Information on Tracheomalacia?

It is tracheomalacia. This might be why you can't find any info. I work in a NICU, and we often see it. It is why our baby barks when he cries sometimes. the trachea is lined with cartilage rings. Cartilage like what makes up your babies ears. If this cartilage isn't strong enough, it easily collapses under stress. Like when your baby cries. It usually gets worse before it gets better, which is why you are seeing it now. If it gets too bad, your baby might need a trache, but that would be very rare! They will follow your baby, may do a sleep study to make sure his airway isn't causing him problems as he sleeps, eats, etc., until his airway gets stronger. Be sure to call your baby's doctor if he is having problems breathing, if he is making a sound everytime he breathes, or if you have any other concerns. I am curious how they diagnosed the tracheomalacia? did they do a bronchoscopy? If not, when you see the pulmonologist, there is a chance the doc will want this test done. It is very simple, they look at your child's trachea by taking a special camera down through the mouth into your baby's trachea so they can look at it. it's very simple and quick, doesn't require any anesthesia.
Good luck, feel free to ask me anymore questions. I hope all goes well. Remember, your baby will outgrow this over time. You are in the worst of it right now.

The baby of a former coworker had this. She had to feed him while he was sitting up and have him remain sitting up or standing for an hour afterwards. Food needs to be soft or cut up in small pieces and chewed up as well as you can get him to when he gets teeth. The term "little bites" will be your mantra. Her child got much better as he got older. You probably know this already but that is all I have.

Hi M., I'm an occupational therapist and treated a little one with this diagnosis. I think the severity varies from child to child. My little one just had some feeding issues. We were working on eating/breathing patterns...but he outgrew it pretty fast. As he aged...even just a couple months things improved! Hopefully this is encouraging.

My son was diagnosed with this as well, when he was about 4 months old. When I got very frustrated with the lack of answers that would help him breath better, I sought other options. Yes, tracheomalacia is merely a soft and flexible breathing tunnel (trachea), which can almost close in a child that has this. But, I think that it is overdiagnosed. I took my son to my Chiropractor (who has helped me with asthma since I was 8 years old). He figured out that my son is allergic to lactose (not just lactose intolerant). After finding the right food, and chiropractic adjustment, my son was (and is still) completely well. I was so glad that I didn't put him through all of the tests and treatments and medicines that the pediatrician was recommending, for a condition that he didn't even have. Just remember that you are the mother, you are not a prisoner to your pediatrician. You have the right to seek other opinions and answers. I know that it is so heartbraking to see them suffer from breathing problems. Pray.

Hi M.,

I don't know a lot about it, but try searching under 'tracheomalacia' - you should get some information that way. Good luck!

A.

My daughter was born with trachia malaysia. She was taken to the NICU because she was working harder at her breathing than normal. She is now 4 months old. Her doctor also told us that she would out grow it as she got older. She even went to see an ENT specialist and they are the ones that found it. Basically it means that the trachea is not developed all the way. Her breathing was very loud when we first brought her home. Now you can tell she is getting better. Even her doctor said so. It is a scary thing to hear but things do get better.

M. R