For a while now, I've noticed that Harrison gets "mucusy" when he is having bad bouts of gas. When he is straining and grunting, his breathing gets wet sounding, as if he is sick or breathing through mucus. It has nagged at me, but when he finally calms down, his breathing gets clear again and returns to normal - so I guess I never got too worried about it.
But, just a few minutes ago, I laid him down for a nap when he started to grunt and fuss. I couldn't directly see him, but I heard his breathing get REALLY wet/mucusy sounding, so I went over to find a slimy mix of saliva and spit up coming out of his mouth AND nose. He was really struggling to breath through it and it absolutely scared me. I got him upright against my shoulder, a bit more slimy saliva drained out, and then he was fine. Now he is napping comfortably.
WTF was that? I left a message for the pediatrician, because now I am terrified something like that will happen overnight and I won't wake up. But now I am really wondering if his gas isn't actually silent reflux? He isn't a spitter (he spits up maybe once every other day?), but something is clearly backing up into his throat, right?
Re: So does this sound like silent reflux?
Sounds very much like the silent reflux that DS2 has.....and yes, it is extremely scary.
I would go out right now and buy the Rock N Play! It was a lifesaver for us.
DS2 was never a "spitter" either and that is the difference. A silent refluxer has stuff backed up, but doesn't bring it up, hence, they don't spit. Instead they cough it back down or choke.
Oh, we have a rock n' play!!! We've had it for two weeks now, and I credit it with the good stretches of sleep we are able to get!
Because we're fancy like that.
Well, the pedi called and said everything I was describing sounded like normal newborn gassy behavior. Mind you, a very gassy newborn, but nothing abnormal and she said it didn't sound like reflux (no troubles eating, gaining weight just fine, etc.). I still don't know, but I'm willing to wait it out a bit more. But that kid will keep sleeping right next to my head, that's for sure.
I'm also trying to go dairy-free and chocolate-free for a week to see if that helps. and maybe give up tomato sauce/large quantities of tomatoes. We'll see. Ugh.
Because we're fancy like that.
Yup! Reflux shows up in so many werid ways.. Jake would strain, grunt and then cry and spit up... He was so miserable.. I would def keep H at an incline after eating and maybe sleeping.. We had J mattress proped up w books for like 6 mnths..but it really helped.
I will be interested to see what your pedi says!
Interesting. Both Anna and Harrison were fast deliveries, but Harrison spent even less time actually in the birth canal... I pushed for a very very short period of time with him. I will pull out my suction supplies. Thanks for the insight and idea!
Because we're fancy like that.