To expect DD (2.5) not to frighten mummy and stop breathing every time she has a bad fall

[lucyellensmum]

I mean, FFS, my blood pressure is high enough as it is im sure.

She did this when she was 6m too, fell over (not a bad fall really) from sitting and cried so hard she couldnt suck enough air in, passed out, we panicked, phoned ambulance, she came round, so run to health centre, 2 min walk. All was well.

She fell off the bed this morning, did the same - heavens, my nerves can;t take that very often.

She was OK though, been in a good mood all day despite her dramatics.

Eeew I had one of those, when she hurt herself, that was it panic stations till she breathed again, no harm done though, she 12 now, they do grow out of it.

this may sound weird but try blowing hard on her face when she pauses and stops breathing - it should cause an involuntary intake of breath from her, and shock her out of it.Hope it helps x

It must be so scarey Lem.

Ive found this for you

I've heard of it but never had to deal with it thankfully.

www.stars.org.uk.Sorry I have put that first!I cannot do links.Our ds is a year and does similar things.People can mistake it for brath holding as in having a tantrum[when it isn't]Though can be at times.Is worse when he hurts himself and is over tired.Gets easier to deal with the more often they do it[honest].The first time we went to hospital via ambulance[v.scary].
Good Luck.It is more comon than you think

when my ds was 1.5 he went through a tantrum phase and once got so hysterical he stopped breathing like he couldnt work his lungs my dh got such a fright he threw a glass of water in his face to shock him into breathing and it worked i wouldnt recomend it but dh paniced and thought he was going to die it can be very very scary the poor child went purple and his lips where blue

my ds (3-8) used to stop breathing on a nite in bed, he was always having ear infections, throat infections n snored so loud you could hear him downstairs. after countless trips to the dr we finally went to ent n he had gromits put in, n his tons n aniolds out when he was 1-5. i know how scary it i so i really do feel for you. xx

i knew she was going to do this today, she did that awful cry where she cried so hard that no sound would come out. I just screamed at her to breathe. She did take a little breath but clearly wasn;t enough so she flaked out. Its horrible, she just flopped forward. Then i was like, oh fuck and just called her name, by which time she came round. It is literally heart stopping stuff, but she was fine, a bit disorientated at first but absolutely fine and wondering what the fuss was about.

give STARS a call for some verbal support - you sound as if you need it. Try not to panick and not to scream at your daughter. Talk as calmly and reassuringly as you can (hard, and I know from experience, but possible with effort)

STARS website

It may not be Reflex Anoxic Seizures, but does sound possibly as if it is.

Have you spoken with your GP?

One suggestion, and I am not medically trained so it is only a suggestion, is with her being small, thus it is easier to do, scoop her up in your arms as you yourself go down on bended knee. With her scooped in your arms, then use your upright knee as support for your arm and gently tilt your daughter backwards. You may find she recovers more quickly.

thanks butterfly, im not sure it was the RAS thing, she was a bit clingy afterwards and was literally out for seconds (thankfully). She wasn't sleepy either, otherwise i would have taken her to the doctors because she had bumped her head. Did keep a close eye on her of course, but she OK. I will mention it to the doctor next time i take her, its not worth an appointment though is it?

I think it is simply where she cannot get enough air in when she is doing that horrid cry, so she doesnt just flake out, she cries first and then does it. I feel surprisingly calm about it.

It may or may not be, but certainly worth a chat with your GP soon, as if it is, then you can feel reassured about how to deal with it and get as much support as you need from an organisation such as STARS. If it isn't, then your GP can check for other causes.

The fact you have said that it has always occured as a result of a sudden, unexpected pain she has experienced (such as from the fall you mentioned) does suggest a link to RAS. Has she ever had an episode without it being preceeded by some sort of shock/pain?

Have you noticed what colour she is during the episode?

OMG- dd (2.2) did that at 9 mo- fell of the bed, didn't breathe, went blue and floppy. I picked her up screaming at her she started screaming and was fine by the time ambulance arrived.

It was v v scary at the time though.

A friend, her ds3 did it ALL the time- he would hold his breath deliberately, go blue, and pass out. He did it instead of tantrumming...was very worrying for her, but her dr told her he couldn't harm himself....and was right- ds3 is now 22 and very well-adjusted, clever, successful young man.

If child turned blue, then likely it was just breath-holding rather than having an RAS.

she didnt turn blue, maybe i should have a word with the doctor - v worried now.

Didn't intend to worry you, so please try not to, but just asked to try and help distinguish between possible causes.

If a child intentionally holds their breath, it is my understanding that they will turn blue as un-oxygenated blood then pumps around their system. Whereas a child having an RAS episode will turn white, (my middle son had frequent episodes from days old - pain trigger element at that stage for him was most likely to have been the reflux he had in the early months of feeding - to aged about 5 or 6).

DD used to do this all the time, mayhelp is right, blow in her face, hard.

lucyellen'smum -

It doesn't sound like breath holding which is more of a concious action by the child, and the child would turn blue.

What you are describing does sound more like reflex anoxic seizures - my dd1 had two exacly as you describe, then went on to have four more with a full blown fit. It would take her the rest of the day to recover. And my nerves a lot longer......

Definitely sepak to your doctor. My dd1 had an ECG and EEG to rule out anything more sinister.

the nurse practitioner told me it was a result of not being able to get the air in during the weird sort of noiseless cry. I am now sitting here feeling guilty because i didnt take DD to the doctors and worried there is something seriously wrong with her. I would have no reason to live without my little girl.

lem - Sorry you went through this, it must be terrifying

Passing out is supposed to be the body's way of taking control of the breathing - this is apparently why you can't kill yourself by holding your breath (and neither can babies). When oxygen in blood goes below a certain level, you lose consciousness for a little while so the involuntary reflex of breathing can take over.

Hi Again.It is very scary!I think you should get your dd checked for your own piece of mind,but by the sound of it she is ok[honest]
With ds2 [1 year old]I was so scared the first time and we went to hosp.The next time dp was holding him and he came round quickly then didi it again!He came round just as I was phoning an ambulance.
He does when tired and he bumps himself and when he can't get his own way when he is tired.
The tests you could have for your dd for your peace of mind are a blood test for anaemia and an ECG for the heart.
The more ds2 has done this the better able I am to cope.
He even did it in a department store a couple of weeks ago.
Afterwards we don't make a big deal of it.
Some advice from people is to put them on the floor in the recovery position.I cannot do this so I hold him slightly tilted.facing downwards.I wouldn't put him on his back.
Try not to worry!I know it is frightening but Imthink it is more common than we realise

I used to do this when i was little so my dad tells me

He said that one day in particular i ran straight out into the road and in his panicked state he grabbed my arm and slapped me across the top of my leg. I held my breath and passed out

Drama queen!!

I said were you not worried??

He said, no not really

He loves me really lol

Unfortunately some children are not holding their breath, they have a medical condition over which they have no control.

yes it's very annoying when a medical condition gets labelled as 'breath holding' and 'drama queen'.