Bronchiolitis.....

[Pixilocks]

So its been a week since my 4 month old daughter was diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis... shes been in and out of hospital in that time and is getting MUCH better.

However. She has so much phlegm on her chest that every bottle she has (because its milk) makes her cough and cough until she turns purple, makes a heartwrenching choking sound and brings the whole lot plus loads of phlegm back up again.

Yesterday she kept down about 90 mls. Her normal daily intake is 720 or so. She is a decent size, but I can see and feel that she has lost a lot of weight over this week.

I took her back to the doctor yesterday and he suggested that I don't give her any milk at all for a couple of days but supplement her regular feeds with sugar water, paedialyte and he told me to try some pureed baby apples. Has anybody else ever been told to stop giving their baby milk??

Also, does anyone know of anything else I can possibly do to help her?

So far I've:

Set up a humidifier in her room

Rubbed baby balsam under her feet, on her chest and on her back

been giving her about 4-6 steam baths a day where I put her over my knees with her head lower than her bumbum and cup my hands and pat her back gently

Been lying her down with her chest elevated by a small cushion or at the halfway setting in the pram.


If anyone has ANY other suggestions I'd really love to hear them as its breaking my heart to see my little girl so sick and becoming so upset and frustrated!

[Christelle]

My son has had bronchioliitis a couple of times and also was diagnosed with Asthma. He was fine the first half of this year but as soon as he gets a cold/flu he gets really chesty.

I have heard avoiding milk products does help.

I actually gave my son an antihistamine (claratyne??spelling) and that helped him, but he was over 1 at the time so I don't think you can give this to a bub. Apparently its helps to "dry" out everything.

Perhaps get a referral to a respiratory specialist? Has she had a chest x-ray?

[mim1]

My understanding is that the association between milk and phelgm production is an old wives tale and is not proven. I did a lot of research into it after I had a doctor to stop me taking milk because I'd had a few sinus infections. I love my milk and have a strong family history of osteoporosis, so I read up about it.

I'd never stop feeding my young child milk unless recommended by multiple doctors and for a VERY good reason. I suspect the swallowing of food is the problem, not the milk it's self. And if your bub has been sick for a month they need more than sugar water ... they need milk.

[SPC]

I've never seen milk feeds stopped in such a small baby for anything less than full on gastro. I really, really wouldn't. I would highly recommend chest physio (http://cardiopulmonaryphysicaltherapy.blogspot.com/). Lie you kiddo down, elevating their body over their head if you can. Then pat downwards towards their head, all down their lungs. You need to be gentle but firm, and you baby will probably enjoy it and may fall asleep. This should free up the secretions and make it easier for her to cough them up. You can also do little vibrations with your hand or an electric toothbrush even, to very, very gently jiggle the secretions out. If you're very rich you could go see a private physio. Websites about cystic fibrosis will show you how as CF kids have chest physio several times a day from being newborn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65hOg1I2uyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovChU4tXs6E

[littleleos]

if she is turning purple when she coughs it may be and idea for u to pop into your local ED just to check her o2 levels.

little bubbas breath different to us and when they have a full stomach it makes it harder for them to breath (that may also be a reason for her vomiting) so try giving her smaller more frequent breast or bottle feeds.

keep an eye on her wett nappies... your dr has probably suggested the rehydration fluids to keep her hydrated.

antihistamines and recomended for young children and babies (I think it has been linked to sids) maybe try some fess nasal spray (you can get it at the chemist

like the other ladies have said.... I havent heard of that milk causes phlem thing for years

hope she gets better soon

[Nickimumto1]

Just wanted to say :hugs:. It is sooo hard when they are sick. Liam has been unwell to, hope that i did not give it to you when we meet up. Liam has had croup. So we have not had much sleep in this house this week. I also think that it is the swollow and drinking action that would cause her to cough. The thing to keep an eye on is how she is breathing, if her tummy is sucked in when she is breathing then i would be taking her back to the hospital. Hope she gets better soon.