My little 9 month old has started something strange lately. Throughout the day we hear her make these noises like she can't catch her breath and she is gasping for air (like she sucks air into her throat??). But she looks just fine and isn't stuggling to breathe or anything. Once this past week she did this for about 30 seconds--that did scare my dh and I, but usually it is just once or twice at a time. We have noticed that she does this when she is having a dirty diaper, but at other times also. My sister and grandma have asmtha and I didn't know how much it runs in families. Any ideas? We go in for her 9 month checkup next week, so I will ask then, but I was just wondering in the meantime. She is always sick with one thing or another--I love her ped. but I bet he is tired of me asking him all these questions! Thanks--I have only been posting for about a month now, but everyone has already been so helpful.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 02:51 pm:

Definitely talk with your ped. Does she cough or wheeze? My DS has asthma. It's hard to tell based on what you've described, but most likely she is grunting and experimenting with sounds and breathing, etc.. More information on kids and asthma at these sites:

AsthmaTrack.org

KeepKidsHealthy.com/Asthma

By Babysitbarb on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 02:53 pm:

It could be asthma but, it could just be a noise she's discovered she can make. I babyset for a 9 month old and a 11 month old and Iv heard them do this and at first it concerns me then I relaize it's just a noise they are making. My DD and I have asthma and take medicine for it. We both take advair also. We both just seemed to always(before meds) have a cough or feel like we couldn't catch our breath after a walk or run.

By Colette on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 03:07 pm:

my kids used to make that kind of noise. Scared the life out of me the first time I heard it. Check w/your ped at your next visit and don't worry about asking him to many questions, I am sure all new mothers do.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 05:02 pm:

Listen to her chest. With asthma even a layperson can often hear a chest wheeze. But definitely, ask the pediatrician - asthma is often allergy related.

By Emdee on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 08:06 pm:

Thanks everyone! I think I am just paranoid and worrying over every little thing.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 09:20 pm:

No, you're not paranoid - you're a mom. It goes with the territory. I used to say "this too shall pass", but that was before an ER visit with my 36 year old live-in son last week, and yet another tonight. (No biggy - he had what felt like something hard in a vein where he had an IV for a long time in the ER last week - turned out to be a "tertiary thrombosis", or phlebitis, which is an inflamed vein from irritation. Treatment is aspirin for blood thinner and moist heat.)

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 09:26 pm:

Oh, and Emdee - all mothers who care about their children ask lots of questions when they are in the pediatrician's office. That also goes with the territory. If your ped appears to take your questions seriously and answers them, s/he is not tired of them. S/He knows it goes with the territory. If s/he doesn't want to deal with anxious mothers asking questions, s/he should not be a pediatrician.

By Mommyathome on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 10:59 pm:

Emdee, my middle DD did something VERY similar to that every time she was poopy. It lasted until she was just over a year old. That's how we could tell she was poopy when we were driving in the car. She would make that noise.
Of course you'll want to mention it to your ped. at your visit next week. Usually asthma comes with coughing and wheezing. My DH has asthma, and when my oldest DD was little they said she had a little bit in her left lung. She is fine now though....hopefully it stays that way!
Anyway, I thought my middle DD was the only one out there that made that noise...good to see she wasn't alone.