4 day old with a cold.

[GodRestYeMerryWhisperMen]

hello. I had dd on monday morning and finally came home from hospital this evening. dp has a cold and I've started to get it now (just what I need after a 3 day labour and emcs)

dd has started having a bit of trouble breathing and so I think shes coming down with it too.

I was just after anyones advice and tips for making her feel better. I've only been a mum for 3 and a bit days so I'm clueless and hearing her raspy breath is heartbreaking

Congratulations!

Firstly, I would speak to the midwife or health visitor and get her advice - but I'm sure you've thought of that! In the meantime, with ds's first cold we just propped the head end of his Moses basket up on a pillow (underneath the basket) to help him breathe. You can also get nasal drops and saline sprays for babies, even newborns. And you might also want a bulb pipettes thing (not the technical term) which comes with most baby first aid kits, and is apparently useful to get the mucus out of their noses.

Also, make sure you are eating and drinking well and sleeping whenever you can, to speed your own recovery.

If he is having real trouble breathing, or your worried about it for any other reason, take him back to hospital ASAP.

*you're

thanks for the advice. I'll try proping up her moses basket. ive just spent the last hour on the sofa with her as she can breathe fine if she's having an upright cuddle. letting dp get some sleep before he takes over.
the mw is coming today to take my staples out so I'll ask her advice then.
I don't like my baby being poorly

If you have any concerns with a baby that small seek medical advice. Particularly with breathing difficulties! That's what the NHS is there for. Even if the dr/ health visitor/ midwife thinks you're being a bit PFB they'd rather check out any concerns with little babies.

I'm not concerned really. she can breathe and it is just a cold. I just don't really know how to make her feel better because I've never done this before.

Vicks vapour rub on the soles of feet worked wonders for ds2 when he got his 1st cold at 2 weeks old.

We use it all the time now

And congratulations!

I didn't know you could use vicks on a newborn. I'll add that to tomorrows shopping list with saline drops

Calpol Plug In Nightime Vaporiser

Just brilliant.
Be careful using Vicks on such a tiny. IMO its worth checking with MW before using any meds directly on such a little one.

You can't use Vicks on a newborn. Their skin is 15 times thinner than ours - you'll see on the jar it says "Do not use on babies under 6 months".

It's probably not a cold, FWIW - it's probably birth mucous. It can take them up to six weeks to get rid of it and they make the most horrendous snotty grunting noises until then.

I agree with Zuleika. Its most likely birth mucous. Especially since she was born by c section. It doesn't get squished out of them like it would in the birth canal.

Congratulations on your new baby but please don't use anything like vicks on a 4 day old!

Saline drops are fine for a newborn, or if you are breastfeeding, you can just squirt a bit of breastmilk up their nose to loosen the snot (it's fun aiming!). A snot sucker can then be used to try to get it out.

Olbas oil and snufflebabe (children's Vicks) are only suitable for use from 3 months.

Whoops, bad mother alert

God I love snot-suckers!

I'll not use vicks then. we took her in the bathroom with us when we showered and the steam helped a bit. I am yet to get a snot sucker