Premmie twins with colds, snowed in - can I make my own saline?

[Weegle]

We can't get to the chemist as we can't get down the drive and we are very rural and NHS Direct won't advise as they are too young (2 wks old, 37+5 adjusted) - just said "call GP" - GP not answering phone... can we make our own saline for their noses before feeds to administer maybe with a syringe? They are really struggling to breathe poor mites. And if so any idea of the salt/water ratio?

Argh first attempt didn't post properly (has snow broken MN?)

I would keep trying GP to be on the safe side, but if it were me I'd do about 1tsp salt to 500ml boiled water but I am in no way qualified to give advice!

Thank you - am keeping trying GP but it just rings off... argh. I'm sure it must be ok - especially if I make sure it's very weak and everything is sterile... but I just feel a bit paranoid because they are so diddy but then not feeding isn't good either!

You can use breast milk for the same job if you are breast feeding.

Ring the health visitor. She may be able to arrange something for you.

ok, have just crept into sleeping babys room to get the saline on his window sill

it is 0.9% sodium chloride so 1 part salt to about 99 parts water.

Better to do 1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 Litre ( or ½ teaspoon to 500mls) but agree if your breastfeeding a little breast milk is best.

Call the peadiatric ward for advice or your neonatal unit.

thank you everyone - DH just tried HV as well - we haven't been discharged from midwives yet but he's left a message for them to ring us back.

you need to dissolve 0.9gram in 100 mls of water. That will give you a 0.9%w/v concentation wich is what the saline nasal drops are.
If you arent cinfident doing that,can you get a local chemist to deliver some saline nasal drops to you or a sachet of saline from the district nurses. It has to be that concentration ,then it is isotonic and wont cause irritation