Newborn Bronchiolitis

appledai

Registered User
My 21 days newborn baby has Bronchiolitis. My heart is broken. She is too young to take medicine. I just can take shower and clear nose for her. She keeps coughing. I really hope some ways can help.
Thank you very much.
 
If she gets really bad, take her to the hospital just in case. Sometimes the little ones need to be admitted just in case. As much as we don't want our little ones to be in the hospital, if they NEED it, it's better safe than sorry. Hoping she gets better soon!! xox
 
My baby had a bad cold and cough as well at 6 weeks and the doctor we went to lent us a nebulizer to give baby some saline vapours to moisten the air. It took awhile, but it did get better. Take care!
 
Though the doctor thought it is not good to hospital but I will observe. I will use nebulizer tonight. Thanks for your replies.

Dear Heavenly Father, please have mercy on my baby.

I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
 
My LO had RSV at 8 weeks and got really sick, we ran a warm mist humidifier at night with lavender oil (a natural airway opener), as well as kept the head of her bed propped up, VICKS Baby rub (not sure if this is available in HK) on her chest, nose suction to keep airways clear and a lot of chest clapping:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/220860-chest-congestion-remedies-for-children/

The doctor also prescribed an inhaler when she got really congested. Keep a very close eye on her and if she looks like she's having difficulty breathing (skin pulls in through the rib cage when breathing in) I'd take her to the hospital right away.
 
Hi Erina. thanks for your info. did you buy that lavender oil in HK? my baby coughing seems worse. Deeply worried.
 
No I bought it in the US, but surely you can find essential lavender oil somewhere here.

If the coughing is getting worse I would take your baby back to the doctor though.
 
i'd take her back to the doctors - or perhaps A&E at QMH though the wait will be long but they do a very thorough job there once admitted. my kid went in with jaundice and is still there for some bacterial infection only because they noted a "fever' at 37.9 and then followed up with numerous tests (poor baby- he's only 2 weeks old) anyhow, long story short - they took the time to follow up on the low fever which one would probably address elsewhere...
 
I did take her to 3 doctors. but they all ask me to wait for 1-2 weeks. Though it is a huge pain to me, this seems a small case to pediatricians. Sometimes it seems nothing happened when BB slept quietly. but when she was coughing, it is like a sword into my heart. I do not want to take her to the public specially long waiting in the clinic but I will change to another pediatrician. Not sure about public hospital, I had an experience in Eastern hospital, needs to wait several hours.
 
unfortunately you are right about the long waits at the Public hospital...i waited 3 hours just to get my son admitted for jaundice, but they are very thorough and the wait is really worth it. my son is still at QMH but not for jaundice any more but a bacterial infection that they detected only from a slight fever, which would have probably gone un-noticed elsewhere. so, wait is long, but well worth it in the long run.

but since you have gotten so many opinions, i think your baby is OK - heart breaking as it is, you will probably just have to wait it out and do things that your baby enjoys or makes him comfortable....taking a bath perhaps so there is more exposure to humidity and the cough is not quite so bad?!? hope you LO feels better soon.
 
Thanks for your wish. As BB is newborn, no medicine. I let her take bath 2 times a day (2-3 mins) with Johnson's Penaten bath oil though it is for 6 months or above. and run humidity. also use saline nose drop and clean her nose everyday but it is very hard since her nose hole is so small. Besides those things, I do not know what else I can do. Sometimes during her sleeping, no coughing, but other time she can cough more than 10 times within 2 mins so I do not know it is better or worse. Now the only thing I can is to pray.

unfortunately you are right about the long waits at the Public hospital...i waited 3 hours just to get my son admitted for jaundice, but they are very thorough and the wait is really worth it. my son is still at QMH but not for jaundice any more but a bacterial infection that they detected only from a slight fever, which would have probably gone un-noticed elsewhere. so, wait is long, but well worth it in the long run.

but since you have gotten so many opinions, i think your baby is OK - heart breaking as it is, you will probably just have to wait it out and do things that your baby enjoys or makes him comfortable....taking a bath perhaps so there is more exposure to humidity and the cough is not quite so bad?!? hope you LO feels better soon.
 
