Baby Brie : Phlegmy Cough – Bronchiolitis – Nebulised
[Brie at 7 weeks, weighing 5.530kg]
…
I used to think that when babies are exclusively breastfed, they’re pretty much ‘immuned’ to the usual sickness like cough and runny nose.
I saw it happen with Anya and Vai when they’re babies. They were almost always healthy, right up to the age of 6 months at least.
Recently however, I found out for myself that apparently THAT condition does not always happen to every exclusively breastfed baby.
Towards the end of our Jakarta trip (mid July), I noticed how Brie started to cough. It started with gentle, short coughs, less than 10 times a day.
[Note: Anya and Vai had the cough and runny nose bugs too earlier]
Within three days or so, I noticed much more frequent coughs. More ‘phlegmy sounds’ too. From the nose and throat. It was as if our little baby Brie had some phlegm stuck in her throat (and nasal passage?) and she couldn’t get it out (obviously, being only less than 2 months old).
So as you can imagine, Brie would cough and cough in desperation (especially at night) until her face turned all red. She’d stop in the middle of her feed, choke a little, cough repeatedly and cry (all the while I could hear the phlegm being stuck in her nasal passage).
Sigh.
We switched off the air-con at night, I breastfeed her more often throughout the day, and put an extra blanket under her head so it’s elevated. Some also suggested rubbing some Vicks baby balsam on her soles and let her wear socks at night.
Still she didn’t get any better.
My heart ached whenever I saw her cough. Especially since she could be coughing nonstop for more than 20 times in one go.
So as soon as we reached Singapore, we took her to see a doctor at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
That was on Sunday, 17 July.
[Upon registration at KK Hospital, Brie’s oxygen level was checked by the staff nurse]
…
We registered, paid a subsidised fee of S$80, and waited for about 20 mins before we finally got to see a doctor.
Brie was wheezing. Her coughs must have affected her breathing all this while.
The doctor also said that Brie seemed to have contracted bronchiolitis, and so to help open her airway, little Brie needed to be nebulised.
(Brie’s chest was x-rayed too. I had to put on a heavy protective gown while holding Brie’s hands during the process)
[While waiting for Brie to be nebulised, the staff nurse periodically checked Brie’s oxygen level by wrapping her little toe with this equipment]
I remember the time when Vai had to be nebulised for the first time (also at KK Hospital).
He was close to turning one year old, he was wheezing and his oxygen level was low. I remember how he refused the mask and how he struggled and screamed with all his might. The nurses wrapped his body with a blanket so that he couldn’t wriggle his arms and legs much, but even then, I had three other nurses holding him down throughout the 15 minutes he was nebulised.
I remember how heart-breaking it was to see him look at me in desperation throughout the process. And within a minute after he was done being nebulised, he slept in my arms out of exhaustion. He was better afterwards and didn’t need to be admitted to the hospital.
[Vai being nebulised, in November 2007 at KK Hospital]
I thought something similar would happen to Brie. But apparently things are done differently to small babies.
Since babies like Brie are not yet able to sit up on their own nor use their arms to ‘reject’ the treatment, the baby can simply lie down on the hospital bed and inhale the ‘medication’ with a box placed over her head.
This definitely is a good approach for babies.
Brie slept throughout the treatment (some 10 – 15 minutes). No struggles. No cries.
(I was told that when a child is about 6 months old or older, they’d need to put on the mask when being nebulised)
[Anya and Vai came along to the hospital. This shot was captured using my Nokia phone, and shared on Facebook that day]
…
We stayed back at the hospital for at least 2 hours after Brie was nebulised because the nurses needed to check her oxygen level every 30 minutes to see if it’s all good for her to go.
(Note: If the condition didn’t get any better, the doctor would generally recommend the child to be admitted to the hospital)
Thank God Brie’s oxygen level was all okay after the treatment. The X-ray result was okay too.
No hospital stay was needed.
We left the hospital after collecting the prescribed Salbutamol and a bottle of nose drop from the pharmacy.
(Note: No additional fee was charged for the x-ray and medications. It was all included in the S$80 fee we paid upfront)
…
Within a week, Brie was better (gave her the Salbutamol but not the nose drop as I didn’t see the need for that).
And today, I can say she’s 99% well and healthy. How I thank God for that.
