Hi All,
I am a first time mum and I just wanted some help please regarding my 17 months old son's behaviour.
He would usually do this thing where he would tighten his limbs like stiffen them up and straighten his body and he would usually do it often. For example, once I put a bucket of water in front of him to wash his body after poo explosion. I put a rubber duck in that water so he can play. He was fine splashing about with the water whilst bending his knees and body so he could reach the water with his hands and arms but suddenly he would abruptly stand straight and tighten his limbs and make this face that he is in discomfort.
He would also do the stiffening limbs thing sometimes during nappy changes and also while I'm trying to rock him to sleep.
A week ago, he fell and banged his forehead on the brass separator thing which seperates the living room from the passage. I turned around and saw him face palmed on the floor and quickly picked him up and realised swelling on the forehead. He cried and I put ice pack on it for 20 minutes. He stopped crying and was fine, wasn't tired and didn't vomit etc.
However, I would say 2 days later, he started to do this new thing where he would clench his upper and lower teeth together and shake his body and face while doing so and would hold onto me tight. Also he is more aggressive now it seems because now he holds onto my arm or sometimes takes my arm and does the thing where he is clenching his teeth and at the same time he squeezes my arm tightly. Even when sometimes I bring him to my breast to feed him, he will take a moment first and clench teeth and shake his body and his head on my breast while head is down and then lifts head back up and latches on as usual and feeds.
I am worried sick thinking that this is all due to him banging his head on the brass thing as they are so hard! Do you think this is the case?
I have Post Natal Depression so my mind is full of worries and sadness and guilt.
Please could anyone offer and words of support or advice.
Thank you so much in advance