Breastfeeding with a cold (the babymunkey - not me - I gave it to him!)

[babymunkey]

Hi

Just wondered is anyone had any insights to the following problem - I had a rotten cold last week, and think I have given it to our 11 week old babymunkey. He is very snotty and sniffly - he's generally being a real soldier, and not complaining too mcuh, apart from feeding time.

He's off his food anyway, but when he is hungry, he seems to desperately want to feed, but bobs on and off the breast - I wondered if it is the lying down position of BFing that is causing his nose to fill with snot (pardon my frankness, but snot is snot lets face it!). Then he starts crying, which only makes is worse!

I have tried offering him a bottle, and had some success with 1 feed today - am I better off just expressing and bottle feeding for a few days? I'm just a bit worried, as his last full proper feed was last nights DF........

BabyMunkey's Mum

[*Nicola*]

Callie was pretty stuffy for the first few weeks of her life.  We used nasal saline drops to loosen everything  and then a suction thingy to get it all cleared out    It really helped keep those nasal passages clear for feeding. 

Bit of baby vicks nearby also helps x

[em_here]

Also second the saline drops, they really are brilliant!!!!

[liacarmen]

A humidifier in the room is great too - keeps everything moving. I think the other advice is to nurse frequently when they have a cold since the feed might be shorter and the fluids are good to help them get better. Hope he feels better soon!

[lisi's mum]

saline drops and a sucky thing here too. Hope his nose gets better soon!

[babymunkey]

We're doing OK with the sucky thing so far - thankfully haven't had to resort to saline drops - I've done that to myself and its horrid! And bottle feeding so the poor chap can stay upright and breath while he's eating......

[yaya]

saline drops here (well actually spray) and sucky thing (ladies....aspirator!! ) humidifier, vicks or olbas oil. The saline might seem nasty but really is the best thing as you want to keep the nose as clean as poss when they have a cold

[babymunkey]

Where do you get the spray? That sounds like it might be easier than the saline solution........I'm in the UK, not sure where you are.....

[jobi]

Shelbys had a billion colds since shes been born, and has one now 

I don't like using the saline stuff, i'd rather use the snot sucker 

[lisi's mum]

You can get saline nose sprays at any chemists - boots for example. Baby olbas oil helps too (not up the nose though  )

[yaya]

yep the spray is easy to get hold of. tHE saline helps to moisten all the snot and makes it easier to suck with the snot sucker( ) Also very good are disinfectant nose drops, keeps the nose disinfected (obviously!)

[clh]

ditto everybody else.  Also, he may be wanting to suckle for comfort?  I know my ds's appetite usually decreases when they have a lot of drainage.  It's so hard when such little ones have a cold!

[lisi's mum]

Oh, forgot another good tip - if the snot's runny then you can get a pipette and squirt some breast milk up there - works fantastically. I've been told that when the snot's congealed the lactose in the bm makes them even more clumpy so saline's the way to go then.