7 month old delayed physically

[SheWhoDares]

Hi guys, I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, and whether you could provide me with a bit of reassurance (this is my first post).

My 7 month old DH is seeing a physio and is having regular hospital appointments because her physical development is delayed. It was first noticed at her 8 week check when the GP commented that her head control was virtually non-existant. Cue much worrying for me and DH which was subsequently relieved (although not entirely) when DD started slowly gaining strength in her neck and supporting her head (at around 4 months). Now, at 7 months, she's able to lift her head when on her tummy (slowly gaining strength to push herself up), and she's almost there with sitting unsupported (although her back is very rounded). One thing she still isn't doing which seems to be confounding the experts is holding her head in line with her body when pulled up by her arms when on her back (her head lolls back). As the physio put it, she's a very "laid-back, floppy" baby (verging on lazy, DH and I think!).

The paediatrician is unable to explain why she's so behind but one theory is that she was born with a relatively large (heavy) head. The physio gives us tips on exercises to help her (tummy time, etc) and that seems to be slowly helping. Her communication skills are absolutely fine, by the way so that isn't a concern, thankfully.

It's our regular hospital appointment tomorrow and we'll find out then whether we'll be discharged or whether the doctor wants to run some hormone tests on DD.

It's been an incredibly stressful time and I just wondered if anyone has gone through something similar and can shed any light on what might be behind it?

Thanks in advance and apologies for the length of this!

Have you thought about going to see a cranial osteopath? They are fantastic.

i can';t shed any light i'm afraid but I can tell you that my last 2 babies both hang their heads back when pulled up by arms!

and there is nothijng wrong with their physical development (both v early crawling/walking etc)
so perhaps it is just one of those things? maybe some babies just do that, and normally it wouldn't have been noticed except for her other physical problems??

Thanks chabbychic, I'll definitely look into cranial osteopathy. And thisisyesterday, it's reassuring to know that other babies also do the 'hanging head' thing. I love this site already, really useful!

Thanks LeninGrad, that's also reassuring. I have a feeling that the doctors are jumping on any slight delay with our DD because she's now 'in the system' - things that wouldn't ordinarily have been picked up.

how is she with grasping etc?
any feeding issues?

I never realised how worrying having a baby would be, LeninGrad (naive, I know!). I'm sure you're right about trusting your instincts and DD seems well in all other respects. I hope all goes well with your DS2's appointment.

madwomanintheattic - grasping is fine, as far as I can tell, and feeding is ok too (she's putting on weight fine).

sounds good. sometimes they just like to monitor to be careful - muscle tone is a funny thing

My friend has a ds who had issues with his head - head lag and slow to develop physically initially. However, he caught up at about 6 months and was walking before he was 1.

My dd has physical difficulties and like madwoman says, it is always worth having delays checked. My dd has benefited hugely from having physio and other services in place. She has problems with her muscle tone.

Hi mintyfresh, thanks for sharing your experience and that of your friend. Do you mind me asking how your DD's problems were diagnosed and whether she's making good progress?

We had our third hospital appointment today and, while the doctor was pleased with DD's progress she suggested doing some tests (metabolism, hormone, chromosome and spine x-ray). This is hopefully just to rule things out but it's obviously still very stressful. We'll have the results of the x-ray in a couple of days but the others will take three or four weeks to come through.

Hi SheWhoDares, my dd had a traumatic birth with oxygen deprivation. We were told to expect mild co-ordination difficulties as a result. She has low muscle tone and hypermobility but is making good progress. She's nearly 3 now and walks, runs, climbs and does most things a child her age can do. She just finds it all a bit harder and she looks a bit clumsy at times!

Hope the results of your tests are clear - it is very stressful waiting I know!

my dd2's issues were obvious from birth, which is why she's always had physio etc, like minty's.

v impressed with your paed. v on the ball. hopefully all the tests will come back fine and she will catch up nicely. how often are they seeing her?

My son was just how you described... have is been suggested that your little girl may have low/poor muscle tone (aka hypotonia)?
Mine was a total blob..limp as overcooked pasta.. didn't hold his head, sit do anything much for the first year. BUT he gradually got there.. yes he was slow to walk etc and he has ongoing issues as his cognitive development was also different (he has ASD and learning diffs) BUT he's functional.. gorgeous.. and if he's never going to win a race.. oh well

I found the first year of his life terribly terribly difficult...but it did get better and I wouldn't swap him for the world for all the differences his life have brought him and us
Hang in there.. get tests done but don't let them take over your life

My son has a website if it is any help..tells our story...
charliesmomuk.weebly.com/index.html

It's reassuring to hear that, despite your DD's mobility problems, they're all doing fine and enjoying life. My DD certainly is at the moment. What will be, will be I suppose and I'm going to try and stay positive and keep on doing the exercises the physio recommends (we see her every couple of weeks, madwomanintheattic).

Thanks for all your help.

@shewhodares - I appreciate this was many years ago and you may not see this but how did it turn out for you? I'm currently going through something very similar with my little one. Hope things worked our for your DC. X