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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Holding breath when hurt?

8 replies

expatcat · 28/04/2006 07:54

Last night my DS (11 months) gave me the biggest fright. He was eating and I think he bit either his finger or tongue. He started to cry as if he was in serious pain, and then seemed to cry so much that he wasn't breathing. He actually started to go blue. I thought he was choking and we grabbed him out of the highchair and started patting his back. He kind of lay still across DH's shoulder for a second, started breathing again and then started crying. His colour went back to normal, althoguh he looked kind of splotchy as he cried for ages! Nothing came up out of his throat, so I don't know if he was actually choking?
Has this happened to anyone else, or can anyone guess what might have happened? I barely slept last night and must have checked on him loads of times to make sure he was still breathing!

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sugarfree · 28/04/2006 08:13

Expat,Hi there.My DS2 started this at the same age.And eventually,at age 3, was diagnosed with something called Reflexic anoxic seizures.
At first,I thought it was just how he reacted to frights and/or pain.Then I was reluctant to take him to the doctor for fear of being an overanxious mother and being told it was breath holding tantrums etc etc.
One weekend when he was about 2 he did it 3 times,once when being tickled,once when he hurt himself and once when he was grizzling coming down the stairs(he fell/slid into my arms).He was at the doctors on the MOnday and referred to a neurologist.They were confident it was R.A.S but did loads of tests to rule other stuff out.
The best thing she told us was...CHILDREN NEVER DIE OF THIS.EVER.His brain will ALWAYS kick in and start him breathing again.
Now that Ive completely terrified you(!)(sorry) I would say,keep a very close eye on him over the next few weeks,months and if it happens again,get yourselves referred.
It could be that it was a one off,sometimes when you cry really hard it IS hard to catch a breath,but I wanted you to be aware of the possibility of RAS.
Now,if it happens again.Lie him down gently,on his side and stay close talking gently until he's with you again,it used to take J up to a minute sometimes(it feels more like 10!SOOOOOO SCAREY!) and then he would be really tired for about an hour.He would also be white and sometimes shakey.
If there is ANYTHING at all I can help you with,PLEASE PLEASE give me a shout.
oh,and J is now 6.5 and hasnt had one since he started school 18 months ago.

geekgrrl · 28/04/2006 08:15

my dd2 did something like this once when she was a baby - I think dd1 had fallen onto her or something - she started screaming and then seemed to 'pass out'. I completely freaked (dd2 had had open heart surgery three months before that and I thought it was a cardiac arrest or something) and just as I'd screamed like a maniac for dh to come dd2 came round again to scream some more. She was absolutely fine afterwards.
The paediatrician said that it sounded like a breath-holding episode and it never happened again.

Original poster

expatcat · 28/04/2006 08:29

thanks so much for the messages! I must admit that I completely panicked and still feel a bit worried about it. sugarfree, I will definitely keep a close eye on him to see if it happens again but your messages were both very reassuring, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that it was a one off. I just never thought I would be seeing my baby turn blue...

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sugarfree · 28/04/2006 08:47

\link{http://www.stars.org.uk/\R.A.S info}
Have this in case you need it.
Please try not to worry,
(har-de-har!I know,I know!)
If you have a GP who won't dismiss you as nuts and it would set your mind at rest go and see them and mention RAS.But be warned alot of doctors havent heard of it and probably won't refer you after one episode.I had lots of 'ammo' by the time I got to the GP.

Original poster

expatcat · 28/04/2006 09:15

I'll wait a bit longer before I head off (I know my GP/s and they would dismiss me as paranoid, i'm sure!). Will look at that info though, thanks so much.
BTW meant to mention earlier that it is very reassuring to hear that your son seems to have stopped having them - you must be so happy!

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Original poster

expatcat · 28/04/2006 09:16

oh, the other thing someone else has suggested is that he 'swallowed' his tongue. I know I used to do this as a child (to my mothers terror) but don't really know much more about it. Anyone have a child who does this, and can tell me if it causes a similar reaction??

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sugarfree · 28/04/2006 09:49

I think the biggest gap a diagnosed RAS-er has had is 10 years.I honestly dont give it much thought now.
The school nurse has been fantastic and has drawn up a flow chart plan for the staff.
They wanted to 999 every time he had an episode(or Fimbley feeling as we call it!)he's a very bright kid and would soon have worked out that an ambulance ride was far more interesting than an afternoon in school.They now know not to do that.He just needs peace and quiet for a while.
I was also concerned that some over enthusiastic first aider would start pounding on his chest.
The only precautions I take now are to make sure that whoever he is with(school/friends houses etc) have the 'plan'
Oh,and if he's ever he's in A&E staff need to be told because there can be issues with general anaesthetics.
That kind of thing may become more of a 'problem' as he gets older and more independant.Im thinking about a medic alert bracelet(just for the anaesthetic thing really)

Oh,one thing I wanted to say...if he does do it again and you think he's been 'out' too long,just 999 ,its better to be safe than sorry.

forestfern · 08/05/2006 00:46

Sound like the normal involuntary reflex response that young children sometimes do after something painful happens to them. Breath-holding can be a bit different in that it can be autonomous, done in anger usually. In both cases the child nearly always gets normal reflex breathing back in time as the blood oxygen level falls. However, it would be an idea to let the nursey know, and watch out for it if he injures himself on a climbin frame, swimming, sitting upright in a car seat where it is hard to feint. The risk of any problem is extremely small and you dont want to live life paranoid, but worth just getting a bit of advice. It is not uncommon at all, though, if you have the diagnosis right.

You should just run it past your GP though. Is it in the family? Also, they can advise you on a few safety points.

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