Is it viral or bacterial? If it is a bacterial infection, the doctor should give antibiotics. But most of the time — because bronchitis is much more likely to be caused by a virus — antibiotics won't help. The condition should improve in a week to ten days. Give plenty of fluids to help relieve congestion / prevent dehydration. Run a cool-mist humidifier. Moistening the air may help her breathe easier. (Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for keeping it clean. When dirty, the device can spread germs through the air.) Try saline nasal drops to help with congestion. put a drop or two in the nostril, then suction it out with a bulb syringe. Cold weather, dust, and smoke can irritate airways, so provide a clean, warm, smoke-free room for her to recuperate in. Prop her up while she is resting and sleeping, to make breathing easier. To ease fever and any discomfort, give her the appropriate dose baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give aspirin. As much as you hate to hear her hacking away, coughing up the mucus helps her heal. I hope your little one heals soon.
 
Last edited:
Thank you so much. Actually this very morning, baby was coughing much. I can not count. maybe 50 times. I do not know viral or bacterial. her grandma had a cold and now I also have cold symptom. I wear a mask almost all the time. I guess it might be virus.

But already 6 days. her coughing sometimes bad. I run warm humidifier at night. should I use cold mist one? I know it will be the same, no medicine if hospital. A doctor said do not be afraid her coughing, it will help Sputum out. But when her coughing is much, I am not sure if everything is worse. I am so anxious and worried. I still can not see when she can heal. no idea if should send her hospital.

She is less than 1 month, can her take acetaminophen or ibuprofen?

Is it viral or bacterial? If it is a bacterial infection, the doctor should give antibiotics. But most of the time — because bronchitis is much more likely to be caused by a virus — antibiotics won't help. The condition should improve in a week to ten days. Give plenty of fluids to help relieve congestion / prevent dehydration. Run a cool-mist humidifier. Moistening the air may help her breathe easier. (Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for keeping it clean. When dirty, the device can spread germs through the air.) Try saline nasal drops to help with congestion. put a drop or two in the nostril, then suction it out with a bulb syringe. Cold weather, dust, and smoke can irritate airways, so provide a clean, warm, smoke-free room for her to recuperate in. Prop her up while she is resting and sleeping, to make breathing easier. To ease fever and any discomfort, give her the appropriate dose baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give aspirin. As much as you hate to hear her hacking away, coughing up the mucus helps her heal. I hope your little one heals soon.
 
Last edited:
you really should double check with a doctor to see if it is a virus or bacteria. my baby is only 2 weeks and has a bacterial infection and as such, even at that young age, must go on a course of antibiotics for 2 weeks at QMH. i know we don't want to medicate, but when it is necessary, we really have no choice as you really need to solve the problem or it might become worse or affect other things.
 
AppleDai -- I would REALLY not self-medicate such a small baby without doctor's advice. How is it that you've seen so many doctors, and nobody has told you if it's bacterial or viral? Why don't you see a good pediatrician?
 
AppleDai-- don't self medicate without first getting a doctor's approval. You must go see a good private pediatrician if the public system isn't working fir you.

Warm or cool humidifier- it does not matter much. They essentially do the same thing, humidify the air. For safety, many use cool-mist humidifiers bc hot water or steam from a warm-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer can burn a child if he or she gets too close but yours is a newborn so it's up to you whether you think it's a safety hazard. Its essential for water in a cool humidifier to be kept extremely fresh and clean. If bacteria is contained in the water, it will be pulled into the air. Some say warm humidifier is cleaner bc it vaporizes germs converting water to steam, which then kills any bacteria present.
 
AppleDai -- I just recognized your name from an old post about whether to have an early C-section or natural birth. What did you choose in the end.
And, belatedly, congratulations! I know this is a tough time, but look on the bright side. You were worried whether your baby would be born OK or not, and it looks like baby was!
Try to stay positive and not worry too much.
 
By the way, the Mayo Clinic website says that Bronchiolitis is mostly caused by a viral infection. But don't take the Internet's word for it -- ask your doctor, and don't randomly medicate your infant with adult drugs!
 
Appledai, sympathise with you... it is really so hard to see a newborn suffer and not be able to do much to help. When my baby was a few weeks old he had acid reflux (not as serious as this but i know the feeling) and I saw about 5 doctors. I know the panic when you feel no doctor is giving answers that help solve your baby's problem. But finally I realised my first doctor was right... my baby grew out of it and time was a healer.

You have seen 3 doctors and they all seem to have given you similar answers. So why not trust them and wait a week? I'm sure they checked your baby thoroughly and also have experience of babies with similar problems and how it progresses. If you feel your baby is getting worse, pick the one you trust the most and take her back for a check-up.

The main thing is for you to try and get through this difficult time yourself without going crazy with stress. Just take it a day at a time...otherwise you will fall sick too and that won't be good. Also I think babies can sense anxiety and that makes them more cranky.
 
Back
Top