Baby back arching?

[MrsPapaziano]

Hello, my baby was admitted to hospital at 2 weeks of age after having a high temperature and was diagnosed with Viral Meningitis.
She was let home after a few days and since then I haven't found anything to be hugely concerned about.
However! She does arch her back, seemingly having a lot of strength in her neck muscles (she is now 7 weeks old so very early to be holding her head unsupported) forcing her head way back while pursuing her mouth in an 'o' shape and crossing her eyes together. She does this on average for around 5 minutes at a time every 2 days.
We have always found this quite amusing however I wonder if it's actually something else more sinister? It's like shes in a trance of some sort, doesnt blink, follow my movements etc. I have had other children and they have never done anything like this.
On another note im breastfeeding, dont consume dairy and I really dont think its reflux or silent reflux or anything as she isn't upset whatsoever and doesnt follow a pattern ie after food.

Any help would be appreciated!

Also, not sure how relevant it is but worth mentioning. Her weight is currently on the 9th centile, weight on the 50th and her head is on the 75th? I've been told by my mw to make a gp appt about the measurements but she didn't seem overly bothered?

Anyone??😭

I would see your GP about it and video one of the episodes to show the gp. I don't have any firsthand experience but there is a form of epilepsy called infantile spasms where babies make unusual movements rather than having a convulsion.

Thank you so much. I've got an appt made for her but not until next week as the gp is a nightmare for availability. I'll get one recorded to show them for sure.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

7 weeks isnt that early for babies to try hold their own head. Both of mine tried at that age. The cross eyed is normal. It often happens because they are trying to focus on something.

However, doing both of these things together for 5 minutes is quite worrying.

Is baby doing them together or are they seperate? So is baby trying to hold head up and crossing eyes together? If so I would get this seen but if baby is doing it seperetly I would say it's part of development

Shes doing them together.
Shes arching her back, lifting her head right back, crossing her eyes and pursing her mouth into an o shape?? And it goes on for about 5 mins like shes in a trance?

It sounds like it could be a tonic seizure. Next time it happens I’d call an ambulance.

What PP said, video it and show GP. My DD had myoclonic infantile seizures which were completely harmless.

I would take a video and show it to your GP. It may be a form of seizure.

I’d call an ambulance not GP. Undiagnosed seizure is a potential medical emergency, and 5 minutes is when you’d be looking at giving rescue meds to try and stop the seizure. Hope all is well.

I'd also get her seen more quickly. It's probably nothing scary, but not worth the risk of it being seizures and going untreated. Good luck.

Do see a gp if worried but my daughter did a similar thing except she would tense all her muscles and raise and cross her legs in the air. She did have very bad reflux, but she still does this at nearly 3. Except she pulls out a chair lays her chest on it to lift her feet and tense. It still worries my dh, but it's clearly voluntary so I'm not. I think it's just habit.

Oh god I'm terrified now 😥 I take her temperature very regularly after the meningitis so was kind of hoping it wouldn't be too bad. I'll phone 101 when it happens again!

Ring 999 if it happens again, and try and video it. I’m sure she’s fine and it’s nothing serious but it needs looking at as if it is worst case, if that makes sense

Sounds like infantile spasms/some sort of seizure. Especially with her history. Try to get it in video.
You can seek advice here too:

www.facebook.com/groups/1600888383553097/?ref=share

But I'd call 999 or present to a children's a&e