Bronchiolitis

[Mamabear04]

I'm really struggling with looking after my 4mo and 3yo who both have bronchiolitis. We ended taking the baby to A&E last week because he was so poorly and the Dr said she thought our toddler had it too on account of missing things like this when we were all isolated during the pandemic. Myself and DH also have a horrible cold/cough from it. My baby is so clingy and upset when he's awake and my toddlers tantrums are off the chart. I'm finding it hard not being able to sit and cuddle her because DS won't let me put him down/sit down/even put him in the sling. He will only be held. Last night DD woke up 5 times and DS 3 times. I am exhausted and angry and not coping very well. DH is helping as much as he can but us also working FT. I have a humidifier on for the baby when he's sleeping and have been topping them both up on calpol/steamy baths like the Dr recommended. I read on the NHS website it can last 3 weeks and I don't think I can cope. DD is going mad being couped up in the house but I'm just not able to get out with them like this and she gets so tired after 10 mins of walking anyway. Can someone please tell me how to survive? I feel like shit myself and can't take lemsips because I'm EBF. I did get a saline spray for myself but it's not working like I hoped. The only other people that can help are my DP but they too have this cough/cold and already take DD 2 days a week so can't really ask for anything else.

Haven't really got any suggestions on how to make things easier but my baby had this when he was 2 weeks old and it was horrible so I know how you feel.

I hope everyone feels better soon.

Hi OP, sorry to hear you children were unwell 😭 I hope they are feeling better now?
I'm currently in hospital with my 7week old baby he has bronchiolitis, he's on oxygen and very up and down at the moment. Can I ask how long your children were poorly for? We've been in here 3 days so far and I can't take seeing him so poorly, just hope he makes a recovery soon x

I’m sorry to hear your baby is so unwell. My little girl was in hospital with bronchiolitis for five days when she was just two weeks old last year. She was on oxygen and some kind of pressurised air flow machine. It was really frightening. But she made a full recovery and is very robust now! She had RSV as the cause of her bronch. The nurses said it peaked on day 4-5 of the disease, and that was certainly right for my daughter. How long has your baby been unwell and do you know what virus she has?

Oh it's a miserable thing for them to have. Both of my (now adult) children were hospitalised with it when they were little. DD1 had an overnight stay when she was 9 months old, then again the next year.

DD2 was in for 5 nights when she was 6 weeks old.

Hi OP when DD2 had repeated bouts of this, she was given an inhaler with spacer, Salamol I think it was. This really helped her breathe easier so she wasn’t coughing so much and could sleep. Your baby would be too young I imagine but your 3 yo could have it (DD had it at 1 yr old). Worth asking the dr?

DH really needs to help equally with night wakings (unless he’s a lorry driver or something where it’s dangerous to be tired) you are also doing a FT job with two tiny sick kids and BF too. If necessary he may need to take a day or two off sick so you can both get a bit of rest and get better.

Good luck x

Sorry to hear this. Bronchiolitis is horrible. We had 10 days in hospital when my eldest had it at 11 months - oxygen, etc - and every cold after that was pretty scary until she was about 2. But then her lungs seemed to get a lot better, and although she still has mild asthma, it's never been a major concern. Hang in there, OP, and make sure you take them to A&E again if breathing deteriorates.

My 4 month old had this last month, felt like it would never end. But it did, one evening I just noticed he had stopped wheezing!
My two year old watched lots of tv and did a lot of colouring. Don’t feel guilty just ride it out. Good luck! It will end soon and you’ll be into the next bug in no time haha x

Ds was a bronchi baby, his first most severe bout was at 8 weeks.

we where told it peaks at day 5 then improves which was the case each time for ds.