As the weather changes and contagious infections ramp up, babies are always vulnerable. Thanks to a mom’s viral Facebook post, parents and caregivers of infants should be on the lookout for signs of respiratory distress this cold and flu season.

When Charlie O’Brien was watching her 4-week-old daughter, Luna, taking a nap, she noticed something was off with the little girl’s breathing. In her post, she said that Luna had been sleeping most of the day and barely cried, which was unusual for her.

So, she undid her sleeper to check on things. O’ Brien wrote:

“I was watching her sleep next to me and realised it didn’t look right. I unbuttoned her babygrow and this is what i saw.

Sucking in at ribs is a sign to get your baby or child to hospital. She had bronchiolitis and her oxygen levels were very low. Luckily after a night on oxygen she made a very good recovery. We’re heading into the dreaded season of nonstop colds coughs and viruses so thought it was worth a mention.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, bronchiolitis is a lung infection that is caused by a viral infection that makes its way to the bronchioles, small airways in the lungs. It causes inflammation, congestion, and difficulty breathing.

As with Luna, one of its symptoms is labored breathing, but it may also cause wheezing and sluggishness. The illness primarily affects babies and young children. Parents are urged to watch out for colds, RSV, and other illnesses and to make sure hands are washed when handling babies.

Below is the video of Luna and the breathing abnormality her mom caught. O’Brien has set up a donation page for Asthma UK, a charity that assists children with the condition. If you would like to donate, you can do so here.

 

Have you seen this video and warning? Were you aware of this breathing symptom? Did you ever have to contend with a severe respiratory infection for your infant?