Daughter Gasps Sometimes When Laid Down
by Anonymous
My 6 and a half month old daughter is very healthy and active.
She has a problem that has happened a few times and we can not find out what it is. On rare occasions when she is laid down for a diaper change, she will gasp as though she can't breathe well. When picked up she recovers, episode lasting around 20 seconds. She had the first episode at 10 pm when she was about three months old and we took her to the emergency room. They tested her oxygen level and said it was near perfect.
The second time it happened was at 6 pm at about 5 and a half months old but she was only making the noise and was able to breath through the whole episode.
And this last time she had an episode at 10 pm that lasted over a minute and really had more trouble breathing, turned red in the face, and was in pain.
We are worried and can't find a doctor who will provide much help, especially since she seems fine after they occur, and the doctors can only go by our description.
Baby Help Line Response:
Hi Mom!
How frustrating to not being able to find out what is wrong. And since I am not a doctor, nor am I lucky enough to meet your darling daughter, I might not be able to help you much either.
One thing comes to my mind though. Have you considered at all if her gasping may be due to some mild form of acid reflux (or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) as it is really called)? As you may know, acid reflux in various degrees is very common among infants and some of the symptoms are a lot of spitting up, poor sleep, poor weight gain, episodes with trouble breathing, arching back when feeding, frequent hiccups and more.
Babies that have acid reflux have a condition which allows food and stomach acid flow back up (reflux) into the esophagus. When the food is flowing up into the mouth, the baby can have trouble breathing, may choke, it may be painful etc.
Since the gasping and trouble breathing comes when you lay your daughter down, and then it goes away when you pick her up, it does sound to me as if it could have to do with stomach content disturbing her.
Do you see any connection between feeding her and the problems occurring? If this makes any sense, contact a paediatrician to discuss acid reflux as a possible cause.
It might be good for you to know that most babies outgrow the condition at around 12 months old.
Hope this helps and good luck! And please let me know about your progress!
/Paula
The information provided on this site is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any medical condition or treatment. Nothing contained on this site is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.
