Noticed Goefy Stuff In Nose. Exhausted After Breastfeed. Using Nasoclear. Suggest
I have a baby girl, she's 7 week old currently. She arrived pre term at 32.3 weeks, and is would just be crossing her expected due date in a day.
My query is around her breathing. She breathes normally, but off late there is some flem (gooey stuff) in her nose. This causes her to breathe heavy, and when she's breastfeeding she becomes exhausted easily.
We have tried using nasoclear (mixture of saline water) to clear the blockage, and have tried removing this stuff with cotton. These have worked but it's been temporary.
Want to check with you if its normal to have some flem at this stage of growth? Would there be anything else that we may try and should we be approaching a specialist for this. We have a routine check-up scheduled this Thursday.
Thanks for your advise in advance.
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I can understand your problem.
It is normal for babies to have some mucus in the nose which may block the nose some times particularly if the weather is dry.
Babies breath by nose and when they breast feed the nasal blockage will result in difficulty in feeding.
The saline water that you are using is a correct procedure and you can use this as frequently as required and this is not going to cause harm.
You may also try humidifying the room air with some hot water placed in the room or a vaporizer placed in the room.
If the symptoms persist your pediatrician may prescribe some decongestant drops for your baby. But I suggest you should use such things sparingly and only on prescription. You doctor may also advise some suction using a bulb suction but for my patients this is rarely required. (I hardly ever used such a measure for the new born babies practically). Practically I use only normal saline drops and room air humidification for the new born babies I attend to.
I congratulate you for breast feeding your baby and suggest you to continue the same.
Hope this helps.
Continue to ask further queries as required.
Take care.
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty,
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics.