Congested? Or "forgetting" how to breathe while nursing

RDK24

My LO is 16 months and is finally getting over being sick after being pretty miserable all week. Fevers, congestion, sore throat, the whole nine yards. A few days ago, she started unlatching every few seconds and then relatching -- it was obvious that she was just too stuffed up to nurse otherwise.

Fast-forward to today and she's still doing it. She sounds a lot better -- not nearly as stuffed up -- and I can see her breathing through her nose while not nursing so I know she's not completely congested. But while nursing she latches, sucks for a few seconds and then unlatches, breathing loudly like she just came up for air after being underwater. Then she latches back on for a few seconds and the whole thing keeps repeating. 

She doesn't have much patience for this process in the AM but will nurse for a while this way before bedtime (we generally nurse 2x/day but I offer more when she's sick. Normally she'd take me up on it every time but now she's refusing, I think because she's frustrated).

Is it possible that she has somehow forgotten how to breathe through her nose while nursing after all these days of congestion? Is there anything I can do to help her get back to normal? Could this be the beginning of her weaning?

mommatotwo2

Add me to the sick babies list Darn winter and daycare combo

Anyway- when my LO gets sick, even when she is seemingly better, I do notice her having more congestion when she lays down to nurse, I think like @casey78 said, it's probably just deeper back and the laying down to nurse moves it around. I kind of think about how when I have a cold, laying down seems to make the breathing a thousand times harder, and I often come and sleep on our recliner so that my head is elevated when I'm sick.

RDK24

Thanks, @casey78 and @mommatotwo2. I didn't think about where the congestion was. My LO is so particular about nursing positions -- I can't convince her to sit more upright. Saline drops are no help either. Sigh. Guess the deep sea diving will continue until she's fully better! 

RDK24

RDK24 said:

Thanks, @casey78 and @mommatotwo2. I didn't think about where the congestion was. My LO is so particular about nursing positions -- I can't convince her to sit more upright. Saline drops are no help either. Sigh. Guess the deep sea diving will continue until she's fully better! 

And hope your babes are on the mend soon!

RDK24

casey78 said:

Drops do nothing, @RDK24‌, but our ENT had us get a gentle spray. That does seem to help a lot. We got it at walgreens - there was a kit with 3 tips. The smallest one was for ages 1+ and releases more of a mist. Hope LO is on the mend soon.

Thanks, good to know, will check it out.