Overreacting...or cause for concern (cerebral palsy? Epilepsy?) Googling is stressing me out

[Anonymous]

My 18 week old is a darling, happy boy, has gained about 5 pounds since birth (originally 8.2 oz, uncomplicated vaginal delivery at 38 weeks). He smiles, coos, laughs and tries to mimic...but...I can't shake the feeling that something might be a little off with him. He is extremely stiff-legged sometimes, (for instance, I can barely shove him into a carrier because he will lock his legs up so tight),l--particularly in his left leg; and conversely, I've always thought his left hand in particular felt very floppy. The thing is, neither is constant. When I mentioned the floppy hand to the ped when he was a few weeks old, he was able to get him to grasp strongly, so said not to worry about it, so I didn't. But I made the mistake of googling stiff leg muscles tonight--which all pointed to Cerebral palsy or less likely epilepsy--and now I have a pit in my stomach and am thinking back through all the other little things I've noticed since he was born.

Although he has since stopped, he used to hold his neck completely back when we'd hold him for the first several weeks of his life, and would often arch his back, which I read at the time can be the result of a neurological issue. He also had about 6 odd little episodes when he was a few weeks old that at the time we called "hulking out"--his whole body would get extremely stiff and he would scream out in agony and his eyeballs would shake from side to side (horizontally). It was scary--seemed almost like a seizure--but it was over quickly and doc said not to worry about that either, so I didn't. But even thinking back to birth, my LO had a smashed left nostril and it took him about a week or more to be able to fully open his left eye (which also appears to have a stork bite or some sort of faint reddish birth mark).

I suppose I'm just looking for some third party perspective on this, bc my husband thinks I'm a Hypochondriac already and so automatically dismisses any of my concerns, and my ped is super laid back (which I typically appreciate).

[Anonymous]

I think it's worth getting a second opinion. My brother has CP and it was my mom's gut feelings that made the doctors finally diagnose. At the very least it's nothing and puts you at ease, if it is something then you can start gaining information and early intervention asap.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have an anxiety disorder, trust your gut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you have an anxiety disorder, trust your gut.

Well,OP probably has an anxiety disorder.

OP, stop googling and make an appointment with a developmental pediatrician. No one can diagnose your kid over the internet.

[Anonymous]

Nystagmus?
I knew something was not right with my oldest son but the pediatrician brushed off all my concerns. I should have listened to my gut. Would have saved us time getting into early intervention.

[Anonymous]

I would also call early intervention to get an evaluation done. It's free and done in your home. While they can't make any diagnosis, if there are needs they can start addressing them. It can take a month to get an appointment and you can always cancel it if it is not needed.

[Anonymous]

If you see something, try to video it with your phone. That helped my friends whose dd was eventually diagnosed with a type of muscular dystrophy. It's honestly hard to say from your description - could be something, or not. Don't go crazy googling symptoms, but try to build clarity about what you are seeing. Maybe document what you are concerned about when it happens.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for the supportive replies. Re: nystagmus, the ped specifically said nay to that when I raised the odd little episodes, though I'm not sure exactly how he ruled it out. I will mention the rigidity at his four month appt. in a couple weeks, and depending on how that convo goes, will call early intervention if I think we need a second opinion. And for 23:31, I'm so sorry you had to go through that--hope everything is ok with your son.

Im not sure if it was snark or sincere, but I do have a bit of anxiety, and though it is pretty well managed, it does make it difficult for me to trust my gut. But as they say, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you.

[Anonymous]

Also, just to be clear, I'm not hoping for an internet diagnosis...just wondering if this sounds similar to anything anyone else had experienced...or if someone has any reassuring explanation of/ anecdotes about infant rigidity (e.g.--it's not uncommon! They often grow out of it!) to take the edge of the google search results until I'm able to discuss with a doctor.

[Anonymous]

It could be anything including gas/reflux. Kids with reflux stiffen up, arch their back and are great screamers (its their special talent). Get a second opinion.

[Anonymous]

CP mom here. I don't think the "floppy hand" means anything, first off. Secondly, it's difficult to diagnose CP at the age of 18 weeks but there are some good ways to get some feedback on your child's issues.

