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3wk newborn head control/ head flinging horror....

23 replies

Boatmum1 · 13/10/2016 16:01

Hello!

Am a FTM with a 3 wk old boy- he's pretty big (born at 41 weeks) and very strong (remarked on by all care staff)- which is being attributed to my pregnancy gym routine and neurotic healthy diet (both of which have gone out the window PP obvi!)

My baby has quite a big head - which, in spite of all best attempts to stop him- he likes to fling about when he's fussy - often to a bizarre angle- or to use to head butt me with when he's on my chest... (he's got some wind issues that get him a bit upset- mainly due to my hose pipe like milk letdown ... currently trying the usual "remedies" to manage both)

Anyway- the point is- probably once a day- maybe twice - when he's over excited about another food time, or troubled by wind- he manages to contort himself or fling his head in such a way, that even though I catch it in my hand or the crook of my arm before it snaps right back, I worry the force of the "flop" is hurting him, and every time his head flops back (even into my hand) I feel like a completely terrible mother, whose baby is going to grow up with awful brain damage. (Shaken baby syndrome of course is the (ir)rational fear) And then I google all the ways his head and neck are fragile and feel even worse.

Is this a massive overreaction? Is the odd head loll of his own making going to do damage? And if it is, how on earth can I stop him doing it, without hurting him more?! (The force he exerts is considerable!)

Thanks mums....

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MidsummersNight · 13/10/2016 16:04

I'd be interested to know how a 'neurotic' healthy diet and gym routine creates a strong baby.

blueskyinmarch · 13/10/2016 16:04

it is completely normal for babies to do this .Please don’t worry about it.

idontlikealdi · 13/10/2016 16:07

What on earth has a gym routine got to do with a big baby?

Apart from that, it's normal. Wait till he gets bigger and he stars head butting your chin.

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WindInThePussyWillows · 13/10/2016 16:07

Both my twin boys went through a stage of doing this about that age, they were both very strong little babies even though I ate like a pig and spent months in bed Wink

Boatmum1 · 13/10/2016 16:07

@Midsummernight ... I wasn't sure either, but HV told me some studies had been done about maternal exercise impacting on (increased) placental oxygen transfer and baby heart rate increases which apparently impact on babies post partum ...

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WhispersOfWickedness · 13/10/2016 16:08

It's totally normal, in a few weeks he will have enough head control that he won't do it anymore Smile

LaContessaDiPlumpOnSea · 13/10/2016 16:08

Don't worry op Grin

DrSeuss · 13/10/2016 16:10

Just be grateful he doesn't headset you full in the nose, like my son did! Perfectly normal, btw.

Boatmum1 · 13/10/2016 16:11

Also that wasn't a brag about my pregnancy lifestyle - just assumed that if my HV knew about links between exercise and baby development, the vastly wiser mumsnet faithful would know about it too and might find it useful in their reply....

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Boatmum1 · 13/10/2016 16:13

Thanks ladies - FTM horrors are endless - head flops, head butts, whistling noises when he breathes, passing motorcycles, my evening glass of wine, our lurcher licking the baby's feet all seem like potential "it might kill the baby!!!" Scenarios right now... Google is not my friend! Thank you for being kind/reassuring xx

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DrSeuss · 13/10/2016 16:13

Clearly, you have a Hell of a lot more faith in your HV than I ever did! He'll be fine.

passingthrough1 · 13/10/2016 17:17

I just don't like it when the head flings into my head. I would assume they'd all have shaken baby syndrome though if flinging the head about brought that on since it's just a baby "thing"?

Boatmum1 · 13/10/2016 17:35

@passingthrough1 I hadn't realised that they all do it.... I thought Bertie was being a unique pickle... Glad he's actually super normo!!!

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passingthrough1 · 13/10/2016 18:12

Ha I hope it's normal!!!

passingthrough1 · 13/10/2016 18:13

Only because mine did it (does a little bit now when I don't expect it) I mean.

MoreGilmoreGirls · 13/10/2016 18:27

Yeah totally normal, he'll learn to control it better soon enough.

DoItTooJulia · 13/10/2016 18:31

Congratulations!

I always figured that if they could do it themselves, they weren't hurting themselves.

Boatmum1 · 13/10/2016 18:47

Ha- thanks ladies - it's terrifying loving something THIS much and them being so utterly bent on self destruction... So far this evening, we've had a bizarre exorcist style head twist/ back bend as we assumed the feeding position, and a triple-nipple Headbutt which ended with a jet of tit milk in the eye for bubs ... And it's only 6.45. takes deep breaths and reaches for the wine, and the radio remote in time for the archers ...

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kiki22 · 13/10/2016 19:03

My ds1 done this he could sit up with support at 3 months and without at 4 I'm sure he was just desperate to sit up and was trying from early.

Ausernotanumber · 13/10/2016 19:07

It's just a baby thing.

I never exercised and all mine did it. And my diet was shit. You do know the "very strong" is just a thing people say and really has nothing to do with your diet and exercise pre delivery, right?

Jinglebellsandv0dka · 13/10/2016 19:15

I'd be interested to know how a 'neurotic' healthy diet and gym routine creates a strong baby

Me too Grin

Dd2 was 9,11lb and was apparently going to be a proffesional tennis player as she was 'very strong' and had good head and neck control.

My diet was shite.

I put it down to Dh bring Dutch. His DMG is positively Amazonian - hands like shovels!

Jinglebellsandv0dka · 13/10/2016 19:17

FTM= full time mum?

Ausernotanumber · 13/10/2016 19:17

If a neurotic healthy diet and exercise in the mother creates strong children, how come all the hockey etc that DD plays isn't making me thin? 😂

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