Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

In hosp with DS1 - Severe Bronchiolitis

29 replies

glitterndirt · 23/06/2021 03:41

I'm in hosp struggling to hold it together my 16 month old son has been diagnosed with bronchiolitis he is really struggling to breathe. His sats are poor - 89/90. They r trying to put oxygen on him but he's so distressed he's pulling it off I'm having to physically restrain him. He's had 2 nebulisers which have helped slightly.

I need support / info and most of all some positive stories.

They won't let me husband in so I feel so alone in this.

Has anyone been through similar?

OP posts:
Notthisnotthat · 23/06/2021 03:46

My youngest was hospitalised with bronchiolitis a few times when she was young, scary at the time but with the help to breathe they got better really quickly, massive change in 48 hours.

Original poster
glitterndirt · 23/06/2021 03:50

Thank u so much u hav no idea I how much I needed to hear that. I never thought I'd see my baby with an oxygen mask. The scariest thing I've ever experienced.

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 23/06/2021 04:19

Also in hospital with a three week old with a nasty infection, it's a lonely place isn't it. I used to work on a ward that looked after babies with bronch and it is amazing how quickly they can turn the corner once treatment starts Flowers

Pulledapart2015 · 23/06/2021 04:44

Also in hospital with my mum who just got the all clear after a whole night of various tests. No practical advise sorry. Just wanted to send my best wishes Flowers

Puddlelane123 · 23/06/2021 04:54

Offering a hand to hold. Absolutely horrible for you but I promise you, caring for babies and young children with bronchiolitis is the bread and butter work for any paediatric nurse and doctor. Each and every one of them will have vast amounts of experience in this area and will know all the tips and tricks to get your baby on the road to recovery. The fighting the oxygen mask is very common in this age group and although horrible for you to witness, it is conversely a good sign clinically that he has the energy to do so. Might be worth asking if they have a bucket mask to try instead. Or to hold the tubing as close to his face as he will allow until he falls asleep. There are lots of options. Hopefully they are warming and humidifying the oxygen as that helps, although the noise can be offputting to little ones.

The nebulisers although sometimes helpful can also make children quite agitated with increased wakefulness and raised heartrate so that will probably be contributing to his fighting of the mask.

Bronchiolitis tends to follow a fairly predictable pattern with day 4/5 generally being the peak of illness and improvement occuring after that. There are lots of interventions that the nursing and medical staff can try and although you will have a challenging few days your little chap will come through this.

Sending positivity for a bit of rest and improvement today.

Puddlelane123 · 23/06/2021 04:59

Also if he will allow it, getting him to sleep on his front can be helpful in improving oxygen levels. But if he adopts a different sleeping position which he prefere then that is fine too - mobile babies and children will tend to instinctively find a position that helps them.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 23/06/2021 05:09

Dd2 was in for 9 days with bronchiolitis when she was 8 days old - horrible first 24 hours but then massively improved and just getting stronger/better after that. Definitely easier when they are too little to fight the tubes, though, you have all my sympathy for that Flowers

Newnormal99 · 23/06/2021 06:21

My daughter was in for bronchilitis at 10 weeks. Had to spend time in an oxygen box. Once she got better she was out quickly - think it was 4 nights in total.

Notthisnotthat · 23/06/2021 20:55

How are things today OP?

Original poster
glitterndirt · 23/06/2021 21:03

Thanks for all your reassurance & support.

We're still in hospital he seemed to perk up earlier & they took him off oxygen & nebulisers & just used an inhaler on him but he's asleep now with a monitor on & although his breathing looks a lot better his oxygen levels r still too low so they've put him back on the oxygen x

OP posts:
bumblenbean · 23/06/2021 21:20

Oh it’s terrifying isn’t it. My DS was admitted aged 3 months - they said if we hadn’t brought him in that night he’d probably have stopped breathing Sad he was in for almost a week (over Christmas to make it worse!) but after the first 48 hours he really improved. Once they get going on oxygen they seem to pick up and he’s definitely in the best place. It’s just horrible seeing them covered in wires and tubes I know :(

Good luck Flowers

Bex268 · 23/06/2021 21:24

Sending you and your little one lots of love.

It’s so inhumane not to allow both parents in 😡.

You stay strong and look after yourself.

Crappyfridays7 · 23/06/2021 21:40

That sounds awful, bronchiolitus is awful and if you’ve not been in the hospital environment with all that happening before it can be very scary.

