Why the congestion? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

WhiskersOnKittens · 04-01-2009, 10:42 PM

My ds is almost 8 weeks old. For a few weeks now he's been pretty stuffed up, but it's off and on (he went a few days just recently where he was hardly congested at all). We got him some saline drops, which seem to help loosen the mucus, and it runs out most of the time. However, all night last night and all day today, he's been just terrible--you can hear him breathing across the room, the poor little thing

. And you are only supposed to give these saline drops up to 3 times a day. He's already had them twice today, and needs them again but I'll wait until bedtime, so he can breathe throughout the night...
Anyway, I guess my question is does anybody know what could be causing this congestion? I know it's relatively common for babies to have this--is it just because their passages are so small? I wonder why he's producing so much mucus...? My older ds never had problems with this...
Any ideas?

Whiskers

P.S. I did mention it to his doctor at his 6 week check up, and he just said that we'd keep an eye on it, and to just continue giving the saline drops to help him breathe (he also mentioned that he "hoped it isn't his adenoids"...?) He's not due to see the doctor until his 3 month well visit

barton93 · 04-04-2009, 12:19 AM

Hey Whiskers. I have been having the same problem with Landon for the last couple of weeks. I have also been using the saline drops. I got the Little Noses upon my doctors recommendation and he told me that I can use it as often as I need to, but I haven't used it more than 3 or 4 times a day anyway. Landon constantly sounds like he is congested, even after I use the bulb to suction his nose. I get everything out of his nose that I can and he STILL sounds horrible. I don't know what else to do. It was so bad early last week that he would choke and I was so freaked out that I had the hardest time sleeping. I was paranoid! But, he seems to sleep better now, but I am also suctioning his nose multiple times a day too. I never had this problem with my other 2 kids, I don't know what to make of it. I never thought of the adenoid though. Let me know if you come across any answers and I'll keep you informed as to whether I discover anything.

Aside from that, how is Brody doing?

Landon has a doctor appointment tomorrow for an ultrasound of his heart just to make sure that his heart murmur is nothing serious. He is also almost 14 pounds now!!!! He is a moose!!! His collarbone seems to have healed nicely. He had a huge lump on his collarbone that has now gone down and is almost gone. The doctor said that it should be healed by 6 weeks old, and he is now 6 weeks, so I assume it's all good. I am continuing to be careful though til I get the all clear from the doctor.

WhiskersOnKittens · 04-04-2009, 10:56 AM

Hi Barton,

Glad to hear that everything's healing up nicely with Landon. I hear you about the being paranoid thing though, with this darn conjestion! I have had a few nights recently where I hardly get any sleep because it sounds like Brody's not sleeping, too. He's been constantly snoring, even when he's awake. On the bottle for the saline drops I got, it says to only use 3 times a day, although sometimes I wish I could use it more than that. I'm not sure why there's the limit... I never thought to ask his doctor about it at his 6 week check up because it wasn't that bad at the time. Anyway, somebody else mentioned to me the Little Noses, but I couldnt' find it here. Maybe they don't sell it in Canadian Wal-Marts, because this was the only one they had, so I just got it. But I think the bulb syringe would help because it's like we just have to wait it out after we give the drops, and sometimes that's painful...

Anyway, I'll definitely let you know if I come across any other methods of getting rid of this congestion.

BTW, I came down with a cold (and Liam's had one for about a week now, but I didn't think that Brody had caught it) the day after I wrote this post, so maybe Brody did manage to catch a little of it and that's why its' gotten worse? Not sure...

Whiskers

barton93 · 04-04-2009, 04:31 PM

You know....I was sick with a cold too. I am actually just getting over it. Landon was congested before I came down with my cold, so I don't think that his congestion is related to my cold....but he did seem to be worse when I was sick. Don't know if there is a link or not. They say that newborns tend to not catch those colds and whatnot but I guess you never know.

teach79 · 04-06-2009, 04:33 PM

Hi Girls! My little ones have been congested since they were born and they are now 5 months. At our recent visit, my ped. suggested that they might have allergies. She said it is very common for newborns to have congestion, but that if it continues then it could be allergies. She also said that if 1 parent has allergies then there is a 45% chance the baby will to and if both parents have them, then there is a 75% chance. DH has allergies and had them really bad as a child, so I think that is their problem also. However, they can't do anything for them until 6 months. So, my lo's are going on an antihistamine at their 6 month well baby visit. Don't know if this is what is going on with yours, but it is the season for allergies!!! Just a thought!!