The RSV Blues

It is every mothers worst fear, when your baby is sick. We all think that our baby can defend against any colds but I learned that it is inevitable.

I Thought it was Just Teething...

My girls began teething at four months. They have experienced most of symptoms of excessive drooling, itchy gums, placing their fingers or my fingers in their mouths and becoming fussy. When I noticed the girls were drooling mucus, I just assumed that it was because of the teething. Instantly they began to cough for two days and as I researched about the coughing, the information stated that it was because of teething. However, as the days went on the coughing and the mucus drool became worst.

It's Time To Go To the ER...

My fiance came home from work and released me from my motherly duty so that I could go outside and run some errands. On my way back, he called me in a panic. "Milani is choking on all this spit, she will not stop!" I was already aware. Every time Milani took a sip of formula, she would immediately began to choke for at least 10 minutes and then proceed to scream because of the pain. Mya was starting to become the same way. When I got home, I placed the girls in front of the humidifier and began to suck some of the mucus out of their nose. Those with babies know, they hate the nose suction like the hate to be denied food. For a moment it seemed to be working until I looked over at Mya who was slumped down in her car seat. She appeared to be lethargic and I decided it's time to take their temperature.

I took the temperature every hour throughout the day along with Tylenol because their temperature would seem to start to rise. As I stuck the thermometer rectally, Mya's temperature was rising every second. It went from 98 to 99 to 100 to 101 to 102 in a blink of an eye. I looked over to my fiance and said, "it is time to go to the ER." I called my mother to let her know and she said that she would meet us over there. We got the girls ready, hopped in the car and drove to the hospital where they were born. I was praying I would never see this place again.

There Isn't a Treatment for RSV...

Word of advice, if possible, try to take your baby to the hospital where they were born because their information is already in the hospital's system and that means less paper work to fill out. We were placed in a room and watching my girls be defeated against this cold, broke my heart. Mya had a fever and Milani could not eat. I just wanted answers. We were in the hospital since 9pm and at 4am  after the chest x-rays, the abuterol treatment (helps open the lung passage ways and helps with wheezing) and mucus culture, the doctor finally comes in and tells me the news. My daughters have bronchitis, which was caused by RSV. Bronchitis is when the air sacs in the lungs are filled and are close shut.
What is RSV?

RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a leading cause of bronchitis. It is a very common virus and everyone has had it at least once before the age of three in the U.S. RSV virus is spread through close contact with infected people or through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. In adults and older children, the symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus are similar to the common cold. However, the RSV virus can sometimes be severe, especially in premature babies.Symptoms include:

• Cough
• Stuffy Nose
• Mucus
• Yellow or Green Mucus
• Fever

Because RSV is a virus, there isn't any medicine that can make it go away. Unfortunately, it goes away on its own. However, there are certain things that you can do to help your baby feel more comfortable.

• Place them in front of the humidifier so the moisture can open their passage ways.
• The doctor may prescribe a nebulizer and abuterol to help open the passage ways as well. This does not help with getting rid of the cough but the moisture helps the mucus run down the nose.
• Saline. Saline breaks up the mucus.
• Suction. Use the nose aspirator daily. I use it every time for a feeding or when the girls and are just relaxing. I recommend the Nose Frida, it is amazing.
• Wash your hands and disinfect daily

How are the Girls now?

I'm please to say that the girls are doing much better. They are eating and coming back to their normal selves. The cough will last for another week or so but it is breaking down.