RSV Or Something Else?

It could be something as an allergy to something in the formula. Instead of adding cereal or medication, try switching to a soy formula and see if that helps. If you are taking her to a family practicioner I would try a pediatrician. A lot of times I think doctors over complicate things, when some common sense and good instincts will work just as well if not better.

My daughter has acid reflux (and asthma) she started the coughing and weird noises with her breathing around 6 months so a little bit older than your daughter. She wasn't diagnosed with reflux until she was a little older (10 months) but I had been asking about it since she was 5 months and constantly spitting up. One doctor I took her to when we were on vacation reccomended Zantac but when I called her regular ped. she sent a prescription for Previcid instead. She said that Previcid (sp?) works much much better in the little ones. It might be that Zantac didn't agree with your daughter and she needs something else. I would talk to your doc about previcid. My daughters doctor wrote a scprit for both because she said that previcid can get reallly expensive even with insurance. However there is now a generic that my daughter is on and with our insurance it's only $7!

Good luck Mama! Don't stop asking questions until you are satisfied with the answers. You have to do everything you can to make sure that your little one has everything she needs. If you have any specific questions about what we did and what I had gone through with my little one.

What are you feeding your child? (The big hint is that you said that the problem starts when you feed her in the morning.) Do you have a naturopath in your area? Or a homeopath, or another practitioner who might offer a more natural approach? I am fairly certain that there is little if any research on the effect of pharmaceuticals on infants, and unlikely to be any research about long-term effects on development. I'm frankly shocked (and I don't think that I am easily shocked) that a four-month-old would be prescribed Zantac. I urge you give your child's diet serious consideration now, given that it might be related to the problem. I am sure your pediatrician is providing the best care possible. I also know there are always options that may not be familiar to a practitoner. Did any symptoms start after vaccinations? The National Vaccine Information Center lists eight questions to ask before you immunize.

If you are noticing that she is only doing it after feeding, it could be that she is inhaling some of it. I would discuss this with the doctor. I have heard of so many babies being diagnosed with reflux, it seems ridiculous. It's true sometimes, but I think it's often given because they aren't testing to find something else. 4- 5 months is old enough for a tablespoon or so of rice cereal, but not in a bottle. I'm amazed people still recommend it. It can clog the nipple and cause the baby to not drink enough. If you are going to start rice cereal, just mix a tablespoon or two into some formula so it's thin and give it to her with a baby spoon. No more then that until about 5-6 months depending on your baby's appetite. And only once a day since she still does need mostly a bottle. Keep in mind she will spit it right back out for awhile, until she learns not to try to suck it like a bottle. If she is inhaling some of her bottle, it may need to be thicker to help prevent that until she learns to drink properly. If that's the case, the pediatrician can give you what you need to do that.

I think it's odd that he'd prescribe Zantac if there was no spitting up. It could be extra mucus or congestion from allergies (I know she's young). If it were me, I'd NOT do the rice cereal (until at least 6 mos is the recommendation Iv'e heard). I would also try to use lots of saline drops - just put them in her nose a few times a day - am and before naps and night time. This will help thin out the mucus in her system and if she is swallowing it, make that easier to do w/o causing congestion. You may try another Dr. too. Good luck.

Hi E.,

I'm on the same page with Lynn. Everything she said PLUS....this may be a little to do with seasonal allergies. I'm sure, in Florida, everything started blooming a couple of weeks ago. You can stop seasonal allergies by building her immune system. If you'd like to take that route, get back to me.

I don't recommend Zantac even if there are symptoms. Glad you took her off of it. All meds do a number on the immune system and if it's not life threatening, I see no need to put the chemical in a little body that can't fight it off...ginger will be an option when shes a few months older (8 months-12 months).

God bless,

M.

Did your doctor test your daughter for rsv? It is jsut a nasal swab and only takes like 5-10 minutes to get the results back. My daughter had RSV at 6 months (hers was severe and we spent a few days at the hospital). My daughter also has acid reflux and what you are describing does not sound like either sounds like she may just have some minor allegies. If it were reflux you would have noticed some improvement within an week (my daughter now almost 9 months was taking zantac 2 times a day until a few weeks ago) with the zantac. I would take her back in if they didnt actually test her for RSV and if they did talk to your pediatrician about possibly giving her a low dose of childrens claritin. My 19 month old son takes it every day and has since he was about 3 months old it makes a huge difference.

My first question would be "did the doctor do the test for RSV?", the test is kind of costly and not all doctors offices stock it, but some doctors diagnose without the test. Unless you know your baby was exposed, the test is needed for an accurate diagnosis.

Lots of doctors are diagnosing reflux without testing also. If you aren't sure about the reflux request a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist.

You are correct not puting cereal in your baby's bottle at such a young age.

I would find a new doctor.

Look up NAET.com and find a practitioner in your area. She probably has food allergies like so many kids. It is most likely milk or soy. Allergies are blockages in energy that create millions of symptoms and what you are seeing are symptoms. DOn't cover them up with toxic medications that will change her brain chemistry and set her down the wrong path. This is easily fixed. Do not give more foods!

Why aren't you doing as your doctor recommends?