My 5 week old is super congested (infant, parent, children, video)
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I'd take her to another Doctor. I had a son born w/ a birth defect that wasn't discovered til he was almost 2 months old. He had almost seizure like episodes, but never at the doctors office...I kept at it...even after one nutcase tried to send me home w/ nose drops...I finally recorded his episode and got a referral to a specialist. He had trachea malasia (sp)
It was a relief to finally get someone to help.
Keep trying to figure this out, because constant congestion is not normal. Little ones do sound scarier when congested because their diaphragms are so small, but I would strongly encourage a second opinion. Don't ever be afraid to seek more help. I believe Mothers have strong instincts....follow them.
I'd take her to another Doctor. I had a son born w/ a birth defect that wasn't discovered til he was almost 2 months old. He had almost seizure like episodes, but never at the doctors office...I kept at it...even after one nutcase tried to send me home w/ nose drops...I finally recorded his episode and got a referral to a specialist. He had trachea malasia (sp)
It was a relief to finally get someone to help.
Keep trying to figure this out, because constant congestion is not normal. Little ones do sound scarier when congested because their diaphragms are so small, but I would strongly encourage a second opinion. Don't ever be afraid to seek more help. I believe Mothers have strong instincts....follow them.
Yes. And I would get a new Pediatrician. My niece recently had a very scarey episode with her baby daughter - was sent home twice with sick child (everything was "OK" according to dr) only to later (couple days) be admitted to the hospital (by a different dr) for four days. New doctor time. Like JanND said get a second opinion and follow your instincts. Best wishes.
You should definitely take her the doctor. It is not typical for a 5 week old to be that congested. I would ask the doc to check and ensure the congestion has not gone into the chest and that it is still just in the head.
Also, I would also say to recruit a team of folk who have taken care of children that can use common sense and evaluate your baby wherever you are (a friend, grandmother, mother). I say this bc I believe that they would have already told you what we are telling you. I am a first-time mother too and we have to be careful - espcially when these guys are so young. I thought that if he has been congested for that long that it could be RSV. That is nothing to play with. Is he having any wheezing, nostril flailing, retractions (just google it and see a video if you don't know what I'm talking about), lips or fingers turning darker color? These are signs of RSV. If it's the weather, are you keeping the baby's head and feet covered, even when in the house if necessary? Is your house warm enough? Are you covering the baby and layering up good when you take the little guy out? Do you have any mommy mentors that can check things out for you and make sure that the baby is wearing enough/not wearing too much and sweating, etc?
My mom and grandmother were really helpful to me in gauging things that are sometimes hard to know just by reading books or online articles. Good luck.
Great advice. We used to do this when one of our boys was so congested. Elevating one end of the mattress helps gravity more than leaving them flat on their backs. You also can let them sleep in a car seat of swing, sitting more upright.
The bulb aspirator was a lifesaver, as well as a humidifier.
Advice has changed about baby decongestants. Ask your doc.
Just to point out that doctors, at least in the UK and over here, say you shouldn't let young babies sleep in carseats as they shouldn't be in them for longer than 2 hours at a time. It can compress their chest so they don't get enough oxygen. Elevating one end of the mattress is a good idea though.
Update : I ended up taking her to the Emergency room at 4am because she was choking again. I should've taken her to children's because they are used to dealing with small children. but we went to the nearest ER. The doctor treated me like I was an idiot I'm guessing because I am a young mom(20) .He kept cutting me off when I tried to explain her symptoms. He listened to her breathing and checked her temp then he suggested that I stick her bulb syringe down her throat to get mucus out. I don't feel comfortable doing that so I wont. then he told me it's just a cold and sent us home. Her cough has gotten so much worse and now she's spitting up chunks of white stuff.. phlem maybe? she has her 2 month check up on the 14th hopefully she's better by then I hate seeing her like this
And yes I always bundle her up when she's out. So much that she's getting heat bumps. at night she sleeps in a onsie and socks because she sweats so much and I have a fan going to keep the air circulating
My five month old was never so congested when he was a newborn that he was actually choking on his mucus. I agree with the other posters that there is something else going on here. Have you gotten your lo into see the pediatrician yet?
We live in MN and for the past month the weather has been crazy. Snowing one day then 60 degrees the next. Maybe the frequent weather change has just caught up to her, I'll be sure to call her Dr. tomorrow!
Quote:
Originally Posted by northsider14
Update : I ended up taking her to the Emergency room at 4am because she was choking again. I should've taken her to children's because they are used to dealing with small children. but we went to the nearest ER. The doctor treated me like I was an idiot I'm guessing because I am a young mom(20) .He kept cutting me off when I tried to explain her symptoms. He listened to her breathing and checked her temp then he suggested that I stick her bulb syringe down her throat to get mucus out. I don't feel comfortable doing that so I wont. then he told me it's just a cold and sent us home. Her cough has gotten so much worse and now she's spitting up chunks of white stuff.. phlem maybe? she has her 2 month check up on the 14th hopefully she's better by then I hate seeing her like this
And yes I always bundle her up when she's out. So much that she's getting heat bumps. at night she sleeps in a onsie and socks because she sweats so much and I have a fan going to keep the air circulating
The weather changes really shouldn't have much to do with this, especially since it has been going on for a while. If she is getting heat bumps when you go out you are putting WAY too many clothes on her, typically they need one more layer than you have on--usually just a blanket over their head to keep the wind off their face. What do you have your heat set at? It's best for them not to have it set too warm, usually 65 at night is best.
I also think you need to take her to a different doctor. Try one of the Children's Clinics. We've used the St. Paul one for year and love it there. I would call today for an appointment. What you are describing is not really typical. There are a lot of things this could be from minor to major. Until you get her into another doctor, keep her upright as much as possible, have her sitting in her car seat or bouncy chair if you have one. Napping in either of those is a good idea as well as elevating the head of her crib. The towels under the mattress is a good idea, otherwise you can get bed risers that elevate one side of the crib as well.
Write down every time she chokes, what she did for the hour preceding that as well as what kind of formula you are using or if you are nursing, what food you are eating each day. Take a video of her when she chokes and save some of the stuff she is coughing up to bring it into the dr (put it in a plastic baggie).
I would also suggest signing up for an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) class. You can find them in the park and rec department or maybe a link from the school district website where you live. They are VERY helpful classes for parents and kids, especially a young parent. Costs are reasonable, most are on a sliding scale if you can't afford the normal class cost.
I took her to Children's last night because I noticed some whistling while she was breathing. They were very nice. Before we got there she kept doing the coughing and choking thing. but one we got there she wasn't doing it anymore. Drs said its just an upper respiratory infection so there is nothing I can do about it. Last night I got her choking on camera so I'll show it to her pediatrician when she has her 2 month check up on the 14. Me and hee father both have asthma so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it but hopefully I have answers soon!
I took her to Children's last night because I noticed some whistling while she was breathing. They were very nice. Before we got there she kept doing the coughing and choking thing. but one we got there she wasn't doing it anymore. Drs said its just an upper respiratory infection so there is nothing I can do about it. Last night I got her choking on camera so I'll show it to her pediatrician when she has her 2 month check up on the 14. Me and hee father both have asthma so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it but hopefully I have answers soon!
Did they take blood to see if it was bacterial? If not, they should have. Call your peditrician today and let him/her know what is going on. A 5 week old doing this is NOT something you wait on. Does she have a fever? Keep her in her car seat when you are not holding her, keep her head above her chest when you are. Patting her firmly (but not too firmly) on the back, like you are trying to get a stubborn burp out, will help loosen the muck in her lungs.
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