3 month old with bronchiolitis and still not feeding properly. PLEASE HELP! Desperate for some mum advice seen as were getting no where with doctors!!!

[DaisyMay0]

It’s abit of a long one but please stay with me. Last Monday I took both my sons to the GP (3 and 3 month old). Eldest was put on antibiotics for a chest infection and youngest was sent to hospital.
We went to the hospital because he was taking less than 25% of his feeds and wasn’t weeing. When we got to the hospital they first said the reason he wasn’t drinking was because he was being over fed which is just ridiculous!!! Then they just said if he did a wee and drank some milk we could go home! He managed to drink 2oz in the 5 hours we were there and never did a wee but they still sent him home (personally I think they shouldn’t of).
He’s a very big baby weighing over 16lbs and usually drinks 6 x 8oz bottles a day.

Come Tuesday morning we had to ring the ambulance as he was struggling to breathe. We spent the whole morning in a&e where they made us syringe water into him and he went onto oxygen. But then by afternoon we had to go back onto children’s ward where they said they were just keeping an eye on him once he’d drank he could go. But he didn’t drink and we still came home. The only good thing they did was prescribe him new reflux medication which we weren’t in there for.
Fast forward to now and he has perked up (still coughing) but he is still struggling to feed! The amount has increased a tad but still less than 50% of his normal amount.

He now does not stop screaming! We have had hardly any sleep all week. Last night he was up every 2 hours screaming so much just for him to be resettled back to sleep. I just don’t know what is wrong with him and why he’s not taking his milk still. I feel there is something more to this than just bronchiolitis. But no one wants to help us. What do we do because I’m pulling my hair out. Do I go back to the hospital? Do I just ride this out? What? I’m tired and fed up I don’t know what more we can do.

Bronchiolitis usually lasts about two weeks, sometimes longer. Babies usually reduce how much they feed to make space in their stomach to breathe properly. If they feed too much while they're stuggling to breathe, they will vomit. The best thing to do would be to offer milk little and often, every 1-2 hours. When they are sick like this, calories don't matter as much as hydration. So 50% of intake is usually okay, as long as he is having regular wet nappies. Obviously if he deteriorates then take him back to the hospital. If it lasts longer than two weeks then take him back to your Gp. With the broken sleep, unfortunately that is just part of this illness, babies get incredibly frustrated. You could try elevating one end of the cot slightly.
Also just some advice in regards to when you took him to a+e, if you are not happy to take him home then make sure you tell them that clearly and refuse to leave, especially if he still hadn't done a wee. Ask to speak to a senior doctor or nurse. If they don't listen ask to speak to PALS or the bed manager. Sometimes a+e departments are so focused on numbers and getting kids in and out, that they lose sight of what is important and that's the safety of your child.

Hope that helps and that he gets better soon