Accidentally spilt milk up babies nose

[AREJAAG]

I had my little boy 4 weeks ago tomorrow. He has been congested for the past week and I’ve been using drops of breast milk up his nose to loosen things up and then suction it out which has been working really well mostly. Today I went to do the same again and spilt a lot more down his nose than I meant to, he had a little cough and I wasn’t able to suction any of it out I think he must have swallowed it.

i am totally paranoid and emotional at the moment and since this happening I’ve been really worried that some could have accidentally got in his lungs or something? I’ve been so worried about his health since he’s been born and we’re all full of cold in our house. Can’t remember being this scared of everything when I had my first I feel like I’m doing everything wrong and I’m gonna unintentionally hurt him

Tia x

Gently, have you spoken to your midwife/ health visitor about how you are feeling? Post partum depression can make you feel like this.

I'm sure you are taking wonderful care of your new baby

He won't be harmed by this, OP.

But you shouldn't need to put anything up your baby's nose.

Babies have a reflexive swallow reflex , so if any milk went down back of his throat I'm sure he will have been able to swallow this and with having a cold as well snot will also be going down the back of his throat ( and we can't prevent this).

My baby got a chest infection at 6 weeks and it's so hard cause there's so little you can do to help, so I really understand your worry. Do go to Dr's though. Mine was really helpful amd I should have gone sooner ( even for peace of mind) but especially if baby his weazing or struggling at all at night.

How is baby doing this afternoon?

Baby will be be fine but please don't put anything up his nose.

Thanks everyone, he’s the same today still sounds a little bit blocked up when he breathes but nothing major and he doesn’t seem to be struggling.

I have already been to out of hours gp, my own gp and paramedics have been out and all done obs and his breathing issues have been down to congestion. They all said his chest was clear, his oxygen is fine and his temp has always been fine but will keep an eye on it and see if it progresses into a cold or if he gets chesty as we do all have a bit of a cold at home at the moment.

doctors advised to keep suctioning but paramedics also advised saline drops for his nose, these weren’t working and when I looked it up people said breast milk worked better, which I found it had been but I’m terrified to do it again now!

is there anything else I can do to help loosen up the mucus in his nose?
Thanks x

You called paramedics for this?
After you'd been seen by your GP and Out of Hours?

OP you need help.

I've always heard of putting baby in bathroom while you have a hot bath/shower. The steam is meant to help them with colds.

Is there anything else I can do to help loosen up the mucus in his nose

Leave his nose alone FGS.

You don't need to try to loosen any mucus, the cold will run its course and your baby will clear the mucus on his own. I would only seek further help if his breathing is affected and/or has a high temp.

I would agree with speaking to your HV or GP about your anxiety around your baby's health.

I had 3 extremely snotty babies and the snot sucker was our friend. We loosened with a saline spray (rather than drops) then sucked the snot out. It was unbelievably grim, but pretty effective. Sitting in steamy bathrooms achieved the square root of fuck all unfortunately. It’s so hard breastfeeding while they’re so snuffly but hopefully your antibodies will help clear the virus.

You need help for post natal anxiety OP. See your GP. As for baby, leave his nose alone and try sitting him in the bathroom in a bouncer seat while you have a steamy shower. The steam will help him.

Infant Olbas oil in a diffuser also helps a lot from 3 months old

Yes I did see the doctors and the paramedics due to his breathing as the muscles were pulling under his chest so I was panicking, they all advised to continue to decongest his nose hence why I have continued since. Just came here for some non judgemental advice to ease my mind as I’ve already seen health professionals.

Thanks everyone, I definitely will be speaking with my GP about how I’m feeling. I already have OCD and have recently been diagnosed with ADHD so I think after having my baby it’s all just got a bit worse and got a bit too much. I am a paranoid wreck at the moment. Thank you

Just came here for some non judgemental advice to ease my mind as I’ve already seen health professionals

I've had four babies and I'm a nurse and midwife.
I promise you that full term babies cope with a cold perfectly well and sticking things in their noses is unnecessary.