Strange spasms in 4 month old...is this a habit he's developed?

[brightongirldownunder]

DS has been doing this since he was a few months old and I always wrote it off as something he enjoyed doing, but now I'm not so sure. Especially when he's standing (which is his favourite position), obviously supported by me, he raises up his arms and squishes in his face and does this every few minutes. This weekend he started doing it in the bath and today I noticed he did it when he was tired. Is this a way of communicating with me? i think the only reason I'm worried is because of the repetition. He is very alert and loving and whenever he does this he's still looking at me...its just that it looks like his body goes into a spasm.

bump....
he's done it throughout the day today and even H who doesn't normally pick up on anything has noticed it. Should I go to the doctor and get him checked up? I'm trying not to be a paranoid parent..

I'd take him to A&E if I were you. Hopefully it's nothing and it's just him being him. But anything that looks like a spasm could be something serious. take him tonight. Do not wait for a GP appointment. Really hope it is nothing XX.

I would def takE to a doctor good luck x

Probably worth getting it checked out - and also may be worth videoing it before you go if you can - otherwise you can guarantee he won't do it when the doctor is looking at him! Let us know how it goes.

thanks - my brother has epilepsy so I think I'm right to be worried. Have googled infantile spasms and am really hoping its not this that is causing his strange movements.

Is he having a wee? Piss shivers!

PLEASE take him to the doctors... and if possible video it. Hopefully it will just be 'wee shivers' (I remember one of my children doing that and it looked most odd) but there is also a type of epilepsy called 'West syndrome' where the seizures take the form of 'infantile spasms' Some babies stiffen and throw out their arms others sort of do a very quick head bow.

www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/infantile.html

You really need to get him checked out asap...

I'm going to see the doctor later. Thanks for the link, medusa, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that its just a habit he's formed as the one thing he does when he has these moments is look at me and smile. The nearest description I can make is that he seems to squeeze himself towards me. He's not affected by the "spasm" as he continues babbling etc after having one..

Good luck! Let us know how you get on XX

thanks - though I'm nervous now as I've just looked at a video of a baby having an infantile seizure on youtube and its pretty similar.
Feeling pretty low...

It sounds like he could just enjoy straining his body, OP. Good luck with doctor.

Ragged, I really hope thats what it is - I've seen what affect epilepsy has had on my brother

Do come back and update us? I know it's hard not to worry given your family background, but in reality such things are very rare. You have to keep that top of your mind until you have more certainty.

Hi, just wanted to say that DS1 has had epilepsy since he was a baby and is doing really well. He found (second time around) a good medicine. He is seizure free and happy. He leads a completely normal life. If your baby has epilepsy then I am sorry - it is very distressing as a parent - but don't project your brother's experiences onto your DC. One thing I have learned about epilepsy is that it is very unique to the individual. Oh and btw, a baby having seizures doesn't neccessarily mean they have a syndrome. Most kids with epilepsy don't. DS is handsome and clever and completely 'normal' in every way. Most people would never know that he has a 'disability' (hate that word).

My other thoughts is that OP's brother started getting treated for his epilepsy maybe 20-30 yrs ago; Medicine has moved on so much since then, treatment is bound to be better. Plus no two cases are alike, IF OP's baby had a problem, it could well be a much milder case.

Hi. Ended up going to the childrens hospital after DS had clusters of these episodes last night. I videoed them for reference and after seeing 3 doctors the general consensus was that DS is just too big for his age and he's seizing up because of his little body having to face so much rapid growth. They watched the footage, monitored him, tested his reflexes all fine. I'm still confused as to the actual diagnosis but they were adamant that he wasn't showing signs of infantile seizures as the footage shows him respond to me during each reflex. So all in all I can finally rest a bit. Tonight he did a mammoth series of these as he sat in his high chair - I now just have to convince myself that he is fine. Thankyou everyone for all your advice. By the way my brother has been diagnosed since he was 18. Last month he finally was given the all clear on his medication and is on a special diet. There's e ery chance it could return but he is the most wonderful charming man you ever could meet and I would never treat a sufferer of epilepsy with anything but admiration.

That must be a relief
I remember that DD (actually, thinking about it, she was a large baby as well) would do those laying down where in theory she shouldn't feel threatened iyswim. She also had some weird jerky movements that freaked me out as DS wasn't like that at all.
In any case relax a bit and if they continue for more than few weeks I would go to a doctor again- DD's stopped after she was 5 mo. Otoh she didn't really do them in clusters, maybe 2 or 3, but not 10 in the row iyswim. But then if 3 docs agreed that it's not IS then I guess it isn't.

Hi there, just read this and it sounds just like what my 4 month old dd does when she is tired (which is most of the time at the moment due to nap issues / growth spurts) etc. She gets both arms and squeezes them really hard into her face all squashed up. Almost as if she's rubbing her face with tiredness but like an inverted stretch.. if that makes sense?? I'm sure it could just be that..

my dd used to shudder at will at about 4/5 months - it was a bit of a trick to make us laugh at her

YAY!!!!! Sounds like everything is fine. Great news!

Thanks for the update :).