little one is slowly perking up.
I take it this is a common thing? Xx

Children's wards across the country are filled with babies with bronchiolitis, this time of year. Even though a lot of the older ones don't need to be admitted. Winter is a pain. But you're in a safe place.

Thinking of you. We went through this with DD2 at a similar age and it was scary. You're in the right place. Glad she is being looked after in hospital overnight.

Just read this and thought of my son in regards to the wretching and coughing.

He always had broncholitis but he also has laryngomalacia ( with that they often get broncholitis) and that was causing the dramatic wretching.
It sounds silly but does you dc make a purring type noise/ whistle when they breath?

I know I'm late to the party, but given you found her being sick distressing, I found using a syringe of just cooled boiled water to wash baby's mouth out helped prevent more retching as often the taste of sick seems to make them more sick .

Hope she feels better soon and gets discharged soon too.

Oh hope she's ok. Yes bronchiolitis is common at this time of year esp with preemies. My 31 weekends were both hospitalised with it. Well done for being in the ball and getting treatment.

Good morning op, how is your lo this morning? Hope you managed to get some sleep at the hospital and so glad you got a diagnosis xx

Thankyou all for your lovely messages. We had two nights in hospital and are home today 💕 she's still suffering but we've had a couple of smiles out of her and she's feeding almost as normal so fingers crossed she's passed the worst of it.

The ward was absolutely chocka full of babies with the same and we were told my little one had it quite mild so I feel for those parents/babies hugely.

Xx

Sorry for late reply, I'm glad to hear your little one is back home with you, 2 nights in hospital is scary so hopefully as you say the worst is over her xx