We debated briefly about taking her to the hospital, but decided that if we changed her sleeping position and it got better, then we'd wait it out. She did seem to improve when we put her in her car seat to sleep, although it still took a bit for her to get settled. This morning, I brought Reagan into the bathroom while I took a shower and then left her in there for a bit longer while I got dressed since she was sleeping the whole time. This really seemed to help as well. I left her in her car seat for this also, and pulled the rain visor forward so that the steam would get trapped around her instead of dissipating.
She has an appointment with the pediatrician on Tuesday for her next weight check. The good news is that she as already increased her volume of formula... this happened almost instantaneously on the Nutramigen, even with a cold!!
Yesterday, in a 12 hour period
She always eats more in the earlier part of the day than the later part, but she still finished yesterday with 675 mL of formula, or 22.5 oz... her best day in a LONG time!!! Let's hope she continues along that path, and yesterday wasn't just a fluke.
Several of Reagan's doctors have told us that we need to be very careful this winter to watch Reagan for any signs of infection. As I said yesterday, babies with severe reflux already have a lot of congestion. Since their sinus regions are irritated on a somewhat regular basis, this makes catching colds and viruses easier for them.
I've been doing a ton of research-based reading on RSV, Bronchiolitis, Pneumonia, and the Flu in small infants. I feel like the best thing I can do for Reagan is to stay informed and to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible so that I know what to look for this winter and how to help her. Some people may feel that reading in excess can increase worry, but for me, it definitely is calming. The more I know, the better I feel about what I can do to help her.
For example (you're welcome!), did you know that having air purifiers in all levels of the home is the first and easiest thing you can do? Dusting all surfaces, vacuuming upholstered furniture and carpeted areas, and cleaning tile and hardwood are also easy, and reduce the number of allergens and airborne pathogens in the home. Even though it sounds crazy, try to pick a time when you and the family are going out for awhile, and spray the air with Lysol spray. Believe it or not, keeping your refrigerator and freezer and sink areas free of bacteria also help reduce the number of infections you and your children can get. One thing I didn't think of was the fact that people can get Legionnaire's disease from air conditioners and venting systems in the home. If you don't clean your vents or a/c units regularly, you may want to think about doing it yourself or having a handyman come out and do it for you. It will usually take under an hour, so for their hourly rate (usually between $30-60), you can be sure that the air you are breathing is clean! Cleaning a venting system takes a little more work, and I haven't researched much into the prices for that as we do not have vents in our home (radiant heat and window/wall AC units). This is definitely on my list of things to do.
Of course, hand-washing, sneezing into your elbow instead of your hands, throwing away all dirty tissues, washing bedsheets and towels in hot water... all goes without saying. If you're interested in reading more, here are some of the lighter sources I found most helpful:
Bronchiolitis in Infants (yes, Bronchiolitis is different from Bronchitis. Bronchiolitis affects the smaller airways of the lung, while Bronchitis affects the larger airways)
No comments:
Post a Comment