Am I worrying too much?

[Alwayshappier]

Hello, please don’t judge just coming here to get some advice and a chat basically to see if I’m overthinking so please don’t be mean (I suffer with anxiety so think I’m just having a bit of an episode right now) my daughter will be 10 weeks old on Friday and she’s just so amazing I’ve never loved someone so much in my life but I’ve just noticed over the last week or so that her head is still really really floppy, like if I lift her by her arms she doesn’t lift her head up (I’ve read that they should by now) and her fists are just constantly clenched she hardly unclenches them, she’s such a happy baby constantly smiling and cooing she’s just the best person ever (I’m bias haha) but me being silly had a look online and only thing seems to be cerebral palsy. Am I just really overthinking everything? She hasn’t put much weight on since birth HV wasn’t concerned at all and didn’t really give an explanation to why she isn’t putting the weight on, she has 4oz every 3 hours expect at night she sleeps through 5-6 hours at a time and I don’t wake her for feeds been told not too! She was born full term too - a week late - and weighed 8lbs 4oz so not exactly small but she doesn’t seem to be putting weight on and she’s just really long instead if that makes sense, sorry I’m rambling just concerned as should she be holding her head up now? We do tummy time and she lifts her head up for most of the 3-5 mins we do it 3-4 times a day but her head is still really bobbly and all over the shop (I started tummy time late and I feel so awful we’ve been doing it every day now for about 2-3 weeks when it should have been from birth but I didn’t realise and feel like an awful mother) and I know babies go at their own pace but most of my friends babies were holding their heads up by 12 weeks and my little one doesn’t seem to be going down that path because her head doesn’t seem strong enough and she’s only 2 weeks away from being 12 weeks old. Sorry this is such a long winded one I’m just a bit worried about how bobbly her head is and her fists are constantly clenched, thanks in advance everyone please go easy on me I'm a first time mum.

At this stage there is a big difference between 10 weeks and 12 weeks! Please don't keep trying to pull her up by her arms.

If you have concerns speak to your health visitor or GP but don't keep doing something that may be harmful.

Enjoy her being little as long as possible - they grow up soon enough. But to me it doesn't sound as though there is an issue. Just keep an eye on things and refer to a healthcare professional if you are worried.

They only invented 'tummy time' in the last few years. Hundreds of millions of children have grown up just fine without it.

And don't forget - the difference between a 10 week old and a 12 week old is huge. They change a lot really quickly at that age, and being 20% older is a massive difference developmentally.

Totally agree that there is a huge difference between 10 and 12 weeks and from what you've said, she is holding her head up for up-to 5 minutes at a tile whilst she's on her tummy.

As for her weight, is she following her centile? If she's long, was she long at birth?

If she's taking 4floz, have you tried offering 5floz?

If you're concerned that she has CP do speak to the GP though.

Thank you everyone, hopefully maybe her head will be less bobbly in the coming weeks now! I’m glad it sounds normal, her fists clenched with her thumb to her palm, she constantly stares at her right hand too at the min and just not much head control and his hands and legs go all over the shop haha, sorry I just don’t know what’s normal and what’s not and I’m prone to worry as well, thank you though everyone means a lot for the advice and being told not to worry it’s all normal thank you!

Sorry, I meant to put too she drop off the 75th percentile to just above the 50th, she weighs 10lbs 2oz now that was a week and a half ago, she seems to be really really long rather than like chubby if that makes sense, she’s in 3-6 grows already because her toes were smushed up in the 0-3 haha

she constantly stares at her right hand too at the min

She might have just realised they're there and be fascinated by them. They all seem to go through a stage of staring at their hands

Sorry, I meant to put too she drop off the 75th percentile to just above the 50th, she weighs 10lbs 2oz now that was a week and a half ago

Was she weighed on the same scales, by the same person and at the same time of day?

Were they happy with her weight gain or did they say there was a problem?

Have you tried offering 5floz at a feed abs will she take it?

@PanicBuyingSprouts sorry only not seeing your message! Thank you! Yeah definitely, I have an awful habit of googling when I don’t need too, yeah I offer her 5oz regularly at the moment but she doesn’t take it and mostly always sticks to her 3 and a half to 4oz every time, no she was weighed a couple of weeks later when they told me that she dropped a percentile, it was the same weighing scales though I think but was with the other HV it was, yeah she had no concern really!