Need suggestions for increasing fluid
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35368
Printed Date: 26 August 2025 at 3:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Need suggestions for increasing fluid
Posted By: happymumma
Subject: Need suggestions for increasing fluid
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 3:40pm
|
My daughter has bronchiolitis and has decided that oral intake (apart from a small amount of fruit puree and yoghurt) is not a happening thing. To stay out of hospital she needs to have 800 mls of fluid over a 24 hour period. So far today we are on hour 15 and she has had 340 mls of fluid plus about 80grams of puree. She actually hasn't had any fluid since 12pm when she had 40mls. Prior to that the last lot was at 5.30am this morning. So I need suggestions please. So far I have tried: - a variety of drinking vessels, syringe and teaspoon - formula, water and Enerlyte (which she likes) Oh, also, she is refusing to sleep as part of the bigger picture. She woke at about 9am this morning and has only just gone down again. So we have a big cycle of exhausted and hungry baby going on for the last five days. Although she is taking a bit of fluid through food there is no way I'm going to be able to get 400mls in that way over the next 9 hours. Plus I'm shattered so am going to need to sleep somewhere in there to. Any suggestions would be very, very gratefully received.
|
Replies:
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 3:48pm
|
800mls sounds like heaps - I thought the average intake was slightly lower than that, even for a baby her age, but I could be wrong. Is she showing other signs of dehydration? Have they not giving you any flexibility on her fluid intake?
As for other ideas, what about iceblocks / cubes to suck on? Good luck, and I'm sorry to hear you're having a hard time of it. ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 3:57pm
|
Her intake is normally up to 1200mls per day with three meals of solids as well (I know....she is a heffalump!). Reduced wet nappies now plus diarrhoea for the last three days (as part of the bronch) but other than that I think she's ok so far. They aim for two third of normal fluid intake (at least that was what they went on last night). The ice cube idea was the only other thing I could think of too. When she wakes up I'll give that a go if she's still refusing the bottle. Fingers crossed! |
Posted By: NewPhoenix
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 5:27pm
|
. ------------- |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 6:30pm
|
When Nat went on a nursing strike for 4 days, and wasn't taking any other liquids (due to a virus, we think) and no wet nappies for 8 hours, it was either force fluids into her, or start more invasive procedures (we were in hospital by this stage)...... so it came down to one of us holding her firmly, and the other one syringing pedialyte into her (about 20mL at a time, every half an hour or so) . Not very nice and she wasn't very happy about it, but it did get her fluid intake up until she was happy enough to start feeding again... and it avoided us having to stay in hospital too. Is there someone you can get to help you? Especially as you're going to need some sleep too.
We were reassured that babies won't starve themselves, but when they're feeling so awful, it's hard to rely on that! -------------  
|
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 7:33pm
|
You did well Blondy! We ended up with tube feeding last time for about four days but I suppose she needed oxygen at that stage too so I'm not sure whether they would have let me syringe. It looks like she may have turned a corner. Someone pointed out to me that all the tiny feeds can sometimes confuse and irritate them as you are constantly bothering them by trying to get them to take something - so I just popped her in her cot and let her grizzle until she was tired enough - and she has just had 260mls for the first time in four days - and gone straight to sleep also for the first time in four days. If she manages a late dream feed then we are out of trouble for today at least. So thank you for all the suggestions. I'm sure I will need them again at some point in the future so they are filed away for future reference! |
Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 21 August 2010 at 9:43pm
|
G was in and out of hospital last winter (17 bouts of bronchiolitis over 8 months all up) - the only thing I found that works is suctioning her nose right before each feed. If you are in hospital they can stick a tube thing up the nose and suction it (horrible but very effective), if you are at home you can get a home suction thing which is like a tube with a bulb on the end of it. It usually means you have to get someone to hold the child down and involves screaming but I found I could get at least half of a normal bottle in her like that. I also had limited success topping her up with the syringe after that. I would suction, let her drink then try and get another 20 - 50 mls in via 10ml syringe. It was a long drawn out process but it was worth it. Gabrielle gagged and had bronchial spasms every time they gave her a feeding tube which was much worse than the temporary crying/screaming of suctioning.
Sleep I can't help with. Gabrielle was terrible when she was sick, I often paced the floor with her for hours at a time while she was screaming. Anyway, sounds like your little one is getting better so hope things get back to normal for you soon. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|