Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

As a mom the first time my baby came down with croup I thought I was going to go insane. It was 3 am the baby was showing all the symptoms of croup including a low grade fever, a barking like cough and stridor which sounds like wheezing when the baby breaths in. My pediatrician was taking too long to return my call and I was ready to jump in the car to head to the emergency room.

By 3:30 am I was bundling my 6 month old who was barking like a seal in warm blankets and rushing to the hospital. The moment we walked outside she took a deep breath in the cold air and the barking like cough stopped. I went back in the house, called my pediatrician again and asked “what just happened”.

That night I learned that croup is a viral repertory infection that starts with a cold, cough and a low grade fever. The symptoms of a barking cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, stridor and respiratory distress usually develop over 2-3 days and are often times worse at night.

My pediatrician informed me that the cold air helps relax the child’s trachea and larynx allowing for air to flow more easily. She also told me that barring symptoms such as a fever above 102º F, struggling to breath or unable to speak due to lack of breath or cyanosis which is a bluish color to the skin, lips or finger nails, croup can usually be treated at home.

To treat croup at home breathing moist air from a steaming shower, steamed water or a cool mist humidifier will ease symptoms in most cases. Sitting or sleeping upright can also help. If the weather is cold you can wrap your child in warm clothing and take them outside. The cool air relaxes the breathing passages.

I found that on cold nights positioning a chair in front of a cracked window and wrapping the baby up warm allowed me sit in the chair and hold the baby upright while she slept and I rested.