Six week old hands/feet occasional tremors - anyone had the same?

[Dennisreynoldsduster]

Posting for a friend who isn’t on mumsnet. We had our babies around the same time -
Her baby has started, in the last week, to occasionally have “tremors” in hands and feet (only one hand/foot at one time) and bottom lip, like when your teeth chatter - usually when agitated like during nappy change or when she’s been crying.
Mine does the lip/jaw thing too so I figured it was all normal immature nervous system stuff (and I’m extremely anxious - see my previous posts about my DS!) but she’s a bit worried and wondered if anyone has had the same thing with their DC.

She has seen GP who said probably nothing as around this age newborns are starting to move more, are erratic and a bit jittery as they don’t have any control over their limbs and their nervous system is firing all over the place but to keep an eye on it.

I think she’s mainly wondering whether to push it further. My DS has done it once or twice with his hand, only when curled into a fist and usually when he’s a bit agitated as well, so when he had bad wind after feeding and was all tense and back arching (has reflux).

It doesn’t look like spasms or anything like that and only lasts a few seconds.

I think it’s most likely immature nervous system, but if anyone has had the same please share! :)

My daughters baby did this. We thought it was a bit strange and she was going to mention it to the health visitor but then it just stopped. Maybe it is an age thing.

My son had low blood sugars and did this

My baby did this... quite a lot! The health visitor really scared me but my GP said it was perfectly normal and she'd grow out of it.

She did and it was absolutely fine but I'd still advocate the GP just in case x

The health visitors can be scary! Mine scared the crap out of me about DS startling himself awake a lot - arms up etc - so I rushed him to GP who was very kind and told me it’s the morro reflex.

Thanks for posting, I thought because similar has happened to both our babies around the same time it was most likely because of development stages or something.

How would you tell if a baby had low blood sugars?

Its 100% normal. As babies their reflexes are immature so sometimes overactive like you said. And it can result in the chin and limb judders. If your friend is worried though I'm sure a health visitor would be happy to check on the baby.

Thank you gruffalo

He was tested a lot 🙁 it was found when he was a few hours old we finally got them stabilised and could take him home we had a consultant and a blood sugar monitor he grew out of it in the end but for the first few years he would blow his sugar levels by crying they would crash and we would have to perk him up with sugar/fluids etc. (It is a long detailed process I wont bore you)

My son did something like this and it turned out to be epilepsy.

It could be anything or nothing. I'd be worried about epilepsy or anything neurological. It could also be a vitamin D deficiency, believe or not.
The baby is 6 weeks so presumably, mum is booked in for the 6 week check with the GP. It should be the first thing she mentions.

I've seen this multiple times as a vaccine reaction but it's something doctors won't even suggest because they are taught to always say oh it can't be the vaccine. It has a name for it but it's a seizure just babies don't have to be so visibly moving. There are videos which show it but not sure if you want to look and compare.

She will definitely mention it to GP and I will mention it to mine as, as I say he has done it with his hands once or twice and his lip quivers/trembles sometimes.
Epilepsy hadn’t occurred to me @TheVanguardSix nor neurological problems to be honest, that’s a bit of a scary thought.

I think with my DS it’s unlikely to be seizures or neurological as it stops if I touch the limb that is twitching but thanks for the input and info. I have passed on this thread and she says thanks to everyone who shared

Just a question about vitamin d deficiency both babies had jaundice - my DS very mild but her DD more severe so could that be related?

My DD had what we called jitters sometimes when she was very small. Her blood sugar was fine and she grew out of it after a few months. Definitely ask about it but I wouldn't be too concerned personally.

Oh and when we were around other tiny babies I noticed that quite a few of them did it too, so that was reassuring!

What were the jitters like @DesLynamsMoustache ?

Just like twitches of hands mainly and the lip thing. Almost like her hands and wrists were a bit shaky for a few seconds, and usually just when she was upset or there was a lot going on. I'd say they were completely gone by three months.

I asked GP at our six-week check and she said it was quite normal, something to do with the nervous system and the body learning how to control motor skills.

I have twins. One had severe hypoglycaemia from birth and was constantly jittery - he had a very rare illness and was in NICU for two months to manage it before being discharged on medication.

The other twin went through a phase where his head and hand would shake randomly. Usually when feeding and starting to fall asleep. Showed it to his neonatologist who said it was quite normal and it did just stop when he got bigger.

I would a) get video evidence and b) speak to a doctor. It could he hypoglycaemia- if so, it’s more likely to happen when they haven’t fed for a few hours (although if it were the very rare illness DT2 had his sugars could crash at any point as he produced too much insulin). Other symptoms in a baby can be pale, clammy, blue tinge to lips, very distressed but DT2 never showed any of these symptoms.

The problem if it is hypoglycaemia is that he would his need blood sugar level to be tested when he’s symptomatic. This can be done at home with a standard blood sugar monitor and a heel prick but you should really talk to a doctor about that.

How often is it happening? Is it at certain times (eg before a feed, during a feed, first thing in the morning) or random? I’d keep a note of when it happens as this will be useful info. If it’s happening I would try a feed - if it is a hypo then that should help correct it, but won’t always if there’s a underlying condition.

I’d go and see the GP tomorrow to discuss.

My dd did this too. She had a load of blood tests but in the end the dr decided it was just an over pronounced startle reflex. She has low muscle tone because of a genetic disorder which probably made it look worse although we didn't know that at the time.

Both my babies have done this to varying degrees, exactly as you describe. One of mine also used to shudder regularly which I eventually realised was something he did when he did a wee (only realised this during potty training)

Yes he gets it when he has a sensory overwhelm. He subsequently went on to develop a temporary gratification disorder (completely harmless) so we saw a neurologist who cleared him of having epilepsy.

Definitely mention it to GP etc but just saying that not all things are the worst case. Hes 4 now and still shivers when he has a pee!

If it's still happening in a few weeks time or gets worse then I'd follow it up, but it's an entirely normal part of baby development

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.huffingtonpost.ca/amp/entry/baby-tremblesnn_16686192/

Dodgy link

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/18/baby-tremblesnn_16686192.html

You guys are so helpful thank you. My friend is going to make a note of when it happens as I think it’s quite random.
For DS it’s usually during nappy change when he’s got himself in a state, or after feeding when he’s got reflux or wind and is squirming and straining to pass wind.