(Click HERE to read an old blog post I wrote on Bronchiolitis and runny nose)
…
It sure was hard watching a little baby feeling so unwell.
And the fact that we couldn’t do anything much to ease the discomfort and pain made it worse.
Anyway, the whole experience reminded me again of how our health is God-given.
And if we all are well and healthy today, … it’s because of God’s grace.
Nothing should really be taken for granted.
…
Here’s wishing you and all your loved ones a great (and healthy) weekend!
14 Comments »
Leave a comment!
Hi, I am so glad i found your post. I just found out my 2 month old infant had bronchitis today. And we brought him to KK. The doctor gave us an option to let him be hospitalised or to go home as he was not dehydrated. We decided to bring him home to monitor the situation. However, I’m having 2nd thoughts with my decision now. Really worried now as he is still coughing at night and sounds like he has a blocked nose. How did you let your little one sleep at night? Did you prop her on a pillow or just flat on in the cot? And did you baby coughed throughout the 5 days recovery period?
Thanks!
Hi Christy,
I totally feel you and I know how ‘worried’ you must’ve been felt. Brie is the only one (out of 3 kids) who gets this ‘breathing’ issues the most frequently, ie. each time she gets a cough / cold, most likely it develops into bronchiolitis. I decided to get a nebuliser machine for home use, when she was around 7 months, I think. This way, I need not go to the hospital / doctor, since I know what to do already by then. Now that she’s 3yo, it’s much much better (much less often).
Basically, when they’re still babies, we can’t really do much other than:
– prop up the head. What I did, I placed a blanket / thin pillow / few layers of cloth to act as pillow, then I place a large piece of cloth over it, to act like the ‘bedsheet’ (eg. swaddle cloth). This way, the layers of cloth / pillow cannot be moved around, even when baby’head moves here and there.
– make sure baby drinks a lot (breastfeed as often as you can, if you’re breastfeeding. This is hard, I know, because baby finds it hard to suckle and breathe at the same time =(
– no Air-Con
Once the baby is nebulised / puffed , the recovery progress is relatively fast. Within 48 hours usually the coughing / blocked nose is better by a lot.
(btw, our kids all never stayed overnight at the hospital. We wouldn’t want to let them as well, unless it’s really really is a must for their health & safety. Reason? Baby can get more infections from the hospital afterwards)
Anyway, I hope your baby gets well real soon. Such a heart pain to see them in such a state. Hope you can manage through this too. All the best.
My little boy had a bout of bronchitis, and I had to administer the nebuliser myself (at home, 5 times a day). Definitely not one of my fave parenting moments. Glad Baby B is doing well already!
Hi San,
Did you use the ‘nebuliser machine’ or the ‘aerochamber’ ? I remember having to administer those ventolin and something else using aerochamber to Anya and Vai too. They were 2yo or 3yo, I think …
Gald to know ur little one is doing good. Poor thing she had to go thru all the discomfort. I can imagine how stresssful and worrying it wold have been for you. My heart melts seeing those pics of her , she so cute.. May God bless her.
Hi there … I guess as parents, especially of tiny babies, we naturally feel like we want to protect them from such discomfort … which, simply is not possible. Thanks for dropping me a note … yes, God indeed blesses her …
heartpain, hope brie recovers soon!
Thank you! She was better within a week of that visit to KK Hospital.
Bronchitis is a condition in which viral or bacterial infection leads to inflammation of the respiratory tract. However, bacteria and virus are not always responsible for this condition. Continuous exposure to highly polluted atmospheres or a lifestyle trait such as heavy smoking renders the immune system so weak that the body becomes an ideal place for bacterial or viral infection.
Thanks Jeremy for sharing the info.
Yes, I believe polluted environment plays a part too (Jakarta is more polluted than Singapore, and we were in Jakarta for about 10 days when our baby contracted Bronchiolitis)
This reminded me of d time whn JH was having bronchiolitis. Yes, i can relate to how u feel. It was ugly.
Oh yes … I still remember JH went through something like this ya last time …
Eh how are you btw? Hope you’re coping well (with so little sleep!)
I’m sorry Baby Brie had to go through all that! It must have been a stressful time for everyone at home! Glad it’s all over. =)
Thanks Bing! I sure didn’t expect it to happen to Brie too, especially since she’s still so little and is exclusively breastfed. Anyway, yes … we’re all glad that she’s all well again …
Thanks for dropping a note for us …