Once again, I am so grateful to even more of you who responded to my concern
(let's face it, "alarm" would be more accurate) about the 7 week old with
difficult breathing.  Although it is Saturday I managed to get hold of the
baby's paediatrician on the phone to let him know what I saw during baby's
attempts to breastfeed (3 - 4 sucks followed by 3 - 4 noisy gasps for air)
and her floppiness afterwards.  I also told him that mom says she goes blue
during crying.  The diagnosis is laryngomalacia, as some of you thought, and
the paed confirmed that baby's heart sounds normal and looked normal on
Xray.  However, I was so relieved when he gently explained to me that
"sometimes when there is one abnormality there can be another", decided
there and then that an ECHO would be a good idea, and said he would contact
the mother again and arrange to have this done.  Whew!

I also expressed concerns about the worsening rate of weight gain and said I
was sure that mom's milk supply was NOT the problem so that I had
recommended supplementing with EBM rather than the S ---- c, as suggested by
the locum paed. He said, "Yes, I wasn't really happy with that ...." and
agreed!  He also thought more frequent breastfeeds would be easier for the
baby than attempting to use a bottle, and that holding baby upright would
help her breathing.

So we're on track!  I will update you.  Meanwhile, your response has been
absolutely FANTASTIC.  It was so helpful to have all your thoughts and
ideas, and so quickly, before I made this call, and to know that my concerns
were valid!  THANK YOU!!

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe
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