Really worried about limited arm movement in baby

[concernedmummytoday]

Our ten week old is smiling and cooing, and starting to lift head up when put over shoulder or Boppy pillo (hates just being put straight on tummy on floor)

I’d noticed that while she lifts one arm and waves it around, the other one she moves less. She can lift it up so that it’s sort of flopped back from elbow so her hand is by head when sleeping (maybe you know the position I mean!) and does move it and wave it around. The difference is she never seems to lift it from shoulder, so upper arm doesn’t get higher than it would when she startles.

When she is swaddled in Grosnug she likes to have one arm right up and this other one right down by her side. The more active arm has the hand she sucks although she occasionally sucks other hand.

Has anyone experienced the same? Worried sick about cerebral palsy, stroke in womb, all the worst case scenarios.

@Gingerninjas9 - that’s amazing news on the scan! To be honest, it would be pretty obvious as there would be shadowing/scarring as a result of anything like a stroke that would cause CP.
What does he do with a spoon at mealtimes, does he bring food to his face?
Any issues with feeding or on his bottle? I ask as I had a brilliant neurologist help when we had our concerns and she said it was super super rare for CP to present singularly.
I wonder if it’s more of an eyesight thing.
Entirely possible it’s something like shoulder dystocia though if it’s limited to those movements and that is definitely treatable!

How odd is this…my concern over DS is his hearing as he has a small ear pit on the back of one ear.
He passed his newborn screening though, but currently has glue ear so needs a repeat hearing test.
He can hear me whisper chocolate from 10ft behind him though (not even exaggerating!)
How did they find your little one’s slight impairment (if you don’t mind me asking?)

I know what you mean about the ageing! It’s bloody awful. I remember back in my worries over CP days, I would just wish I could see a few years into the future to know he’d be ok.
This will pass, I promise.

@ELW85 Oh really? That's good to know. I am really trying not to get my hopes up too much, but these little snippets are at least keeping me calm for now. We waited until his corrected 6months age to start weaning so we're only a couple of weeks in to it at the moment, and just doing purees for now as advised until we see OT (due to him slouching slightly and my concerns about CP). He will hold the spoon briefly and attempts to bring it to his face but I've not done very much of this with him. Will observe more closely tomorrow 🤣

My DS failed his newborn hearing screening in his right ear but passed his left. When we had the repeat tests done, it showed a mild loss on the left side too. They explained that the initial screening doesn't test in as much depth so it could be possible for your DS, though if he's hearing you whisper from that far away, I'd doubt it 🥰

My DD was a much more stressful pregnancy, but once she arrived, she was pretty plain sailing. This worrying malarkey is new territory for me, and I'll admit, it's not much fun! 🙈

@Gingerninjas9 - honestly your DS sounds like he’s getting there and the fact he tried to bring the spoon up is fantastic!
DS was my first and DD is so little (8 weeks) that I’ve not hit any milestone anxiety; hoping I won’t this time!
I think when you’ve dealt with anything slightly worrying about your kids it just sticks. I think you’re doing an amazing job and your DS is really lucky to have a mama that is on top of these things ❤️

I’m hoping his hearing is fine. Feels like it is? Are you treating the mild loss in either ear?

@ELW85 Aw, thank you. I'm just trying to relax. We have an appointment now for next week with paediatrician, physio and OT so I'm guessing I'll get a pretty good insight then 🤞🏻

As for DS hearing, he has bilateral hearing aids and his progress with those will be monitored. The loss in his left ear is less significant, but with early intervention in mind, they decided just to give him aids for both ears to maximise his exposure to language and make sure his speech develops normally x

@Gingerninjas9 - that’s amazing news that you’ve got your appointments next week! I’m sure they’ll put your mind to rest. Let me know how you get on x

@ELW85 I hope so. I'm back to worrying again because I know I have the appointment 🙈

@Gingerninjas9 - I’ve been there! Try to see it like a way forward. You’ll have answers.
And take as many videos along as you can!! From what you’ve said though and the fact he’s had an MRI, it is almost certainly not CP.

@Gingerninjas9 - how did it go?

@ELW85 It was a bit underwhelming really, as we didn't get any definitive answers. They have said he had low muscle tone in his core, which is making it difficult for him to move and reach, etc. I'm a bit disappointed that there wasn’t more action - but she explained that it’ll be a slow process and we will need to have some patience. She wants to reassess in June as that’ll give Adam enough time to progress and they’ll have a starting point against which to compare. Plus in the meantime, we will get physio and OT at home support (hopefully sooner rather than later). They gave us a mat home and are organising a supportive seat for him too x

@Gingerninjas9 - oh bloody hell, I’m sorry they’ve not done more and you’re still largely without answers. From what I know, low muscle tone is a separate condition of its own, so doesn’t mean anything more sinister underlying.
Are you ok? X

@ELW85 The problem is that it can be a standalone problem or can be a sign of other conditions, but they were very reluctant to commit to anything and said that childhood development is a really tricky area with broad ranges of normal. I'm feeling pretty down about it all but spoke to my GP on Friday who was great and gave me some medicine to help control my anxiety x

@Gingerninjas9 - I’m really sorry you’ve got to go through it and the grey areas are by far the worst.
It’s great that you’ve got a good GP and support in place, I hope you get more definite answers soon and your little one goes from strength to strength with the support in place xx

I know this is an old post but wondered how your little boy is now? @Gingerninjas9 I have similar concerns (and anxiety) about my daughter