aspirating

massnk

I am now worried that my lo is aspirating some of his milk.  He sometimes will cough, hesitate to breathe for a few seconds, and then cry.  They never seemed 2 worried in the nicu and his ped didnt seem 2 worried either. Anyone know anything about this?

rhabel

Are you breastfeeding or bottlefeeding? My LO will sometimes cough when she feeds with a bottle and at first, she would stop breathing for a bit and we'd have to pat her back to stimulate her breathing.  Only a few times did we have to flick her foot to get her breathing again.  If the NICU and your pediatrician aren't worried, I'd say you're fine. 

Mbitner

Hi!  I am lurking from another board...so I hope you dont mind me commented on your post.  My LO has special needs (though not a premie- born at 37 weeks) and sometimes has similair issues to some of the premies on the board...thats why I lurk and occasionally post here.

From a few weeks old I thought my LO was aspirating when I was feeding him (he had feeding issued from the beginning and couldnt breast-feed....so we started him on the haberman special needs feeder bottle.)  I brought up my concerns at every pedi visit.  They continued to dismiss my concerns. Finally at 2 months of age the doctor finally sent us to the Childrens hospital.  He was admitted for a week- we did find out he was aspirating.  If you think your LO might be aspirating it wouldnt hurt to ask for a swallow study.  His symptoms were choking coughing, apnea with feeds, coughing up blood, and gurgling noise when drinking. GL!  

 

mrsmikey

I would also ask for a swallow study.  DS was constantly sick until he was almost a year old because this went undiagnosed.  Now we thicken his liquids (yes, still) and he has been so much healthier.