very sleepy newborn has a flow murmur

10 replies

vivie · 21/12/2004 13:19

Hi All,
Ds2 is 5 weeks old and seems to do nothing but sleep and feed. If he's awake for more than an hour he gets upset and cries until we put him back to bed again. He's feeding well and gaining weight and in the brief times he's awake and not feeding he seems alert - and I wouldn't worry except that he has a heart murmur. The GP who picked it up says that it doesn't sound like a big one, and he doesn't seem like a poorly baby to me (but I'm only a mum.....) and we've been referred for a scan in the new year.
The GP called it a flow murmur but I don't really know what that means.
Anyway, should I be worried, or do newborns really need to sleep 18 hours a day? Thanks.

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TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 21/12/2004 13:31

newborns need to sleep for 18 hours + a day

relax and enjoy it it won't last

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 21/12/2004 13:32

an hour is a long time to be awake for a 5 week old BTW

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 21/12/2004 13:33

oh and 1 in 3 babies are diagnosed with a heart murmer ... so I wouldn't worry unduly about that either especially as Doc says not a bad one

Original poster

vivie · 21/12/2004 13:49

thanks.... Ds1 didn't sleep at all when he was newborn (breastfeeding nightmare) so I have no experience with newborns who are content! 1 in 3 babies have heart murmurs - I didn't realise it was so common.

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TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 21/12/2004 13:52

at my spelling of murmur

copied this over from babycentre (I think the 1 in 3 stat was for newborns .. as in first few days)

Is it serious?
It's a common misconception that a heart murmur is necessarily a symptom of a heart disorder. 'Around 50 per cent of all children have a heart murmur and in most cases this will cause no problems at all ? the noise is caused by the normal healthy workings of the heart,' says Dr Robert Tulloh, consultant paediatric cardiologist at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital in London. 'People sometimes refer to these cases as "innocent" murmurs, but I do not use this term as it implies the child has a medical condition, when in fact he or she is perfectly healthy.'

HTH

Nome · 21/12/2004 14:14

ds had a murmur picked up when he was born. The consultant said it was, 'Interesting but trivial!'
And he was right. A scan a year later showed it had completely gone.
If you had a blue baby you'd know, and if ds2 is eating well and gaining then you're doing fine. We were told that the more serious murmurs lead to poor feeding as they don't have the strength to suck. We were also told that only 1 in 10 of the murmurs picked up in tiny babies still need treatment/monitoring after a year. So that must be (maths not my strong point!) a tenth of a third. Not many anyway. Don't let it spoil your Christmas!

Santasluckylittlehelper · 21/12/2004 14:17

Vivie - my dd has heart problems. Its good that the murmur has been picked up and that you are being referred. Try not to worry too much though, all newborns sleep a lot. Its good news that your ds is feeding well and gaining weight as many babies with heart defects don't so its a good indication that this maybe an innocent murmur. Where are you being referred to for the scan?

Minstrel · 21/12/2004 14:19

My ds (now 1) was born with a heart murmur. I was told that when babies are in the womb there is a valve which remains open in the heart, this valve is supposed to close when they are born, very much like a door slamming and in some cases this doesn't happen until a few days/weeks after the birth. Anyway I was let out of hospital after 3 days with ds as he was feeding and sleeping well. We went to see a heart specialist two weeks later and the murmur was no longer there.
HTH

Piffleoffagus · 21/12/2004 14:43

My dd was also sleepy and was dx'd with a murmur at 6 wks, however ours was a systolic radiating murmur (how they tell that from a stethescope I'll never know)
My dd never gained weight that went hand in hand with the type of heart murmur, along with blue tinges to mouth eyes and nose. it is unlikely to be anything at all serious if your baby is gaining weight and thriving and is nice and pink, my dd's heart problem was very serious so all her calories went on forcing bloodflow through her heart and none went on putting on weight, thankfully after treatment she is a1, small but perfect at age 2
Your ds sounds lovely, enjoy the peace while it lasts Sorry this is me me me but I though it might worry you less if you get what a really bad murmur baby was like...
Forgive me if I make you worry more!
xx
Piff

Original poster

vivie · 22/12/2004 13:30

Thanks for your messages everyone. I had no idea that heart murmurs were so common and I suppose it was a bit of a shock to think that there might be something wrong. I've got to say that after reading your posts I think I was worrying over nothing, he's a lovely pink colour and he's round and plump as anything. Having said that I think I should make a big effort to get him weighed this week.
Ds2 was born at home so the GP picked the murmur up when she came to see us at home the next day and it was still there at our 2 week check and again at 4 weeks. Our scan will be at the local hospital but I'm not sure when it will be.
Thanks again.

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