It sounds like he’s turned a corner, if he can maintain sats whilst awake thats great he just needs to maintain them at a certain level whilst asleep and sometimes that’s what takes a bit of time. Sleeping with the cot elevated at the top is a good idea. Is he still having inhalers, different drs debate whether these make any difference in bronchiolitus some use them but some don’t.

I hope you have good night and a good day tomorrow, it’s a long time sitting at that cot side - I’ve done it with my son and his asthma many times. I’m hope you’re all home safe very soon

Goodebe · 23/06/2021 21:46

My 18 month old was also hospitalised with bronchiolitis, the doctor told me it was incredible common and that by the time the parents seek help they child is usually on the verge of coming through the worst so hang in there and you’re absolutely in the best place for now. He will be home before you know it.

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 23/06/2021 21:49

My daughter was 4 months and in HDU with it for a week just before Christmas. It was a very worrying and exhausting time. Sending love

Sirzy · 23/06/2021 21:52

It’s normal for the o2 levels to drop when they are asleep so try not to worry about that too much. When Ds has been in they have wanted 24 hours off oxygen to know he is ok over night.

Make sure you look after yourself, it’s exhausting and it’s so easy to forget about basics like eating and drinking.

Notthisnotthat · 24/06/2021 04:53

That was the same as my child, good to see progress though x

Mincepiesallyearround · 24/06/2021 06:32

It’s the best place to be OP and he’ll get better soon I promise. My 5 week old was admitted for the same, v poor stats. We stayed for a week and after 2-3 days she turned around and got better. The hardest thing was not being allowed the breast feed her and seeing her cry from the tubes and the needles. But she soon felt better and actually gave me her first smiles at about day four of being there.

PrimeraVez · 24/06/2021 06:51

Hope your little one is doing better. It’s so shocking to see but as others have said, they do bounce back remarkably quickly.

DS1 was hospitalized with it three times as a baby (including on two separate foreign holidays which added a whole other layer of horror) and although he now has a diagnosis of mild asthma and uses a preventative inhaler before bed each night, he is a perfectly healthy and active kid.

Vebrithien · 24/06/2021 07:07

2 weeks ago, I was in hospital with my 11mo DS. By the time we got to A&E, his oxygen stats were 82-85%.
He had to have 3 days on oxygen. We started with the mask, but ended up with a nasal cannula taped to his face, which let him move around and sleep better. After 3 days, he was still dropping below 88% oxygen in his sleep. He had an inhaler (nebulisers before) and also an antihistamine, which helped to clear out his nose.
We were let home on day 5, and two weeks on, you'd never know. He's back to his boisterous self!

Sending a hug, it's utterly terrifying. His GP took one look at him and told me to get him in the car and go straight to A&E, "as it will be quicker than waiting for an ambulance". Within minutes of checking in, we were rushed to Resus, with numerous nurses and doctors around it. I've had night terrors since this, so make sure that you have someone you can chat through this with afterwards. Our GP actually phoned me when they had got home, to check how he was. We've agreed a criteria for GP/A&E/ambulance now, and that is on his records, as DS was premature, it is likely to happen again.

Wimpund21 · 24/06/2021 07:18

Oh op, it's awful isn't it. Ds3 had bronchiolitis when he was 6 months. He'd been off colour for a few days so we took him to the GP...we were then for about 2 minutes before the GP called 999 and we were blue lighted to hospital because his oxygen was 80 odd %.

We were in for 4 days. On day 2 he had a raging temperature and was so lethargic...he didn't eat or drink anything except tiny sips of water for 3 days. Throwing up at the first hint of milk and wouldn't bf at all.

He turned a corner on day 4 and was like a different child that afternoon and discharged the next day. He wasn't quite himself for about a week or so - not eating much, tired a lot but much much better.

Handhold, it's awful and scary but lots of positive stories here which hopefully have brought you some comfort x

Original poster
glitterndirt · 24/06/2021 20:56

My boy is home!! U were all so right about how they snap back so quickly the change on him is incredible.

He's fed, bathed & in bed fast asleep back where he belongs.

Thanks so much again for all the support Thanks

OP posts:
Sirzy · 24/06/2021 21:07

Brilliant

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 24/06/2021 21:41

Oh that’s wonderful to hear. Well done both of you!

Wimpund21 · 24/06/2021 21:45

Great news op x