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Original poster

Worried my baby is in pain - is it right he should be left to suffer just because of his age?

26 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 18/05/2014 09:56

DS is8 weeks old and for the last few days he has had the most horrendous cough - I have no idea where it has come from.

It is a really dry, hoarse, barking cough with little squeaky noises when he breathes in, and DS goes so red in the face when it happens and sometimes struggles to catch his breath again. It typically happened after a feed but now it seems to happen at random times in the day and is becoming more frequent. I won't lie, it scares me sometimes when it happens and it sounds so awful

We saw the O.O.H GP yesterday who told us it was nothing to worry about and sent us on our way

I know that if I had a cough like that my throat would be in agony and I'd be downing the cough medicine, paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Is it right babies are just left to suffer because of their age and the fact they aren't old enough to have any medication?

I'm quite upset over it actually

OP posts:

poocatcherchampion · 18/05/2014 09:58

gp tomorrow if its still bad.
hugs

MelanieCheeks · 18/05/2014 10:00

You can't give lots of meds to an 8 week old, though! If you've seen a GP (and quite right too), and they've said it's nothing to worry about, then you need to relax a bit. Is this your first child?

alita7 · 18/05/2014 10:12

Just because it's not life threatening doesn't mean his pain is nothing to worry about! Is there nothing you can give him at all? Have a Google for some natural remedies that are suitable for babies. And if you're breastfeeding see if there's something you could eat that would help! Give him lots of very cold cooled boiled water to help sooth his throat :(

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Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 18/05/2014 10:13

It is.

I'm worried he's got an allergy to my cats if I'm honest - ever since he was two weeks old he has always been nasally, had blocked nose, constantly bunged up with snot and bogeys or it is running, he is always sneezing and sometimes has watery eyes. And now this cough.

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ilovepowerhoop · 18/05/2014 10:15

Don't give him cool boiled water, he doesn't need it at 8weeks. Saline nasal spray could help his nose

UriGeller · 18/05/2014 10:19

He's so tiny there aren't any meds that would be safe. You could offer more feeds if your breastfeeding or try feeding him very little very often if you're bottle feeding. Keep his throat moist.

It could be your cats, is he better when he's out of the house?

giraffescantboogie · 18/05/2014 10:25

There are meds that would be safe, it is just they have to be prescribed/agreed by a GP to outweigh any risks.

eg a baby in hosp for an operation would be given meds, no age is too young for meds, it is just they need to be prescribed/advised on closely.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 18/05/2014 10:39

Agree with not giving water, it will just fill up his tummy and stop him taking his milk, which he needs to grow and develop

If it typically happens after a feed, have you considered Cows milk protein intolerance?

If you are bfing, have a read of this on kellymom.

If you suspect your cats are to blame, have you got an allergy grade vacuum cleaner? How often are you hoovering? Can you exclude them from the rooms DS uses for a few days?

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 18/05/2014 11:51

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

I am breast feeding - over the last few days he's been having 2-3 more feeds than usual which I assumed was down to him feeling thirsty with the heat.

When I think about when his cough first started it was mid-week and a few days after DH had a massive sort out of our garden, including mowing the grass which hadn't been done for months!! His cough has definitely worsened overnight and maybe coincidentally my DH took him yesterday for 2 hours to a nice park where the grass was being being mowed. My DH is querying whether his cough is actually it is a hay fever type thing? However, his others symptoms have been present for weeks. We have got some nasal drops which we tend to use only before feeds as I thought that was their only purpose?

I would have thought babies this age could have a very, very small dose of paracetamol if prescribed by the GP - after all, don't parents give it if their babies are a bit under the weather following their 8 week jabs?

He's otherwise a really happy baby, lots of smiles and contented cooing. I think the cough distresses me and DH more than it bothers DS.

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 18/05/2014 12:03

The extra feeds could well be down to the heat, just let him have as many as he wants

It could be hayfever, but it might be best to talk it through with your GP. My summer born dd started sneezing and wheezing almost straightaway. For the first couple of years she needed antihistamines in the summer but she has grown out of it now

ilovepowerhoop · 18/05/2014 12:11

they can have calpol from 8 weeks, dont think it needs prescribed but dont think it would help with a cough.

BlameItOnTheMoonlight · 18/05/2014 12:17

Paracetamol etc. won't help a cough, and cough medicine isn't given to children at all any more. Just keep feeding and cuddling him, he'll be fine.

