Tricks and Tips for Respiratory Illness in Babies and Breastfeeding Mothers
JUNE 2 2023
It's cold and flu season! I've had so many conversations lately on how to relieve a sick babies symptoms that I thought I'd do a write up on tips and tricks for relieving symptoms in babies with respiratory illness. Also includes tips and tricks for breastfeeding mums
I am a trained Endorsed Enrolled Nurse with 8 years experience, currently under non-practicing registration. I have been a mother for 15 years, of 3 children who have all suffered asthma, my 2 year old still struggling with regular respiratory illnesses. I am not however a medical professional with diagnostic or treatment advice capabilities, please always seek the advice of a healthcare provider if ever concerned for your child's health or wellbeing.
TIPS AND TRICKS
*While not sleep safe, having baby at a 45 degree angle can drain some of the mucus, making it easier for baby to breathe and to sleep. This can be done by placing pillows under the mattress, or sleeping them upright on your chest. Have someone supervising their sleep if using this method.
*Eucalyptus is an irritant for children under 2 years. Avoid Vicks and any other products using eucalyptus. Instead, run a humidifier without any product, just plain water. Ensure you empty and rinse after each use to avoid mould.
*If baby is over 6 months, consider using Baby Balsam, the gentle version of Vicks designed for babies. Rub on the chest and soles of feet to help clear the sinuses.
*Run a hot steamy shower before bed to loosen up the mucus. Make sure the door is shut and fan is off to really amp up the steam. If baby doesn't like to be in the shower you can still do this but just sit in the room with them. Dry hair with a hair-dryer after to avoid wet hair in bed. We still do this with my 2 year old, popping a baby bath in the bottom of the shower for him to play in and soak up the steam without being directly in the hot water.
*Saline spray up the nose and a nose-sucker can ease some of the congestion.
*Face and chest massage to relax the muscles, loosen mucus and ease breathing. Do this prior to feeding or sleeping.
Link added for a short video by Gayle Berry, baby massage teacher and owner of Blossom and Berry massage school
*Baby panadol for discomfort. Read dosage and timing carefully.
*If baby is over 12 months, administer a teaspoon of manuka honey 3 or so times a day. Manuka honey has been clinically proven to be more effective as a cough suppressant than any pharmaceutical cough medicine on the market.
UNSURE WHETHER TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP OR NOT?
Always trust your gut! It's better to get bub seen and all to be OK, than to not and for things to turn south.
Call nurse on call on 1300 60 60 25 if unsure of whether to have bub seen. They will do a symptom assessment and give advice as to what to do next.
Signs to watch out for that means bub definitely needs to be seen asap:
*Work of breathing - sucking in of the rib cage or throat when breathing
*Any blue colouring around the mouth, hands or feet
*A rash that doesn't blanch (doesn't disappear when pressure applied)
*Unable to rouse bub - the are unresponsive or floppy
*Severe ongoing cough
*Wheezing
*Rhythmic grunting during breathing
*Bub is under 3 months old with a fever
*You feel concerned
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BREASTFEEDING MUMS WITH RESPIRATORY
Many medications aren't safe to use while breastfeeding. Here's some other symptom alleviation methods.
*Consume heaps of warm drinks.
-The best tea would be 2-4cm ginger peeled and chopped boiled then simmered on the stove for 15-30 minutes, strained and fresh lemon juice and honey added. Only drink twice daily as too much ginger can upset the stomach.
-Peppermint tea with added honey - peppermint also aids milk supply which can be affected when sick
*Soooo much water! Also hydralite!
*Warm baths with Epsom salts to relieve achy muscles. Bubs can join too if you like!
*Echinacea, garlic, vit C and zinc are all supplements that are safe for breastfeeding when taken on short bursts of up to a week
*Broth broth broth!! Home-cooked bone broth is an excellent immune booster! Drink it plain or add it to all of your cooking. ***24 hour home-cooked chicken broth available for $10/L***
*Both Panadol and Nurofen are considered safe while breastfeeding. Always eat before consuming Nurofen, and read all dosing and timing carefully
*Spoonful of manuka for sore throat and cough
*Elevating upper body by 45 degrees when sleeping
*Saline nasal sprays
*Warm salt water gargles for sore throat
Let me know if you have any other tips and tricks
