New Moms & Dads: Sneexing/Noisy Breathing

Babies breathe through their noses more than their mouths. They will often sneeze or sound like they are congested. Unless you are seeing a lot of mucous, you should not do anything. If needed, you can use 2-3 saline drops and the bulb syringe to help loosen mucous. If you are concerned that the baby is having trouble breathing, please see your doctor and have the baby checked.

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Hiccups/Spit Ups/Gas/Colic

These are common problems that are difficult to solve. Sometimes more frequent burping and propping the baby upright after feeds can help. Many babies get relief from using the infant gas drops. If the baby is spitting up large amounts or having long episodes of crying, notify your doctor.

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Bowel Movement/Constipation

The amount that babies can poop can be very variable. Initially, many babies will have a bowel movement with every feeding. Bowel movements are usually a yellow-green, seedy consistency. Over time, many babies only go once per day. Breast-fed babies sometimes only poop once or twice per week. As long as the stools are soft and the babies is not crying each time, this is normal. If the baby is constipated, your doctor can give you suggestions on how to help.

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Swollen Breasts/Vaginal Bleeding

These are a sign of withdrawal from maternal hormones. Breast area in males and females can be swollen and may even show milk discharge. Girls can have mucousy or blood-tinged vaginal discharge. This is normal and will go away on its own.

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Causes For Concern

If a baby gets an infection in the first 8 weeks of life, it can be a medical emergency. Call your doctor if your baby: 1) refuses to feed for more than 6 hours, 2) becomes very irritable or cries inconsolably for several hours, 3) has a fever of 100.6 or greater by rectal thermometer. Again, for any questions, concerns or issues, please call our office at (845)-483-5852 (Poughkeepsie), (845)-896-4505 (Fishkill) and speak to a nurse or doctor as soon as possible.

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