Newborn baby reflex checks...any midwife do the gagging reflex??

[CarrieLouise25]

Just had 6-8 week check with GP. She did all the usual tests, hips, testes, heart etc

But she didn't do something that the midwife did for the first tests. Put a wooden (lolly stick type thing) down the back of his throat and made him gag/choke.

At the time I thought . It was v unpleasant, and lets just say, she wasn't the gentle type. My other 2 DC's didn't have this.

I asked the GP if she would be doing that one again as we'd like to decline it. She said she'd never heard of it. And it's not in the notes in the red book.

So, did anyone else have this same test done? I've googled it, and can't find anything

Just wondering what the purpose was, that's all.

Thanks x

[Musicaltheatremum]

I'm GP and hve never heard of this

[CarrieLouise25]

Thanks musical; I wonder what happened then?!

[Shirkingfromhome]

My ds2 is two weeks old and our midwife didn't do this either. How odd

[WellErrr]

I've never heard of or seen this.

[CarrieLouise25]

Mmmm. Think I might phone up and find out exactly why she did that then. Very odd.

Thanks for your replies x

[hedwig2001]

At the first check, staff need to check that the palate is normal. We used to look and feel. The latest research showed that some cleft palates were being missed.
The "Gold standard" is now to use a wooden tongue depressor. It does make babies gag, but then so can the the old technique.

[ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay]

It isn't to check the gagging reflex, it's to check the inside of the mouth. It's just unlucky he gagged.

[CarrieLouise25]

Thanks hedwig. We had a midwife the day before check the palate, and she did it very gently with her finger. She was lovely throughout everything though, let me feed whilst he had his heel prick test, was gentle in every other way for anything else.

Thanks for letting me know about the 'gold standard' I thought I was going insane wondering why!

I said to her (just before the hip test) - I bet it's not nice to do the hip test on babies (just making conversation) - and she said - I don't mind the hip test, but wait till I do the test where he gags...it's horrible!

So she'd set up for the gag to happen, so not so much unlucky (but I do get what you mean rainonyourweddingday).

She was rough with everything else too.

So it looks like it was the palate test. Thanks everyone.

I can chill out now

[Sunshine87]

I would imagine she may of been checking for thrush. Sometimes baby's get it in there mouth and can be quite painful when feeding.

[bellybuttonfairy]

It definately is the palate test. We used to gently check with a finger but cleft palates can start much further at the back of the mouth.

Lots were being missed so we are advised to do the thorough method witha wooden tongue depressor.

It does make some babies gag though :-(
Although if they do - you tend to get a really good look whilst they are gagging!

[CarrieLouise25]

Thanks bellybutton fairy, good to know what it was testing for