You could (1) make an appointment with a really good physical therapist for an assessment. If you are in Maryland, I recommend Rebecca Leonard at Early Intervention Associates. She can certainly comment on the tone issues (stiffness) and whether that's normal baby stuff or whether it's hypotonia or CP or something else.

You could (2) ask for an appointment at Kennedy-Krieger with neurologist Alec Hoon, who is their foremost expert on CP and other movement disorders. He will definitely shoot you straight on what's going on here.

I can't advise you on the episodes/seizures issue but it sounds like you need reassurance in some form.

Hang in there! Even if this is CP, which is unlikely, your child can get early intervention and meet his milestones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for the supportive replies. Re: nystagmus, the ped specifically said nay to that when I raised the odd little episodes, though I'm not sure exactly how he ruled it out. I will mention the rigidity at his four month appt. in a couple weeks, and depending on how that convo goes, will call early intervention if I think we need a second opinion. And for 23:31, I'm so sorry you had to go through that--hope everything is ok with your son.

Im not sure if it was snark or sincere, but I do have a bit of anxiety, and though it is pretty well managed, it does make it difficult for me to trust my gut. But as they say, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you.

No, I think you're paranoid.

Most of what you're describing are normal baby reflexes:

Babies have barely have any neck control, that's why they hold their heads completely back.

Stop googling. Read a book on infant development for Pete's sake and buy a different baby carrier if you're having trouble getting him in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for the supportive replies. Re: nystagmus, the ped specifically said nay to that when I raised the odd little episodes, though I'm not sure exactly how he ruled it out. I will mention the rigidity at his four month appt. in a couple weeks, and depending on how that convo goes, will call early intervention if I think we need a second opinion. And for 23:31, I'm so sorry you had to go through that--hope everything is ok with your son.

Im not sure if it was snark or sincere, but I do have a bit of anxiety, and though it is pretty well managed, it does make it difficult for me to trust my gut. But as they say, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you.

No, I think you're paranoid.

Most of what you're describing are normal baby reflexes:


Babies have barely have any neck control, that's why they hold their heads completely back.

Stop googling. Read a book on infant development for Pete's sake and buy a different baby carrier if you're having trouble getting him in it.

CP mom here. This is not only cruel, but ignorant. I do not know whether this infant has cerebral palsy, but PP, if you've ever spent an hour trying to dress, toilet or put a kid with CP in a car seat you would know how deeply ignorant you sound. The problem is not the carrier if this child has CP. It's called spasticity. Perhaps you should google it.

[Anonymous]

OP, my kids are NT (although one had lots of issues during early childhood that were resolved through interventions) so please take this for what it's worth. But I think you are overreacting, and I think PPs who are advising you to go see the "foremost expert on CP" based on a description of baby reflexes that are extremely common (arching his back!! locking his legs!!) are also overreacting.

There are plenty of times when you may need to trust your gut and demand to see world class specialists. But as a FTM, you're more about Google now than an informed gut instinct. Talk to your ped about your concerns. Stop trying to practice medicine by Google. Enjoy your child. And perhaps if you can't get over this, consider googling how PPD often manifests as anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kids are NT (although one had lots of issues during early childhood that were resolved through interventions) so please take this for what it's worth. But I think you are overreacting, and I think PPs who are advising you to go see the "foremost expert on CP" based on a description of baby reflexes that are extremely common (arching his back!! locking his legs!!) are also overreacting.

There are plenty of times when you may need to trust your gut and demand to see world class specialists. But as a FTM, you're more about Google now than an informed gut instinct. Talk to your ped about your concerns. Stop trying to practice medicine by Google. Enjoy your child. And perhaps if you can't get over this, consider googling how PPD often manifests as anxiety.

I think diagnosing OP with PPD is as hypocritical as calling her out for suspecting her infant has CP. And NT mom, you have no idea what it's like to suspect your child has special needs and not be taken seriously. Seriously, STFU. Telling someone they have PPD is okay in your book because they think their child has special needs, according to your "informed gut"? Really?? Really??


You really suck. Please don't come to Special Needs.