Holding breath in sleep?

[Raindancer411]

Anyone else finding their babies hold their breath when sleeping? Last night I went to check on my little one and couldn't see her belly rising so put my hand on her belly and still couldn't feel anything. I gave her a little wiggly and she stirred. Scared me so much I couldn't sleep for an hour. I think I remember my first doing it but cannot remember for sure.

I think this is very worrying and something I would see a doctor about.

If your little one is very young (under 4 months, definately if under 2 months) I would get this medically checked as a matter of urgency.

It's not something you see usually in babies as they sleep.

@BabySleepTeacherUK I cannot be sure she was actually holding her breath but now you have worried me more😳 Other half had looked it up and said it's part of their breathing patterns

I was told that's completely normal. My dd did it since birth and still does occasionally at 2 BUT if it bothers you, call your GP and ask them. Advice from unqualified strangers on the internet will not put your mind at rest like a doctor will.

@Bobbiepin Thanks you have made me feel a bit better. I have the Health Visitor coming tmw so was going to mention it to her. I suffer from anxiety and it always seems worse at night when I have more time to think

That's understandable. Definitely speak to your health visitor, maybe about the anxiety too. Are you receiving support? Nothing more anxiety inducing than a new baby!

@Bobbiepin Other half watched her last night and said she doesn't seem to hold her breath but at one point she was shallow breathing so he could bearing feel her tummy moving. Maybe it's just part of the different breathing they cycle through and I just happened to check her then.

Yes they know I have anxiety and I was on a pregnancy anxiety course but that has now ended. The talking therapies won't take me on for at least 3/4 months after birth as they say you need breaks between therapies. I shall talk to the health visitor about it again.

This is totally normal when they’re newborns because they can hold their breath. Suggest you have a sensor mat type baby monitor (I have an Angelcare) for your peace of mind.

Pauses in breathing aren’t uncommon but definitely get it checked out so that you can be sure it’s nothing to worry about.

We got Snuza Hero monitors which clip to the front of the nappy and detect movement of the stomach - if there’s a long pause (think it’s 20 seconds) then vibrate to try to rouse the baby a little and if not they alarm.

Thank you both :) I looked at the snuza but no where has them and amazon have them at £119! How's the battery life?

I did look at the mat but as of what she sleeps in, it's a hard mattress and she would have to lay directly on the pad. I thought they have to go under a mattress?

Battery life was really good and I believe it blips at you if the battery is low so you know to change it but I don’t think we ever had to change the battery.

Other option which is available in the U.K. now but wasn’t when my twins were born is the Owlet which is an o2 monitor they wear like a sock. They’re very pricey but I really wished I had them when the twins were born. The issue with both of them whenever they got sick was that they were breathing rapidly and working hard to breathe but their oxygen levels were low. They both have enlarged adenoids so would have to work harder to breathe and then get tired and their breathing would pause. DT1 now has obstructive sleep apnoea and when we’ve done sleep studies we’ve been his o2 drop into the 70s.

This is why I’m suggesting it’s worth getting it checked out as there could be an underlying issue like that but equally it might be nothing. Our two did sound like warthogs all the time though and you could see they were working hard to breathe because the skin around their ribs would pull in when they were breathing.

It’s probably totally normal but when babies and breathing are concerned it’s always worth getting medical advice.

@Raindancer411

Thank you both :) I looked at the snuza but no where has them and amazon have them at £119! How's the battery life?

I did look at the mat but as of what she sleeps in, it's a hard mattress and she would have to lay directly on the pad. I thought they have to go under a mattress?

My son’s angelcare sensor mat goes under his mattress.

Have a look on eBay - there are several brand new and also some lightly used ones at a fraction of the Amazon price if you do want one :)

Thanks all, I shall have a look.

The health visitor wasn't too concerned about the breathing I described and said they cycle through different levels of sleep and that's probably where she is in a deep sleep. I did find a DrSeare page that explained the levels of sleep and he describes a even but shallow breathing as part of the cycle.

She is due her first injections next week so I may try and mention it to the doctor when he is doing her check.

Thanks all, I shall have a look.

The health visitor wasn't too concerned about the breathing I described and said they cycle through different levels of sleep and that's probably where she is in a deep sleep. I did find a DrSeare page that explained the levels of sleep and he describes a even but shallow breathing as part of the cycle.

She is due her first injections next week so I may try and mention it to the doctor when he is doing her check.