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General health

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Original poster

3 week old BF baby with a cold--advice please

16 replies

Cadmum · 28/03/2006 14:21

Title says it all really. She is having trouble feeding because her nose is so stuffed.

Things we have tried include steaming up the loo; saline drops in her nose before a feed; bulb syringe to remove mucous from nose.

OP posts:

podkin · 28/03/2006 14:26

My dd had the same when she was very little. I thought it was a cold, but the health visitor said it wasn't really, it was just the membranes in her nose getting used to breathing ! That didn't really help, but just to let you know it didn't last very long.

Original poster

Cadmum · 28/03/2006 14:30

Thanks--I hope you are right but DS2 is poorly at the moment so I think it is a virus. I will be very happy to be wrong though!

OP posts:

shazronnie · 28/03/2006 14:32

Please keep breast feeding! Don't be tempted to try a bottle because you think it might be easier to get some milk in! If you feel babe is really hungry you could express a little milk and try cup feeding or feeding it with a teaspoon or medicine syringe.

Have you tried different positions? eg. Lying down on your side on the bed with baby on his side facing you might give him a little more space?

Formula milk can make babies more snotty as the body produces more mucous in response to the dairy, and breast milk is far easier on the system which must be a good thing when you feel poorly!

Hope he gets well soon!

Donk · 28/03/2006 14:34

When DS was small and had a cold, I always found that giving him a long (and slow and gasping to begin with) feed cleared his nose - and let him go to sleep because he could breathe freely!

podkin · 28/03/2006 14:37

Oh I forgot, the health visitor also said that if you can get a couple of drops of breast milk up the baby's nose, it can help to clear it - I didn't try it but it might be worth a go. Breast milk is supposed to be amazing stuff.

Original poster

Cadmum · 28/03/2006 14:37

Thanks! I have worked far too hard to get this little girl TO breast feed that I won't even consider a bottle! I did give her 1 oz of EBM in a cup this morning because I don't want her to become dehydrated. She has vomitted 3 times over the last 2 days (mostly mucous following a feed) but thankfully continues to have wet and poopy nappies so I know that she must be managing to keep some milk down.

OP posts:

jellyjelly · 28/03/2006 14:38

my ds had a cold at 3 weeks and there was nothing we could do apart from saline drops which didnt do alot to be honest. Think you might just have to be patient, you sound as though you have done all that could be suggested.

lact8 · 28/03/2006 14:40

hi cadmum, sorry to hear your lo poorly. I had similar experience with dd coldwise. She was very snotty and it did mean she would latch on and then have to stop to breathe. Your dd lucky you're bfeeding her, all those nice nice antibodies stopping her from being even more ill

My dd very efficient feeder now and I put it down to the fact that she had to try and get as much as she could when she was so little and the habit has stuck. Both my boys took forever to feed and dd just gets stuck in and all over in 5 minutes so could prove useful long term. I know that probably doesn't help right now, and understand its horrible when they're ill so young.

Take care, hope she's better soon

fredly · 28/03/2006 14:44

Keep cleaning up her nose several times a day, particularly before feeds.

Original poster

Cadmum · 28/03/2006 22:49

Thanks for the advice. I am hoping that she recovers quickly and that her first cold is a mild one. Getting every virus early seems to be one of the hazards of having older siblings. Each of our children have become ill earlier than the last...

OP posts:

moondog · 28/03/2006 22:57

Cadders,being in a steamy environment can help.
Have a bath and bring her into the bathroom in her little chair??

Glad the b/feeding going well-think of all those lovely antibodies being pumped into her.
Poor love!

Ledodgy · 28/03/2006 23:07

I find saline drops and a nasal aspirator helps lots , your baby will hate them though.

Original poster

Cadmum · 29/03/2006 17:03

I find that the saline drops & nasal aspirator before each feed does seem to help a bit. Her eyes are looking 'goopy' so I tried breast milk in her eyes. She must be feeling poorly because she doesn't seem to mind either the drops or the milk...

Her poop was green yesterday evening and if memory serves that means that she is not getting enough hind milk. No poops yet this morning but she seems to be feeding a bit better so I am hoping that will resolve itself shortly.

DS2 (4) is still feeling poorly as well so I suppose that I can't really expect DB to get well before him.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 29/03/2006 17:34

Green poop can also mean she's got a virus. Or that it's Wednesday.

Original poster

Cadmum · 29/03/2006 17:51

Thanks NQC!!! Is it really Wednesday? Too tired to take notice...I'm sure I would be much less worried if DS2 hadn't been so unwell as a baby...

OP posts:

Jaysfirst · 29/03/2006 23:03

Try a damp towel hung over the radiator, this helps to keep the air moist, and dont have the heating to high as this can help in stuffing up the nose. Carvol or vicks on a tissue somewhere near her aids in the decongestion although not on her obviously! :)

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