If you're worried about the cats (my littlest was mildly allergic to ours) exclude them from his sleeping room. If you co-sleep, have a really good vacuum of your mattress and thoroughly clean the house.

Try not to worry. :)

poocatcherchampion · 18/05/2014 18:46

I think it is a bit young for hay fever too. (but I'm no expert)

Ratbagcatbag · 18/05/2014 18:49

Have you looked at silent reflux. What helped hugely with dd was a humidifier. If you're anywhere near notts I have dds you can borrow to see if it helps.

meditrina · 18/05/2014 18:53

If he is struggling to breath, then you need to go to A&E. That's a symptom that really must be checked again.

What you describe sounds a lot like croup to me, but it could also be bronchiolitis.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 18/05/2014 19:19

ratbag - thanks for the offer but I don't live in that area. I will look I not buying one though if they are supposed to help.

meditrina - he isn't struggling to breathe as a whole, just when he coughs. At the minute he is on his play mat playing quite happily and gurgling away.

He is just very snotty and mucousy and it's all sitting at the back of his throat, poor man.

He's got his routine check with the GP at the end of the week so I will discuss it all then - unless he worsens beforehand of course.

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ThaneOfScunthorpe · 18/05/2014 19:35

A saline wash really helped my baby clear the mucus at the same age - do people do this in the UK?

PurpleAlert · 18/05/2014 19:47

It does sound croupy- Try a steamy room- leave a hot shower running in the bathroom with windows and doors closed or boil some pans of water in the kitchen- again with all the doors shut.

Poor little thing- hope he feels better soon.

TheDudess · 18/05/2014 20:00

Hi writer, we've met before on other threads but I've since name changed

My 10 week old is also full of snot, mucous and a little tiny cough. My midwife said it was just them getting used to the new environment as they're being exposed to all sorts of new things. GP reiterated this ad the 8 week checkwhich made me feel better about it.

I also have a cat and was concerned about allergies butBaby has sinsince eaten quite a few cat hairs despite my best efforts so ive decided it's probably doing her no harm.

badfurday · 18/05/2014 20:08

My 6 week old daughter has a similar thing. Very snotty nose and mucus on her chest. It probably sounds worse than it is. Gp checked her out and said she is perfectly healthy.

It's worse at night for her and wakes her and us up with it catching in her nose/throat. We have saline drops, and a nasal aspirator which gets a lot of gunk out. To be fair, not sure there is much that can be done? Just wish I could blow her nose! Hope your littlun feels better soon.

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 18/05/2014 20:54

Thanks guys, you've made me feel much better now I know my DS isn't the only one to suffer and it really isn't anything to worry about. I have managed to extract quite a lot of snot from both nostrils this evening

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Melonbreath · 18/05/2014 21:48

Oh it's scary when they're so tiny and get poorly.
I second the steamy room suggestion, it really does help. Also if you put a rolled up towel under his moses basket or cot mattress having him slightly at an incline helps drain all the mucous when he's lying down.

LearnerM0ther · 19/05/2014 09:25

I second the silent reflux if it keeps up. DS has it and he was ALWAYS bunged when tiny - finally took him to A&E thinking sinus infection, came away with Gaviscon.. They can also cough and splutter on milk/stomach acid.
Don't mean to worry you, just a thought. It's hard when they can't tell you what's up! Best of luck.

LearnerM0ther · 19/05/2014 09:25

Original poster

Writerwannabe83 · 19/05/2014 12:51

My GP sent us to A&E a few weeks ago due to persistent vomiting but the doctors felt it was just a stomach bug. We returned a week later as the vomiting had continued and the Registrar gave us some Gaviscon but said she wasn't really convinced he needed it and said it was to mine and DH's discretion as to whether we gave it. She said a lot of babies have reflux and seeing as DS is a settled baby and was putting on weight really well she said he was a 'happy vomiter' and that sometimes Gaviscon can do more harm than good. Me and DH didn't really want to give it and my HV was in agreement so we never did.

I can't remember the last time he had a big vomit after his feed - he does the usual spit-up when he burps but nothing out of the ordinary.

His cough is actually much improved this morning - he has only had one episode since he first work up at 06.30am whereas yesterday it seemed constant.

These babies do know how to worry their mothers!!

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