Head cold: mum and baby! Help!

[Ginfilledcats]

So me and my 4m DD both have horrible head colds: snot, sneezing, mucus, coughs - the full works! We have both tested negative for covid.

Little one is EBF (not even bottled expressed yet!) and has barely fed today - 7 times totalling 1 hour (with a 5 hour gap earlier this afternoon). Normally she'll have fed a few more times and about an hour and a half at least by now.

We've been using the saline spray, snuffle babe rub on muslins or clothes, feeding in all manner of positions. I keep offering the boob but she's not interested at all. She's had 6 wet/dirty nappies today (though wasn't that wet) and threw up her most recent feed.

I'm planning on sitting in the steamy bathroom with her later and doing some skin to skin to see if that helps, and propped her bed up a bit for tonight.

Anything I can do that I've missed?

It doesn't help that I'm ill too and feel like death warmed up.

Also, my boobs are not really full and getting sore, should I express? If I do that and then she wants a feed shortly after will there be enough there for her?

Please help!

Likelihood, you'll have enough milk. Keep resting snd drinking. Keep an eye on urine output, but baby will likely be fine.

She'll be fine, but look out for mastitis-if you get a temp and feel really flu-ey and rubbish tomorrow!

Agree re mastitis. My only bout was at similar age when DS fed less due to his first mega cold but then got chesty- both saw the same out of hours doc on consecutive days of a weekend for antibiotics and the ensuing nappy nightmares

I've had mastitis once already from falling asleep on my tummy/breasts so know what to look out for, but I definitely haven't drank enough which won't help! Will get downing some water.

Thanks all for your replies. She's my PFB and feel just awful watching her struggle!

Once thing to watch out for is that decongestants are terrible for milk supply. A very occasional lemsip is probably in but I'd use sparingly especially if you are worried about boobs to begin with.

Yeah I'm steering clear of decongestants!

My 10 month old got a cold and suddenly refused to breastfeed. After 12 hours of no breastfeeding (her last feed was 1pm and she had a big dinner and then her next feed would be 6pm, but she skipped that one). She woke 1am and still refuses to breastfeed. I was very worried by then. But she had no fever. I made up a bottle of formula (we use formula for rice and oatmeal). She drank 6 ounces! I couldn’t believe it. I then had to pump as milk was dripping from breasts and they were so full. I had to pump her feeds 5 days, but kept offering my breast, which she refused. I felt so sad. But the. Suddenly she went back to breast and feeds normally again. So I think it was her throat or ears bothering her. It could be the same with your little one. Sometimes when sick it makes breastfeeding uncomfortable. We are now back to fully breastfeeding and she is refusing bottles again.

My son and I had colds when he was 4 weeks old, it was awful! Do you have a snot sucker thing? Mine wouldn’t feed properly unless I did this first because he couldn’t breathe while feeding. One of the less glamorous aspects of parenting..! Hope you feel better soon, it was truly rubbish looking after a baby when feeling like death warmed up

Can you buy some calpol plug ins? They're sort of the equuvalent of a vicks vapour

I might get some of the calpol plug ins yes.

I tried the snot sucker yesterday but the snot was too far back, it's all running out today and getting everywhere so may try again and see if I get much more success.

Feeding even less today but still her usual happy self (when awake)

Thanks all!

I found the snot suckers next to useless!

Ah yes - I remember it well - snotty boobs! I hope you will both be better soon.

I'm feeling better thank you, she's still not feeding much. Only fed for 1 hour 10 in total since midnight but enough wet nappies and is happy as Larry so shouldn't worry!

Yes snotty boobs, height of glamour, though i suppose I've now had ALL the bodily fluids on me and my clothes haha