Baby with bronchiolitis choking and vomiting

[IdiotSandwich05]

Hi all. DS is 3 months old and was diagnosed with bronchiolitis by GP on Tuesday. It started off with just cold symptoms but has now progressed into a horrid phlegmy cough, wheezing ect. Yesterday he had a massive coughing fit and then choked and didn't breathe for a good 20 seconds. He then brought up a huge amount of green mucus and started breathing again but was still quite unresponsive. Obviously this scared the life out of us so we rushed up to hospital.

By the time we got there he had perked up massively, was alert, responsive, and smiling at the nurses! Still wheezing and coughing though. They gave him a good once over and his oxygen, temp ect was all fine so they sent us home.

Since then he's still coughing a lot, to the point where he makes himself gag or projectile vomit. He's also wheezy and quite sleepy, but when he is awake he's happy and alert. Still having wet nappies and feeding although not quite as much as usual. I'm just terrified he'll choke again! Is it normal for babies to choke/vomit when they have bronchiolitis? I'm scared to lay him down because he starts coughing instantly so partner and I have been taking it in turns to hold him upright while he's sleeping.

This is horrible and I feel so bad for DS 😔 Did anyone else have similar when their babies had bronchiolitis?

Sounds like you're going through it, poor you :(

Just to say that vomiting with bronchiolitis was normal in our experience. Baby was 5 weeks at the time, and vomited for over a week. She'd feed, start coughing and bring it all back up. I did worry about dehydration but the hospital said even when it looks like a lot of vomit, it's usually not as much as you think and they are keeping some down. But obviously monitor wet nappies/fontanelle.

She also wouldn't be put down at all during it so we spent a few nights taking turns to hold her up. Its exhausting but it will pass. They told us it would likely take 2 weeks to get better (which seems forever when sleep deprived), and it was pretty accurate.

The choking sounds so scary. Hope your LO feels better soon.

I know the system is stretched but no one in the NHS will mind at all if you feel you need a 3month old with bronchiolitis checked over again at any point.

Totally agree with @TwoWeeksislong - no one is going to begrudge you a check up. I hope your little one is on the mend soon, OP.

When DC had it they told me that babies can't clear their lungs in the same way as adults so they swallow the mucus and either vomit it or have very slimy and green poos.

That sounds really scary for you though.

I was surprised how soon they wanted DS to go into hospital. I thought it was a bad cold and didn't think I should have taken him in but they admitted him overnight.

They actually they want you bring them in sooner rather than later, so don't feel bad about going in. They take no chances with little ones.

My DS was admitted into hospital for 4 days and when we were discharged the paediatrician said to angle the cot as a child with respiratory problems shouldn't lie flat. This advice was given to my 3 month old a few weeks back.

Yes my baby was 5 weeks old when he had it, it's horrible so I completely sympathise.

I found a humidifier really helped - £30-£40 from Argos and it allowed the room to fill with moisture which helped with his breathing and loosens up mucus.

I also slept with him up right on me and me and DP took it in turns so we could both get a little sleep.

Are you breastfeeding? I would squirt it around his nose and it works as an amazing saline solution.

Was a combination of saline solution/my breast milk, the snot sucker thing and the humidifier that got us through it. With every day he should be getting better but go back and get his oxygen levels checked again if you are worried - it will give you peace of mind.

Hope he gets better soon x