Can't breathe...can't Nurse - HELP!

Just relax and pump for now. If its uncomfortable for your daughter due to a stuffy nose she's old enough to go without or to nurse in very small sessions. My little guy had a terrible cold last winter and I had the same problem but I tried often and he nursed a little...very little at a time. I let him decide how long and how often when he was sick. Hope this helps. Good luck.

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Try saline nasal spray. This will loosen up the "snot" withing a few seconds and her nose will be running instead of stuffy. You can still aspirate her nose with greater success. You can find this at any local grocery store or pharmacy and it's cheap! Good luck!

keep nursing, I know it seems like she can't and it's frustrating for her, definitely pump too, to keep up your supply.
Offer a few times an hour and you can also express into her mouth, she can gulp it that way.
Try chiropractic for the ear infection and the viral infection too, (see www.icpa4kids.org to find a good one that specializes in working on babies) it will loosen the phlegm.
Also the homeopathic remedy Kali Bic (available at Whole Foods or other healthfood stores loosens the phlegm. It will make her drippy, but drippy is good as it means she is draining. It will drain her ear too.
Keep up the good work. Nursing a baby with a cold is messy and she will pull off often, but keep bringing her back, let her pull off to breathe and then go back on as often as she needs to and wants too. Don't feed her first or she won't be hungry. Your milk is what she needs to fight this virus....

you may have already tried this too but usuing a saline nasla spray usually breaks up a clogged nose and is completly safe in infants- also a warm compreess on her sinuses will help break it up...

She should be fine with not nursing for a few days (just rember to keep her hydrated with water, pumped milk, and popsicles). As long as you continue pumping it should keep your supply up. I had to leave my 10 month old for 4 days and pumped during the time I was away. When I got back he latched on right away and my supply did not diminish in the least. So you definitely don't have to wean yet if you are not done.

Good luck!!

H. Z. (SAHM 5, almost 4 and 15 month old boys)

L.,

Before using the aspirator put saline drops in the babies nose, this loosens everything up so when you use the aspirator the stuff comes out. Keep using a cool mist humidifier and putting her in a steamy bathroom for a while. This should break it all up.

L. M

did you try little noses saline nose spray then the nose sucker (my daughter calls it that)

L., we are goign through the same thing right now! nasty bug!! it took a bit but we are back to nursing and doing well. keep up trying and pumping, don't waorry you will get through this!!! mostly tried to nurse her almost sitting up! the saline in the nose helped more than anything i think. we did vaporizor and everything too.
good luck!!!!

Oh, I feel for you..
It is so hard to have a baby that can't breath well and so wants to have comfort and nurishment at the breast. There is no need worry about early weaning you will both get through this.
There is a product called litte noses sterile saline nasal mist. This really helps to loosen things up and will allow you to get more out of her nose with the nasal aspirater. Also, I know this may sound weird but your breastmilk is great to use up her nose as well. If she is not nursing well you will get engorged/uncomfortable so take to time to pump when that happens. You can offer this pumped milk to her to drink from a cup and use a few drops of it right up her nose. It will help to clear out the sinuses and it also has antibacterial properties to help her sinuses heal.
If she seems to breath better sitting up you can try to nurse her in that position. (with her legs straddling one of your legs and she is sitting up facing your breast. )
Also, Baby Vics vapo rub is also helpful and milder than the adult version. It actually smells really nice.
I hope she is feeling better soon.

I agree with the first response.

Hi L.,
I'm not sure if others have suggested this but perhaps you could feed her breastmilk from a cup or sippy cup. At about 10/11 months my older daughter went on a 2 day nursing strike but I was able to pump and give her the breastmilk from a sippy cup. After a few days she got right back to nursing with no problem.

Congratulations on nursing for such a long time already. I hope everyone is healthy again soon. Good luck!
S.

I know it sounds crazy, but put some baby vicks on the bottom of her feet and cover with socks. Continue using the humidifier, saline in her nose, and nose sucker. Our pedi recommenced Little Noses decongestant. One drop in each nostril every 4 hours as needed. But not to use it longer than three days. You could pump in the meantime and offer the milk in a cup so she's still getting the breastmilk. There's no reason you have to wean yet. Hope she feels better soon!

Hi L.,
Sorry your baby is sick. Do you have a pump? Put the milk pumped in a cup. Hope this passes quickly.
Good luck,
D.

All good advice. There is also a homeopathic remedy called - Pulsatilla - that if her conditions are right - works like a charm.
It's for thicker yellow/green snot.
Get the 30c dose, rather then the 6c.
6c is supposed to be more for children, but I have found it not as affective. the directions say take 5, but 1-2 will suffice.
It's all natural and poses NO harm to try.

When my now 3 y.o. was about 10 months old she had the whole stuffy nose thing for a week+ and then got her one and only yeast infection. The Dr. wanted her on an antibiotic - which made no sense with the yeast infection - I spoke with a homeopathic doc. and tried this first - she was better in 1 day! It's all we've ever given our daughter.
Now my 4 month old just went through this and couldn't nurse to the point where he didn't gain weight for 2 weeks. The 6c dose (I went with it, b/c he is so young) didn't help, also his nose was more clear runny. That did need an antibiotic in the end. A week after it ended it started again (ahemm...3 y.o.sister and all!)
This time we went with the 30c dose and both kids were better in a day.
You can find it at most health food stores and it's about $7 for a bottle that lasts forever.

p.s. - try not to touch the remedy (they are little tiny round sweet sugar pellets)and dump it into your childs mouth - under their tongue is best, if possible - and it works for grown-ups too!!

good luck - and don't give up on nursing, b/c of a cold! Your milk will keep your child healthier then anything else.

Did you use saline spray in her nose? My baby was sick all last winter and this helped relieve the stuffiness almost immediately.

Baby Vicks on the feet will help with coughing but I don't know if it helps with congestion? You can see if she reacts to it and if not you can put some on her chest. Or...put a big ol' glob of regular vicks in your cleavage when she nurses...that might help clear her up a bit when she's nursing. Also, they don't sell these in stores anymore [check ebay] sudacare plugins worked wonders for my daughter at night...good luck!

Are you elevating the crib, too? Let her sleep in a car seat if it helps (at least nap time)..... This is just one of those trying Mommy times. As soon as she gets a bit of relief, she will nurse again - don't worry. You could try nursing her in a different position, too. I hope things get better for you both!

Hi L.--

I know it sounds a bit strange but breastmilk will clear it right up. You can either squeeze your breast and shoot it straight up her nose (that more advanced) or you can saturate a q-tip and rub in each nostril. Breastmilk is naturally anti-biotic and it is soothing on the nasal membranes. It's amazing stuff!

There are also more natural things than Vick's out there...you can put a drop or two of tea tree or eucalyptus on her shirtfront/chest area and the vapors will waft up.

Keep breastfeeding and teach her how to inhale strongly to pull the mucous back to her throat. Model it for her and encourage her.

Good luck!