at my wits end! my newborn is sick :(

[audmommy]

I have a 12 day old and about 5 days ago I caught an upper respiratory infection (hacking cough, nasty yellow discharge, slight fever) from my other two children..

I noticed a few days ago that my newborn was sneezing.. well now it has turned into a runny nose - that is mostly clear but sometimes light yellow. I have taken him into the Dr. she said to monitor him for a fever over 100.2, we checked his O2 levels and he was fine.

Any advice on how to keep his airways open? Here is what I am doing so far: I have propped his co-sleeper up a little so it is at an incline, I am doing saline drops before I use the bulb to suck his nose out ( I do this right before we nurse). I also have a cool mist humidifier running near the co-sleeper.

Just in the last 24 hrs he is eating less - I can barely get him to nurse for 8 min on one side. every 2 hrs. It doesn't seem to be effecting his wet diapers.. but it is definitely less than his regular 20 min nursing sessions :( and I sucked a huge green slimy thing out of his nose this morning.. ugh!

I am just so worried about him, he is so very tiny!  and I know his airway passages have to be even smaller. I won't even leave him alone to sleep, I am worried he may need his nose sucked or something and  I will miss it! 

[MsFortune]

no advice but lots of sympahty

[Twinklefae]

That's so stressful!  My little girl is 13 days old, and there's so many bugs running around this time of year.

Keep an eye on his wet diapers, and if you notice fewer than usual, head back to the doctor/hospital.  You can also use breastmilk in his nose to help loosen stuff up. 

Other than that - hang in there!  Here's hoping it will be over soon.

[bdoody11]

Oh mama, I remember when DD#2 caught pharyngitis from my older DD at 7 weeks. I thought I was going to loose my mind with worry. She just seemed so little! It sounds like you're doing all the right things. Make sure to get some help around the house for yourself if you can. My DH was gone the week my two girls were sick (great timing!) and my Mom and aunt basically stayed with me for days on end. Good luck!

[prone_to_wander]

I second the pp suggestion of dropping some breastmilk in the nose. It helps my ds breathe easier.

[jessica_s]

My DS had a cold with a fever when he came to see us in the hospital :/ SO I had a couple of days of feeling like I was going to get sick and the baby had a few days of being kind of snotty and then we were all good (we did milk up the nose as well, works good). No fever for either of us! I'm sure we saved Asher getting so sick with breastfeeding. Good luck!!