DD passes out in my arms....and ideas???

Hey everyone. I have a weird situation and I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this with their baby. This has happened 3 times so far....here is what happens...

When I put Brooklynn down for her nap she is fine. After about 10 minutes or so I hear her fussing so I go and check on her and she looks like she is struggling to breath. I pick her up and start patting her on the back. When I look at her she has white stuff (I am assuming that it is formula) coming out of her nose with some mucus. She then goes completely limp in my arms and passes out. I don't know what causes this and it is terrifying. The last time this happened it lasted for 5 minutes of her struggling and when I called her doctor they admitted her into the hospital for a few days to monitor her, but of course nothing happened the whole time we were there. Her doctor diagnosed her with reflux and put her on Zantac for it but after a couple of days we decided that the Zantac was making her worse. She was spitting up more and was really miserable about 15 minutes after she took it. So I guess my question is....has anyone else ever experienced this? Have you had a baby get a stuffed up nose and pass out becasue they are struggling to breath? I am at my wits end and I just want to get some answers. I am not getting any sleep at night because I am constantly checking on DD to make sure she is OK. I don't know what else to do and I am sick of not getting any answers. What happens the next time when she can't catch her breath? Babies this young (she is 8 weeks old) don't realize that they can breath out of their mouths yet. I mean when she passes out does her body's instinct kick in and make her open her mouth to breath? I just don't know. Any advice or ideas on what to do to help her or anything at this point would be appreciated it. I have tried sucking the boogers out with her nasal aspirator but that does not help. They are too far in and I can't get to it. I also have tried saline drops every night, a cool mist humidifier, a warm air humidifier and propping her mattress up so she is at an angle. I even make sure to hold her upright at least 20 minutes after each feeding. I don't know what else to do...........please help.

Thank you so much.

Danielle

[Cheyenne_08]

I really don't have any advice, but I would be bringing this back up with the doctor. A baby struggling to breath can never be a good thing. Good Luck.

[kjbutcher]

I think I read someone else on here had the same situation when they first brought their child home and the doctor told them that she was choking and she should not be picked up.  I could be wrong.  does anyone remember who I am talking about?  You may want to discuss with your doctor if there is a safe way for your baby to sleep on her stomach.  At this point the risks for not breathing due to whatever is going on may out weigh sids risk.  I definately would call your doc and do not accept any bs answers.  Keep looking for doctors until you find one who can help you.  Good Luck!

[Me2mommy2b]

I had something similar happen to us once when DD was a few weeks old (and she wasn't on meds yet for her reflux).  She started crying hysterically and struggling to breathe.  When I picked her up, some mucus was coming out of her mouth and nose.  Needless to say I was scared to no extent.  I attributed it to reflux.  I'd continue bringing it to your dr's attention as it's not normal for her to struggle to breathe and passing out.  What did they say about her previous episodes?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

is it possible for you to elevate one end of her bed so her head is higher than her feet...or have her sleep in a carseat or swing that keeps her elevated...atleast long enough for you to see if it seems to help her?  Are you nursing or formula feeding?  Have you tried thickening the breastmilk or formula with cereal?  I think I read that you were but i'm not sure.  Most times keeping them upright for the 20 minutes isn't always sufficient especially with severe reflux.  All three of my kids had it but my oldest was the worst.  She never passed out but had the episodes of struggling to breath becuase of the formula/mucus coming back up.  They did an upper gi on her.  (she drank barium and they watched via an xray thing while it traveled through her digestive track.  Turns out the flap at the end of her esophagus wasn't fully formed yet and therefore not closing properly...also the sphincter muscle going from her stomach to intestines was spasming which forced the food back up and with the flap not closing properly it was a straight shot to come out.  Don't give up...if this doc doens't answer your questions and make you feel better...find another one.  There's no such thing as being too persistent or pushy when it comes to your child.

[peekawho]

The only advice I can give you is to take her back to the doctor and and let him know immediately that the episode happened again.  

[MelzieWelzie]

I'm so sorry for what you're going through.  Through a local yahoo group  I belong to I heard of a similar situation where they were able to help severe reflux with chiropractic adjustments on the baby.  In their case,  there was a spinal nerve that was being pinched and not able to send the right messages to the brain or stomach or esaphagus.

