April 2014 Moms

Unusual Behavior?

Hi Everyone. I guess I am kind of a lurker. I look at this board occasionally to get great tips and insight. I made a few posts regarding GD during my pregnancy and found the responses very helpful.

 I had my son on 4/14 and everything has been great but yesterday something out of the ordinary happened. He was in his swing napping. When he woke up I fed him and put him in his boppy lounger so we could have a little play time (singing songs, reading, making faces). After a few minutes he flailed his arms and legs out as though he was scared. I didn't think much of it but then he did it about 4 more times in the next hour. There was nothing loud going on or anything to scare him. I did pick him up and shortly after he spit up. This was just very unusual behavior for him and it was scary while he was doing it.

Then I did the worse thing...Dr. Google. I found videos of infant spasms and they looked very similar to what happened. Right now I don't think this calls for a trip to the pediatrician but I will keep an eye on it and try to video it if it happens again to show the pediatrician. My issue now is with myself. I can't stop thinking about this and looking up information online. I even had a nightmare about it! I really don't know what I hope to get by posting this. Maybe some tips to relax from anyone who has gone through something similar. Thanks!

Re: Unusual Behavior?

  • It sounds like the Morro (sp?) reflex. Or maybe he had a reflux type experience that scared him. Or maybe it's the thing you googled. I don't know.

    If you're cautious and you call the ped, the nurse will listen to your description and tell you to bring the baby in if you're nervous. And the doctor will look at the baby, determine everything probably looks good, give you some warning signs to look out for, and send you on your way.

    Unfortunately, I'm guessing this is just one of those frustrating times when you're probably not going to get a very clear-cut or satisfying answer.
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  • Thanks! If it happens again I will definitely call. Hopefully it doesn't. Honestly it felt good just to write that out and see your responses that it is probably the startle reflex!
  • Hi Dana,

    My baby is having the same problem when she goes into her Boppy lounger--and she did it over and over again over a two-day span.  I was googling Boppy lounger and Moro reflex; that's how I found your post. I watched the same infantile spasms videos and am now terrified.  Luckily, we had her two-month well visit yesterday and I brought in videos of her doing the movement. The doctor really thinks that it is a sign of stomach or reflux pain and not infantile spasms. I'm not sure why the lounger would exacerbate these symptoms, but my baby also had just spit up before she did this.  Maybe acid refux? Even though the doctor reassured me, I am still feeling very anxious! Let me know what your pediatrician says if you decide to call him/ her.  Also: let's keep in touch about it; I have been a nervous wreck and could use the support about this issue, too. Reading about infantile spasms is terrifying and I'm not certain how to convince myself my baby is okay! 
  • My LO always does this... I wasnt worried till I read this post! Always just thought it was just some kind of startle reflex. He does it just laying on his changing pad too. Now you have me wanting to and yet afraid to google infantile spasms
    BabyFetus Ticker
  •  

    Hi Dana,

    My baby is having the same problem when she goes into her Boppy lounger--and she did it over and over again over a two-day span.  I was googling Boppy lounger and Moro reflex; that's how I found your post. I watched the same infantile spasms videos and am now terrified.  Luckily, we had her two-month well visit yesterday and I brought in videos of her doing the movement. The doctor really thinks that it is a sign of stomach or reflux pain and not infantile spasms. I'm not sure why the lounger would exacerbate these symptoms, but my baby also had just spit up before she did this.  Maybe acid refux? Even though the doctor reassured me, I am still feeling very anxious! Let me know what your pediatrician says if you decide to call him/ her.  Also: let's keep in touch about it; I have been a nervous wreck and could use the support about this issue, too. Reading about infantile spasms is terrifying and I'm not certain how to convince myself my baby is okay! 
     
    Hi! I ended up going to the pedi and he did the same thing on the table in front of the dr. She said that it looked abnormal and referred us to a neurologist. I couldn't get an appt. until the next week and he did it a few more times that day so I freaked out and brought him to the pedi ER. They did a 36 hour EEG (very scary!!) but the neurologist assured me that it was not infant spams or seizures. She said that it appeared to be reflux related and mentioned Sandifer's Syndrome. I went back to the pedi and they put him on a new reflux  medicine. He has been on it for 4 days now. His reflux seems better but I do occasionally see him flail his arms out on his changing table or boppy and it still bothers me. I hope that it is just happening because he is still healing from the reflux. I actually put a wedge under his boppy and changing table now to attempt to keep him upright at all times since it seems to only happen when he is laying flat.  I also looked up Sandifer's syndrome and the videos do look very similar to infant spasms.

  • Sounds like the Moro reflex to me as well. Dd used to do this all the time and the look in her eyes of pure terror used to freak me right out. Luckily she did it at the pediatrician one time so I was reassured it was normal. Some babies just do it more often and more drastically than others I think
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  • irisheyez7irisheyez7 member
    edited August 2014
    My kid was born 4/14 as well and she does this all the time!  Now that her legs are getting stronger she will almost "hulk smash" her legs into the ground when she gets too excited or startled. Reflux very well might explain it and I hope everything works out for you LO.


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Their little neurological systems are maturing and it can lead to some random things sometimes! I think keeping an eye for it becoming chronic is a good idea but my guess is it's nbd and totally normal.
    Mama to a little girl born July 2011 and a little boy born April 2014! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • My does the same thing. It freaks him out. Pedi saw him do it today and mentioned what a strong startle response he still has
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