Coughing

Kiara - posted on 03/18/2010

My little girl had a cold about a month ago and had issues breathing due to congestion, especially when breastfeeding. However, her temp only went up a little. We raised her cot mattress using phone books to help drain the congestion, which then helped her sleep. She also had extra feeds to keep up the fluids. The chemist then recommended using the saline and bulb thingy only before breastfeeding if she was having issues because it dries out the nasal passages, which in itself causes issues. Her case was only mild and it cleared up over about a week or so. She was a real little trooper and didn't complain nearly as much as we expected.

Amanda - posted on 03/17/2010

William is still getting over his cold turned bronchitis. He was on amoxicillin, but we ran out. Went back to the ped and they said to continue using the LoHist PD and now have him on a nebulizer with albuterol and pulmicort (which I am not thrilled about this one). He has gotten better, but still has some mild congestion. The in house temp, and this seems crazy but the AAP and my ped suggest keeping the temp between 65-70 as any colder will cause problems and any warmer will cause the coughing to get worse. Just make sure you keep your little one covered as this temp does feel cold. I think William's fever reached 102.5 at one point, but that's when I took him to the ER because he struggled to breath for nearly a minute. His lungs were clear, nothing on the x-ray to suggest pneumonia, and his blood oxygen levels were good. Go back and ask them about the LoHist: you only administer 5 drops / 6 hours. That aughta help clear up the congestion.

Amanda - posted on 03/15/2010

Since birth I have felt (as well as many others whom know him) as though he has had what many call rattled breathing and over the winter he has caught his 3 yr old big brothers cough that many of his preschool buddies have all had and at times I felt he was having a very hard time breathing with a persistent cough but the doctor always takes a listen and says his lungs are clear???? I trust my beloved doctor but it makes me very nervous because although we are taught to listen to our doctors we also have mothers intuition and we tend to listen to our hearts when our little ones are sick! The congested cough has been a concern for my family as well and it seems to come and go...the dr says that the ball suction doesnt really work (although I have had some success) and he says the saline just makes babies so mad that the crying clears the goo away. It makes my son a runny angry mess! Keep up the good work mommies, and I need to start another conversation about vaccinations with colds...I have learned this is not a good idea and because my son had a little fever for his 2 month we postponed them but then he still had that little cough and my doctor insisted =( I didnt want to postpone them for fear he would have to get too many at once later on down the line but am looking for info as how to better space them out I refuse to give any more immunizations unless my kids are totally well.

Darlene - posted on 03/15/2010

My son has the same thing, but with no fever. We also went to the ER and everything was clear. Beside the humidifier, we are using saline and a bulb suction. It is horrible, but there's not much else to do. If you can keep him upright to sleep it might help also.
Just remember, spring is coming!!! Spring is coming!!

Lee-Ann - posted on 03/15/2010

Hey Tonya,

My little girl had a cold for a whole week. She is now 15 weeks old. Her chest really sounded bad when she coughed and she was sneezing so much, could hardly breath through nose.

She would vomit after a feed and got rid of ALOT of phlem that way. It is not nice to hear your little one battling. Just keep him warm and out of draughts and do NOT give any cough mixtures!!

It does clear up in its own time.

You are doing a good job and the best you can!! xxx