Also, some other possible alternatives for propping up your baby to reduce reflux are baby hammocks or a bouncy chair.  My son spent the 1st 7 months of his life in a bouncy seat since he had problems with congestion.  He just slept much better propped up.  Here's the site for baby hammocks:  http://www.babyhammocks.com/amby-baby.htm

Keep searching for answers and don't give up.  Do you have a Children's Hospital in your area that you can bring her to some specialists?  I hope you find some answers soon.
Melanie

[cantwait4baby]

Are you sure this is from a stuffed nose?  My dd had 3 episodes first one was on October 9th she was 5 months old and that day has forever changed my life.  She just got done eating and passed out in my boyfriends arms, when we tried to wake her - her eyes rolled.  I immediatly thought seizure and called 911.  She was admitted and just like you they had no idea why?  Then it happened again on November 14th and this time she turned Blue - called 911 they took us to a non children's hospital - they had no pediatrician on call and she snapped out of it. If the emt did not see what happened the doctor would have not even believed me.  Sent me home - This time not a fluke I went on mom patrol and made an appt with a neurologist on my own at CHOP.  The Friday before this appt. November 30th it happened again.  Called 911 threw a fit in St. Christopher's hospital - they take me there it is closer then CHOP.  I literally had to curse, kick and scream to get help.  They told me she was sleeping.  I kicked a chair accross the floor and told the receptionist I would shove her potato chips up her you know what if she did not get me a doctor or an ambulance to take me to CHOP right then.  A doctor came out took my baby and said she needs to be admitted she is not sleeping she is unconsious.  No kidding?  My point here is fight fight fight.  My dd was admitted again and still no answers.  I left there to take her to CHOP - neurology came back normal - she tested on target or advanced for her age in everything.  So whatever was happening was not in her brain.  Then on to Cardiology, nope not that either.  Tomorrow I go to an allergist and on the 28th I go to Pulminary.  THANK GOD this has not happened again since the 30th of November BUT she has been on Zantac since then just in case it is reflux.  To me it sounds like that is what it was.  Make appts and keep taking her dont stop.  Get an angelcare sensor monitor from babies r us to help you at night.  God Forbid she should stop breathing the alarm will go off.  It only costs $99.

Good Luck.

[cantwait4baby]

Also learn CPR.  I did but when she turned blue I ran out of my mothers house screaming for help.  I could not touch my own baby I was too scared.  But I do know it.

[newbie2b]

Hey hun. I'm so so sorry your going through this.  I was there when my dd was born back in May.  My daugter never passed out though.  But she did experience almost the same thing as you describe.  I would put her to sleep (on her sides because she wouldnt on her back) and she would choke on some clear secretions and I would also see it on the sheets in the morning.  It was hell and I dont wish that upon anyone.  I started to let her sleep in her carseat. It seemed to help her breath and not choke during her sleep.  There are no words to describe what we went through other than to tell you that I was desperate for her to be better. One night while sleeping in her car seat, she choked and couldnt catch her breath.  I had to put my finger in her mouth to help her remove all the the acid that had build up.  It was the scariest moment of her life so far. I used an asperator on her and after doing it for a few minutes, she was better.

Thats around the time when she was perscribed the Zantac.  I went through so many changes during that time of her life. No wonder why I lost my baby weight so fast. I was so scared all the time, that I couldnt eat.

Anyway, I couldnt trust myself to fall asleep and here hear if she choked. I was so exhausted that I decided to let her sleep with me. We made a makeshift bed for her and she slept right next to me until she was 6 months old.
The zantac didnt work for her either.  If I were you, I would: Change her formula if you aren't breast feeding (my dd drinks soy), elevate the head of her crib by putting a pillow under the mattress, and I would insist (which I had to do) that I get a referal to a GI specialist. Also, this is helped alot to, once you feed your baby, dont lay them down.  Keep her elevated, head over heart for at least 30 minutes after she eats. This way, the food has a time to digest once you put her down. This worked well for me.

This is a tough time for you, but this will pass and your baby will get better.  Good luck hun and be persistant with these doctors. They think that when your a new mom, you dont know anything (happen to me).
Maybe try that Gentlease by Enfamil.  I've never tried it but maybe it works.

[newbie2b]

I was told by the dr. that adding cereal to her formula would thicken it and therefore, make it more difficult to come up on her.  Maybe try that?

[pertykitty]

i wouldnt add cereal to her formula, could cause her to choke more you dont know why she is passing out.  id go to every dr i could find till i got an answer of some sort.