Friday, January 29, 2010

Advice for the Weary?!

I'm going to try to make this short because I think Abigail is awake (but shouldn't be!).

She has yet another cold. I'm so thankful that it's relatively mild and her colds don't usually turn into more serious things like infections, etc.

However, all of her most recent colds result in the nastiest constant cough! It will be the end of me (I'm exaggerating, of course).

At 1:30 am, I got up to feed the baby. At 2 am, I was still awake and heard Abigail coughing over the monitor. I got up to help her. Here are the rememdies I tried:

- Vicks on the feet. This helps some but doesn't stop the cough.
- Homeopathic cough medicine (because you can't give the real stuff). I normally wouldn't be tempted to give her drugs but the poor thing can't sleep.
- Humidifier in her room. Because of her frequent colds, I almost always have one running.
- Honey. This does help soothe her throat at first but doesn't stop the coughing after a few minutes.
- Drink in bed. I let her keep a sippy cup of water in bed. It was gone when I went down at 2 am so I got her more.

I'm not going to turn on the lights and put her in the steamy shower at night. She's too young to lean over a bowl of steam. Eucalytus oil is good but it is so strong and I'm not sure how to use it at night with her.

She was up then from 2 am (her cough was better but not gone) until 3:30 am and I heard her the entire time. She was coughing and talking. Then I got up with Elsie at 5 am and heard Abigail coughing between 5:30 am and 6:30 am.

So, if you have even the slightest suggestion for me, as to how to calm Abigail's almost contast coughing, I'm all ears! I will try about anything.

Yes, she's up and she really should be sleeping after a night like that and after a 45 minute nap yesterday yet I hear the poor thing hacking away.

Her daddy has no idea that Abigail will be his responsibility at night for the next two nights (yeah weekend!!!!!). I have got to get some sleep!

6 comments:

Susan said...

THe cough you are describing sounds like croup. Is there a homeopathic remedy for that? We did the steamy shower a couple of times when Andrew had it, but that was so long ago.

Unknown said...

No, it's not croup (as far as my limited medical diagnosis goes). She is productive with her cough and it isn't barking, just persistent. I've heard croup before and this isn't it. It is slightly better today (not so constant). She gets this same cough with every. single. cold. I just need to figure out the best way to soothe the night time cough. Perhaps we're doing all we can.

P.S. There is a homeopathic remedy for croup. I've tried using it before with this "cold inspired" cough and it has had no effect. Dr. Fabrey said it wouldn't work unless it was truly croup.

Unknown said...

I also hate the feeling that she picks up every single virus she comes in contact with. I can't hibernate all winter but it's tempting to just do it for a month to stay well!

Jennifer said...

I'm not sure if they still have them, but Vicks used to have a nightlight that had an insert w/ Vicks on it--when it's plugged in, the heat from the light makes the Vicks vaporize (these are all my technical terms! ha). I used them when Anna was litte and they helped a lot when she was stuffed up & coughing with a cold. It really got "fragrant" at night when I kept her door shut.

Amanda @ My everyday said...

Vicks humidifier, then vicks baby rub on the chest and bottoms of the feet. Then put socks on her feet. Mine wake up and the cough is gone! We dunno if it was coincidence or not.

Unknown said...

We just bought the Vicks humidifier but I forgot to get the Vapo Steam stuff. I will look for that. Her cold seems a bit better today so hopefully she won't cough much tonight. Andrew is on duty anyway! :)