Kirsten came home with a nasty flu bug on Monday and she’s been spreading it around like the Ebola virus. The moment she started sniffling, I tried to keep Finn away from her but she’s fiercely possessive about her little brother.
I told her she wasn’t supposed to kiss him or touch him or breathe near him until she got better, which prompted a complete meltdown.
“I just…*sob* want to…*sob* kiss baby Finn…*more sobbing* because I love him so much,” as she melted into the floor.
“Ok, drama queen. I know you love baby Finn, which is why you can’t go near him because you’ll make him sick.”
“But I…need to sayang him…*sob* promise, just one time only.”
“You can blow him a flying kiss from across the room, sweetheart. Baby Finn misses you too.”
Despite our best efforts to keep him isolated, my 9-day-old has also caught the flu bug. Just as the husband and I came down with it as well. I think it would be an understatement to say that the madness around here has multiplied exponentially.
It’s heartbreaking when newborns fall ill because they’re so small and vulnerable. The poor boy’s nose is all clogged up and he can’t breathe so he spends whatever time he’s not crying making awful grunting and snorting noises. And because he can’t breathe, he struggles at every feed, gasping for air in between gulps of milk.
There isn’t much I can do to make him feel better, except carry him to keep him upright and offer my boobs for comfort. Well, at least the boobs seem to calm him down. He suckles for a few minutes, then falls asleep so I pat him on my shoulder to help him breathe.
Like Lionel Ritchie, all night long.
I feel like I’m going to pass out from exhaustion.
After his feed at like 3-ish last night, he had a particularly bad screaming fit. Every position I tried carrying him in didn’t seem comfortable. 20 minutes in, his face was all red and blotchy from all that yelling. He was grabbing my shirt with one of his tiny fists and he suddenly stopped and opened his eyes to look at me. Then he slowly closed them back and drifted off to sleep. After that, he slept for the next 4 hours. And so did I.
That’s 4 whole hours. 240 minutes. I haven’t slept for 4 hours straight since he was born.
Honestly, best. sleep. ever.
Elaine September 6, 2012 at 11:36 am
That sounds terrible. I hope everyone gets well soon.
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Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Phew, everyone is finally on the road to recovery. Hopefully the haze clears soon as well.
June September 6, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Oh dear, hope you all get well soon, esp the littlest guy. Thank God you had the 4 hours of sleep! Hopefully, another round tonight (minus the crying)…
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Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:46 pm
He’s much better – good thing there’s the breastmilk to help with the antibodies. :)
Ravi Philemon September 6, 2012 at 8:46 pm
I remember those days. Whenever Jewel my daughter (now almost 19) got the flu, Catherine (my wife) could not sleep as well. She would have to rock Jewel on her legs all night long. And at those times, Jewel only wanted the mommy.
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Wow I can’t wait for my kids to turn 19 heh. Catherine must be happy those days are well over..
Adorra September 6, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Hey babe!
Take good care of yourself. Sending lotsa warm thoughts and well wishes coupled with virtual Darrel Lea chocolates from Brissy!
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Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Thanks Adorra! Looks like you’re having fun down under. Haven’t actually tried Darrel Lea chocs but I wouldn’t mind a latte from Melbourne’s Padre right about now.
Eileen September 6, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Daphne
Very sorry to hear that esp to new born Finn. The haze these days aggravate the flu trend I think…. My 2 kids r down w flu too, despite flu vaccine given months ago…. U needs to rest n sleep well during confinement, delegate n get some help if needed… God bless u and yr family
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Yeah I think the haze is making everyone a little fluish. Trying to catch a nap in between feeds, it definitely helps.
Sherlyn September 6, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Oh no, sounds terrible. Hope the whole family gets well soon! Take care!
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Thanks Sherlyn!
Ally September 6, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Hang in there!! How about those nose drops for
Infant? Since he has a blocked nose? It helps to relieve. But one drop per nostril for only 5 days and stop 2 days.
Most newborn babies have some breathing issues the min when they are born. I remember all my 3 kids have breathing sounds as though thu are blocked for 2-3 months. Once they reach that stage, their breathing becomes normal. Perhaps it may not be a case of flu at all. As long as you monitor his temperature, more than 38 degrees Celsius is considered fever. Between 37.5 to 37.9 for babies is quite a norm as usually their body temperature is higher. :) hope that helps you. :)
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Thanks for the info! I tried the drops on Tru when he was just born, it does help a little. Good thing Finn seems to have turned the corner so we’ll just monitor him for now.
Ally September 10, 2012 at 10:31 pm
oh good…hope he will feel better that way.
Sandra September 6, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Hi Daphne,
U can try buying the nasal thingy from pigeon to suck out the mucus. Not the bottle-like one but the one that come with a tube and u can suck it n the mucus will drip into the container.
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Oh man that contraption brings back very bad memories. I once sucked the phlegm so hard it bypassed the container and went straight into my throat. True story. Maybe I’ll make the husband do it.
Anonymous September 6, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Take care daph
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Thanks!!
Annie September 6, 2012 at 11:32 pm
You poor things!
Yeeeeears ago (more like 15), when my son was an infant and he nose was blocked with mucus, we had to take turns to suck it out (literally)! It was like reversed CPR. Instead of blowing air in, you suck it out.. only that IT was icky, gluey, salty mouthful of mucus!! But it provided instant relief to the baby. And precious sleep to us.
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Hahah I think you must be referring to the same contraption as Sandra. Probably every mother has used it at some point. But you’re right, it does help the baby breathe better so whatever works!
Annie September 10, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Not exactly. No contraption. Just the old fashion mouth-to-nose style. Brings back nightmare! LOL
Hooi See September 7, 2012 at 2:46 am
Hi Daphne
Sorry to hear that the whole family is sick even Finn :( Lucas, who is two months old now, also fell sick around 2 weeks which sucks. One thing that I found helps is getting the saline spray sterimar from the paed. It softens the stuffy bits in the nose and helps to clear the nasal passage. You can then suck out the mucus with the pigeon tube thing. I never could suck much out but the spray seems to calm Lucas down.
Hope everybody feels better soon!
Ps: take it easy. Hope you aren’t feeling too overwhelmed. The hormones then to subside 7-10 days causing a slight ppd. So take it easy!!
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Thanks Hooi See!
San September 7, 2012 at 10:39 am
I think with Jay, I only slept 4 hours straight when he turned … 18 months. Hahaa… Oh fun times. Congrats on making the 4-hr-without-a-feed-hurray mark! And I hope u and the kids quickly get better!
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Daphne September 7, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Seriously???!! 18 months is a long time. Tru took 16 weeks to sleep through the night and Kirsten did it in 8 weeks. I’m gunning for a new record with Finn heh.
But honestly, if he can do it in 4 months I’d be happy.
JZ September 7, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Oh, that’s tough. Take care!
Daphne September 7, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Thanks!