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I've read a thousand times to squirt BM into bubs eye if it gets gooey. Juliette has one eye that's a bit yucky so I put some BM on it (can't squirt but I rub some on). How long should it take to clear up & how often should I do it? Just wondered when i should start thinking about getting the Dr to check her.
Sarah,
I did this with Charlie's eye and also my XH's eye a long time ago and doing it every single time I BFed, it took about 3 days to clear. If you can't squirt it in, squeeze it onto a clean spoon and try to 'flood' the eye with it, then wipe away with a clean cloth.
Cool thanks Sush :)
Alex's gooey eye didn't clear up until he was about four weeks old.
As well as the breastmilk you could try massaging near the tear duct.
Use the tip of your pinky and massage between the eye and the nose (DYKWIM?) for about thirty seconds. I tried the BM for ages and it didn't work, (would clear up for a day but come back) but the HN massaged the tear duct and it worked a treat.
ETA: Didn't see Sushee's post before i posted. :)
So this is a normal thing for some babies? It's not conjunctivitis (sp?)? Zander didn't have tears until he was around 2 years old and even now doesn't have much, so this is all new having a tiny baby with tears & stuff happening with her eyes!
It's very common, Sarah. 3 of my four kids had it. And Ash's idea is a great one too, and something that was suggested to me by my MCHN.
Jack had it the other week and i went to the docs and got drops but then one of my baby buddies told me to use BM (its good for so many things!!) so i did and it cleared in a few days, but is eye has become gooey again today so before every feed i will clean his eye with a clean cloth and cooled boiled water then before i feed him squirt some in, we usually end up with a mess so might try the spoon!!
ETA yeah the doctor told me to massage the eye like Ash said!
Yup, perfectly normal! :D
It does come and go until their tear ducts start working properly. The BM is a great sterile 'wash' for the eyes, and readily available too. It's not conjunctivitis, but BM is good for conjunctivitis too. :)
Thanks everyone :) I'll try the massage as well as the BM.
DS had the same thing. I tried BM, massaging the duct, cold wet teabags (MCH nurse suggested this one!) and even prescribed eye-drops. Nothing worked, and the gunky eye didn't go away til DS was about 1. It didn't bother him and it's apparently quite common and normal. Hope your baby's doesn't last long!
All of mine had a blocked tear duct. Angus had both and at one stage it was a bit icky.
The massage is supposed to help and I did it frequently but I'm not sure if it was that or that they cleared naturally once they were about a month or so old. I'd use a BM soaked cotton ball to wipe over the eye to un-goop it a few times a day.