Newborn cough/gagging

[SRH]

Anxious FTM over here… the list of anxieties seems to be getting longer.
Our pup is 6 weeks old tomorrow (Monday). I have had a cold the last few days and was worried about passing it onto baby. I managed to breastfed a couple of times a day while husband does the remainder of the feeds by bottle with expressed milk.
Today, baby developed a cough which seemed dry/normal as if he had just discovered the ability to cough. However, all night now he has been drooling, coughing and gagging/choking, waking himself up from sleep and giving me serious anxiety. We phoned the emergency doctor who wasn’t immediately concerned as the cough is accompanied by a temperature/rash etc and baby isn’t turning blue.

Has anybody else experienced this? The gagging really worries me and I am finding it hard not to spiral. x

At 6 weeks old he's not going to be big enough to cough very efficiently, so gagging is likely to happen because he doesn't have control over all the muscles yet. Drooling could easily be from swollen tonsils because he's got the cold. Keep an eye out for rashes or turning blue, make sure there are wet nappies, phone the Dr again every few hours if worried, but honestly it sounds like a very young baby with his first cold. Keep the breastmilk going in, don't bother with expressing, he'll be happier that way. Hugs. I remember this level of anxiety with a newborn.

It’s so rough when they get a cold so young. My 1st born caught a visitors cold at 2wks old, was awful to see him struggling.

Keep breastfeeding. Your little one will be getting antibodies from you to speed up recovery and the act of nursing will provide him with comfort and pain relief. Also the added bonus of an oxytocin hit for you when he latches - mood booster.

Unless he gets a temperature or has breathing difficulties, there’s not much you can do for them at this age other than keep them hydrated and lots of cuddles.

If he has a lot of mucous and a blocked nose, you can use a saline spray to loosen it and a bulb aspirator to remove some of the mucous. Olbas Oil make a baby safe version which can help. All are available in Boots and the bigger supermarkets.

For you, lots of fluids and nutrition to help support your immune system. Milk production isn’t likely impacted, but if you’re struggling with nutrition, your body will pinch it from your own stores. A good multivitamin can help keep you ‘topped up’

Signs to look out for - sunken fontanelle (soft spot) mottling (if your baby doesn’t usually have mottled skin), dry sunken eyes, lack of moisture on lips and mouth, temperature, lethargy and struggling to wake/stir and retracted breathing (when the skin around their ribs and neck visibly sucks in) - if you spot this, go straight to A&E

When it comes to your baby, don’t feel like you’re being a nuisance contacting medical professionals for help. They’d prefer you were cautious.

Hope you both feel better soon xx

As others have said, they’re be antibodies in your BM. Have a read of this from Kellymom.

Hoping LO is a bit better today

Thank you so much for your advice. Baby was struggling to latch this morning so giving him a bottle instead. I’ve also been struggling to breastfeed due to tongue tie and latch pain so can’t manage all feeds at the breast unfortunately.
we are popping to Boots today to get a nasal aspirator so hopefully that will help. so so worrying hearing them cough splutter and choke. I spent most of the night in tears. 😥

I really hope it’s nothing. The days and nights seem endless when they keep making strange noises and you rush over to check if they’re OK. Thanks for replying x

Thank you 🩵

I hope the nasal aspirator helps. Keeping the top of the crib slightly elevated might help too.

And don’t forget that yoi can talk to one of the Breastfeeding Helplines for support

Use Lansinoh balm on your nipples in between feeds. Slather it on and put a pad on and let it heal before the next one. Feeding was so painful for me for 2 months until it got better, but this helped a lot.

Could the baby be taking in hairs? I think this makes my baby gag as I have long hair and baby pulls it lots when feeding.