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4 week old with bad cough and cold- reassurance please!

9 replies

mumofk · 26/05/2008 10:48

DD2 born at term, had cough since birth but 5 days ago coughing worse, sounds snotty with breathing but not too awful. Started sicking up majority of feeds (breastfed) when cough got worse, and yesterday, after rattly car ride she started grunting for breathing then eventually sick masses of green snot, very hard to clear off her face. Contacted NHS direct (what our out of hours dr goes through to) and saw emergency dr, who obviously wasn't concerned or indeed experienced with tiny babies. He said her chest is clear, and prescibed saline nasal drops.
Today she is still being sick, and when awake is coughing, sneezing and groaning (sounds kind of like retching groan noise? its the noise she usually makes after coughing, only without the cough always first), or sleepy- no quiet awake time like usual.

Apart from all that, she is feeding normally, frequently, not dehydrated or floppy, normal fontanelles and no rash.

Is there anything I could be doing to help her?
She's caught it from me, I've been sick since she was born with some virus or other, and I've been on antibiotics since Tuesday.

thank you for reading and hope you can help

OP posts:
Pavlovthecat · 26/05/2008 10:49

No wise words I am afraid, just wanted to say you are both feeling poorly, and hope you both get better soon.

mumoftwo37 · 26/05/2008 10:51

If I were you I would take her to a&e. My DS2 ended up with bronchiolitis at2 weeks after a cold that he had rapidly went to his chest. (THe midife who delivered him had a cold!). IMO it is better to be safe than sorry - babies can go down hill very quickly.

mumofk · 26/05/2008 10:58

mumoftwo37-awful question, but could you tell it was on his chest, or was he generally poorly? I was worried about chest inf with all the green snot, though to be fair those are my latest symptoms and mine is all sinusy/throaty.

I'm struggling to define 'worse',(they said to call back if worse), when, between bouts or sleeping, she doesn't sound or look that bad!

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KerryMum · 26/05/2008 10:58

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emkana · 26/05/2008 11:03

I second KerrYMum, my ds was the same and also ended up in hospital on O2, go to A & E

asicsgirl · 26/05/2008 13:02

nothing to add really mumofk, just feel for you. thinking of you and dd2, agree that a&e is the best bet. hugs a x x x

Elibean · 26/05/2008 13:10

Sorry, also agree re A&E - dd2 had a cold that turned out to be bronchiolitis at 4 weeks, and her only symptoms were a slight cough and throwing up after feeds. She was in HDU for a few days, but then again she turned out to have an underlying throat problem which didn't help - so that was extra unlucky, I don't want to scare you!

dd1 had a cold at 8 weeks that turned out to be just that, and got better very fast - so it can obviously be fine too. But best to check with a paed dr at the hospital, IME.

Hope you're both better soon, xx

ps watch out for her ribs sucking in when breathing, or throwing up feeds - first is sign of respiratory distress, second can be symptom of chest infection or bronchiolitis.

KerryMum · 26/05/2008 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumofk · 28/05/2008 15:03

Sorry not to update sooner, we debated long and hard and decided to see our own GP Tuesday. Only, Monday night she got better! She still coughs a bit, but without all the effort and isn't waking herself up to cough, and the being sick has only been twice since then and nowhere near as much.

With being told here about bronchiolitis I googled it, and realised the benefits of hospital would be oxygen if her breathing was that poor and drip/ng feed if she wasn't feeding well. Fortunately neither got bad enough for us to go, but really glad that I knew what to watch for.

Thank you ladies!

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