Arching back | Mumsnet

SophieLouise93 · 2018-01-17T22:32:38+00:00

Hi all, my 7 month old arched her back quite a bit,, she will be sat relaxing in her bouncer then she’ll just start arching her back numerous times lasting about 30 seconds- 1 minute, she will be lying in her cot and she will start arching her back numerous times and also when I’m feeding her, it’s not just once she’ll do it but she’ll do it about 10+ times. She has been doing this for about a month now, she has also started swinging her arms up and down really fast for about a minute Any ideas on what this could be????

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GrumpetLikesCrumpets · 18/01/2018 08:53

My 8mo old has been doing it too. I assume that he is just flexing his back and getting it strong ready to crawl. I'm not worried about it.

Dontbuymesocks · 18/01/2018 09:47

Is your LO constipated? My son does this and with him it’s a sign of constipation or trapped wind.

Original poster

SophieLouise93 · 18/01/2018 17:59

She’s not constipated at the minute, she has also started bringing her arms out in front of her and almost shivering even when she’s warm

OP posts:

Mogginthemog · 02/02/2018 17:24

My DGD started doing the arms out in front, staring and sort of shivering. She also had silent reflux that caused back arching and pulling away from her bottle and screaming. She started the arching at about
8 weeks and the weird shivery thing at about 8 months. We were worried she was having some sort of seizures. In the end after she had done it over and over DD&DSIL took her to a&e and they observed her. They did ekg/ecg? To check for seizures but she was fine. It was diagnosed as shuddering attacks caused by the discomfort of reflux. It stopped when she was about 14 months I think. If you look up baby shuddering attacks on u tube you can see videos of babies doing it and see if they look similar. Also I would try catch the arching and shivering on video
To show to GP. DGD took medication for the reflux as well as a milk thickener and a high cal formula as her lack of milk intake was slowing her growth.

Original poster

SophieLouise93 · 02/02/2018 20:47

Thankyou for your reply that was really helpful! Defo gonna start taking videos when I can and go to the gp

OP posts:

Mogginthemog · 02/02/2018 22:14

Def catch some on video
If you can. It really helped the doctors. The paed neurologist DGD saw said if she had seen the videos she would have known
They weren’t seizures but the a&e docs didn’t or weren’t able to show her the videos. Some of the attacks went on for a few mins and DGD would clench her fists and throw her arms and legs out straight ahead and either cry or stare and do the weird shivery thing. Most happened in the high chair so they were easy to film. It figures that they mainly (though not always) centres around meal or bottle time. She just gradually stopped around 14 months I think. Def follow it up as it will be helpful to have a diagnosis and if it is caused by reflux some meds to help. And also is reassuring to know it’s nothing to worry about. Good luck

AmieMcKennaX · 15/07/2021 21:17

Hi there.

Did you ever find out the cause of this? My 8 month old has started to do this. It’s not constantly but it’s mostly when she’s in her jumperoo, sometimes in the high chair and sometimes when I’m rocking her to sleep. She doesn’t cry as she’s doing it and she doesn’t seem out of it or anything but I do want to know if it’s normal and if it’s something she will grow out of

Foreverbaffled · 16/07/2021 08:53

@AmieMcKennaX

Hi there.

Did you ever find out the cause of this? My 8 month old has started to do this. It’s not constantly but it’s mostly when she’s in her jumperoo, sometimes in the high chair and sometimes when I’m rocking her to sleep. She doesn’t cry as she’s doing it and she doesn’t seem out of it or anything but I do want to know if it’s normal and if it’s something she will grow out of

In my experience it's a perfectly normal way that babies show frustration. Both my boys did it. Lots of back arching in bouncy chairs/high chairs etc when bored. Google is not your friend so don't search for back arching! As long as it's not repetitive, in clusters etc then I wouldn't worry.

AmieMcKennaX · 16/07/2021 09:07

That’s the thing, she doesn’t seem frustrated sometimes when she does it which is why it confuses me as to what exactly is going on. It seems like she does it more when she’s tired because she does it when me or my boyfriend are holding her and trying to get her to sleep too. It only started about a month or so ago and I have read that it can happen from about 6-9 months as they’re learning to use their back muscles but I’ve also seen things about autism which I’m ruling out atm as she is making eye contact, laughing, smiling etc. Also seizures and sandifer syndrome was another thing I saw but again she does seem upset or disengaged when she does it and will smile when I say “no” when she does it. I’m hoping it’s a thing she will grow out of but I’ve got her 8 month HV zoom call check up on Tuesday (🙄 covid restrictions means that we’ve not had many visits) so I will mention it then

Foreverbaffled · 16/07/2021 12:27

@AmieMcKennaX

That’s the thing, she doesn’t seem frustrated sometimes when she does it which is why it confuses me as to what exactly is going on. It seems like she does it more when she’s tired because she does it when me or my boyfriend are holding her and trying to get her to sleep too. It only started about a month or so ago and I have read that it can happen from about 6-9 months as they’re learning to use their back muscles but I’ve also seen things about autism which I’m ruling out atm as she is making eye contact, laughing, smiling etc. Also seizures and sandifer syndrome was another thing I saw but again she does seem upset or disengaged when she does it and will smile when I say “no” when she does it. I’m hoping it’s a thing she will grow out of but I’ve got her 8 month HV zoom call check up on Tuesday (🙄 covid restrictions means that we’ve not had many visits) so I will mention it then

That's all so normal too. My 7 month old also does it when he's over tired and over stimulated. He also does it randomly when he's perfectly calm. and looks up at the ceiling. I think it's a sensory thing too and just a new muscle group they're exploring.

I was worried when my first DS did it and was convinced he either had cerebral palsy or autism. He has neither. The back arching in epileptic seizures like infantile spasms come in clusters and alongside a deterioration in development so you're right I think not to worry about that either

chillichillioil · 07/11/2023 16:23

Hey I know this is an old post, but were your babies ok? Mine is doing the same, but she does it all the time even when she's on the floor & I'm worried

Mogginthemog · 07/11/2023 17:38

Chillichillioil. How old is DD and when did she start doing what she’s doing? Has she had any reflux or colic up to now? Can you get any videos of it happened to show your GP? I think with anything your unsure of like this I’d get her seen. That way you can rule out anything more serious and put your mind at rest. If it’s reflux then there’s medicine or thickener the GP can prescribe.

chillichillioil · 07/11/2023 17:48

@Mogginthemog she's been doing it since I can remember to be honest. She's on reflux meds and thickener. She doesn't seem in pain when she's doing it but it's constant when she's on her back. I've got a gp app next week I've got videos of her doing it xx

Mogginthemog · 07/11/2023 18:25

It’s really useful to have got it on video. Glad you’ve got an appointment next week. I hope it goes well. It does sound possible that its reflux related if it happens when DD is laying on her back, but very good idea to get doctors opinion.