8 week old not meeting milestones

[Confusedmum32]

I have an 8 week old daughter that isn't meeting her developmental milestones. She has a very hard time keeping her head up (havent given a lot of tummy time until recently) and rarely does it and isn't wanting to engage much. She does occasionally smile and will sometimes talk and stare back. She was hospitalised at 6 weeks due to being sick. Doctor wasn't sure what it was and she was flushed with antibiotics which made her worse and gave her thrush. Fast forward to day and she's better but still having issues getting her to eat enough. Has anyone ever expected this? Has your child gained more neck/head control later on?

Just for comparison my 8 week old is not smiling yet. She moves her head but has very limited control. They all develop at their own pace. Don't worry.

@Confusedmum32 who told you about the milestones? And can you say a bit more about her sickness and the antibiotics?

Ok well she first became sick about 3 weeks ago. Went to doctor as I knew something was wrong. She was just sleeping and not eating. Doctor said she had bronchitis and to take her to emergency, which is what I did. Emergency room doctor said to just give her panadol and sent us home. Went back in that next night as she was worse. They did a urine sample and said she had a UTI. Were kept in hospital for 2 nights as she was severely dehydrated and they flushed her with antibiotics. Took her home under instructions to give oral antibiotics for next 4 days. She lasted not even 48hours on the oral antibiotics as they gave her severe diarrhoea and she dehydrated very quickly. Back in hospital on an IV. Different doctor did some urine tests/blood work and said she did not have a UTI as it was a contaminated urine sample. Once hydrated we were sent home with no answers as to why she was so ill and we still don't know. She is only just starting to drink more than 400mls of milk a day now but is still a struggle with each bottle to get her to drink.
Health nurse appointment 4 days ago said she was delayed and said she'd send a referral of for physiotherapists for her and to see a other doctors. She wasn't tracking and makings cooing noises at visit. 2 days ago ended back up in hospital again as we went to a doctor check up and weigh in amd the doctor filled in her weight chart and said she was dramatically losing weight and to take her back to hospital. In hope for the 4th time now and the paediatrician said the doctor filled in her chart wrong and was plotting it at a 7month old not week old and even though she's eating less she's putting weight on. He also said she is tracking and was making baby noises at that visit as I brought concerns up with him. I'm just really worried as been told so many different things lately. Sorry for the long post.

Way too early to be worried about milestones. She’s 8 weeks. Worry in a couple of months x

@Confusedmum32 I get why you are so worried having read your update. What an awful start. From what u you describe it does sound like the nurse was tracking incorrectly. Providing baby is feeding, pooing, weeing, alert , able to sleep and appears settled and healthy I honestly wouldn't worry about head control and babbling just yet. But if you are concerned do speak to your hv.

This sounds so stressful and is the classic crap care we get from the NHS at the moment. It sounds possible to me that her illness may have held her back a bit and is taking her some time to recover from? I'd definitely demand a follow up though and show them this comment as too go in to explain how confusing all the advice has been so far! It's so hard to just keep pushing but you are her mum and know her best xx

Another perspective: was she an early baby? Those 'milestones' are also for babies born at 40 weeks - mine were 42/43 weekers and we're always a bit ahead and seemed sturdier than their peers (everyone is the same now though!) but actually it was because they were actually 2/3 weeks older - up to 4/5 weeks when friends babies were born at 38 weeks - and this makes a big difference at this age xxxxx

Hi @Confusedmum32! wondered how you are doing now? x