help! sick baby + hot weather

Hi all,

I posted a couple times when I first had my baby and we were having
problems breastfeeding; now I have another problem, and here I am
again!

My baby boy, 6.5 months, have been BFing unhappily during the day over
the last week or so because of the hot weather, usually upper 90s to
lower 100s, and stuffiness in my house (I'm in SoCal, where almost
nobody has A/C). His little head is almost always wet after every
feeding, no matter how short the time or what position we are in (even
side-lying). Two days ago, he started coughing, and yesterday had a
full-on cold with congested chest, runny nose, constant sneezing,
coughing phlegm, and hoarse voice when he babbles. Today, he doesn't
want to nurse anymore. Every time I try, he bites me (mean, huh? ).
I don't know if it's b/c he's hot, or b/c he feels bad. I gave him pain
reliever 30 mins b/f BFing, but he still didn't want to eat. I can't
make my home cooler, but we have to stay home b/c he's sick. The only
thing I know is that he needs the nutrients from my BM to help him get
better! I don't know what to do. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Please help!
Sheree

sheree wrote:
Hi all,

I posted a couple times when I first had my baby and we were having
problems breastfeeding; now I have another problem, and here I am
again!

My baby boy, 6.5 months, have been BFing unhappily during the day over
the last week or so because of the hot weather, usually upper 90s to
lower 100s, and stuffiness in my house (I'm in SoCal, where almost
nobody has A/C). His little head is almost always wet after every
feeding, no matter how short the time or what position we are in (even
side-lying). Two days ago, he started coughing, and yesterday had a
full-on cold with congested chest, runny nose, constant sneezing,
coughing phlegm, and hoarse voice when he babbles. Today, he doesn't
want to nurse anymore. Every time I try, he bites me (mean, huh? ).
I don't know if it's b/c he's hot, or b/c he feels bad. I gave him pain
reliever 30 mins b/f BFing, but he still didn't want to eat. I can't
make my home cooler, but we have to stay home b/c he's sick. The only
thing I know is that he needs the nutrients from my BM to help him get
better! I don't know what to do. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Please help!
Sheree



I had this with my oldest girl when I lived in a house with no AC and
noticed when I am out with Ronnie and it is hot he doesn't want to eat
either. Make sure you are drinking extra water. I have also put milk
that has been cooled a little bit into a cup and made ice pops and put
them in the mesh feeding bags.

To cool baby off while you are eating, try putting a bowl of ice in
front of a fan where you are feeding him and where he naps, out of reach
of course.


Is there any way to get a window AC?


Jo

sheree wrote:
Hi all,

I posted a couple times when I first had my baby and we were having
problems breastfeeding; now I have another problem, and here I am
again!

My baby boy, 6.5 months, have been BFing unhappily during the day over
the last week or so because of the hot weather, usually upper 90s to
lower 100s, and stuffiness in my house (I'm in SoCal, where almost
nobody has A/C). His little head is almost always wet after every
feeding, no matter how short the time or what position we are in (even
side-lying). Two days ago, he started coughing, and yesterday had a
full-on cold with congested chest, runny nose, constant sneezing,
coughing phlegm, and hoarse voice when he babbles. Today, he doesn't
want to nurse anymore. Every time I try, he bites me (mean, huh? ).
I don't know if it's b/c he's hot, or b/c he feels bad. I gave him pain
reliever 30 mins b/f BFing, but he still didn't want to eat. I can't
make my home cooler, but we have to stay home b/c he's sick. The only
thing I know is that he needs the nutrients from my BM to help him get
better! I don't know what to do. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Please help!
Sheree

I almost forgot one. Just did this now as our AC is not working
correctly. I nursed Ronnie in the tub to cool us off.


Jo

sheree wrote:

side-lying). Two days ago, he started coughing, and yesterday had a
full-on cold with congested chest, runny nose, constant sneezing,
coughing phlegm, and hoarse voice when he babbles. Today, he doesn't
want to nurse anymore.

Sure, if his little nose is unhappy, it would
be very difficult to nurse. ;(

I don't know if it's b/c he's hot, or b/c he feels bad. I gave him pain
reliever 30 mins b/f BFing, but he still didn't want to eat. I can't
make my home cooler, but we have to stay home b/c he's sick. The only
thing I know is that he needs the nutrients from my BM to help him get
better! I don't know what to do. Has anyone else dealt with this?

If he has a cold, unfortunately, you just have
to tough it out. You can use a saline solution
to see if you can clear out his nose (he will
likely hate having this done!). Could you pump
a little so that he can have some breastmilk
without working for it?

Just keep offering as much as you can. You're
doing good.

-- Anita --

Poor thing, and you. Have you tried anything to clear his nose a
littlle. Snufflebabe and Kavol capsules usually help William.
Sometimes holding him upside down so I am leaning backwards and he is
leaning over me helps too. One feed it was so bad I did have to pump
and feed in a bottle, but he was already used to bottles so you might
not be keen to start if you don't already use them. You could try a
spoon, dropper or syringe.
It is tough but these things certainly helped my ds, who has had an
uncountable number of colds!

Jeni

You can get a simple suction device and use it to
clear his nose just before nursing. It might make him
scream while you're doing it, but afterwards he may be
able to nurse because his nose is clear.

Cathy

Thanks everybody!

Actually, his nose is clear enough to breathe through. It's only runny,
not stuffed. It's his chest that is congested.

He's taking one side only now. But at least that's one side! it just
confuses our schedule, since he usually eats every 3-3.5 hours. Now I
don't know when to expect him to be hungry, and he's been spitting up
more (am I feeding him TOO much?).

"sheree" wrote:
Thanks everybody!

Actually, his nose is clear enough to breathe through. It's only runny,
not stuffed. It's his chest that is congested.

He's taking one side only now. But at least that's one side! it just
confuses our schedule, since he usually eats every 3-3.5 hours. Now I
don't know when to expect him to be hungry, and he's been spitting up
more (am I feeding him TOO much?).

I suspect the mucous is draining into his tummy and irritating it. Nurse on
demand.

-Patty, mom of 1+2

sheree wrote:
Hi all,

I posted a couple times when I first had my baby and we were having
problems breastfeeding; now I have another problem, and here I am
again!

My baby boy, 6.5 months, have been BFing unhappily during the day over
the last week or so because of the hot weather, usually upper 90s to
lower 100s, and stuffiness in my house (I'm in SoCal, where almost
nobody has A/C). His little head is almost always wet after every
feeding, no matter how short the time or what position we are in (even
side-lying). Two days ago, he started coughing, and yesterday had a
full-on cold with congested chest, runny nose, constant sneezing,
coughing phlegm, and hoarse voice when he babbles. Today, he doesn't
want to nurse anymore. Every time I try, he bites me (mean, huh? ).
I don't know if it's b/c he's hot, or b/c he feels bad. I gave him pain
reliever 30 mins b/f BFing, but he still didn't want to eat. I can't
make my home cooler, but we have to stay home b/c he's sick. The only
thing I know is that he needs the nutrients from my BM to help him get
better! I don't know what to do. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Please help!
Sheree

Hey, This is my first time on here. I had the same problem last week.
Socal was so hot and being on the beach no one has a/c. My dd didn't
want to eat when she was hot either. Most of the week I had her in
just her diaper and that helped a little. Also I put a cool washcloth
on her torso just before and while we nursed to keep her cool and
didn't cover up to nurse. These things helped a bit. Luckily it's a
little cooler this week down here so hopefully he is getting better.
Good Luck.
Jamie