Development issues :(

[wemustntpanic]

We've been referred to a development specialist because the doctors think his head control isn't good enough. He's only 10 weeks and I think they wouldn't have been overly concerned but because he had fits when he was born and was in the nicu for a week when he was born I think they are being cautious. He had an MRI scan as well which showed some abnormalities but was inconclusive...
He can sort of support his head but has no balance if you know what I mean and when we do tummy time he doesn't lift his head at all. Also when pulled up to sitting from lying down he doesn't really bring his head in line with his body much... I think I can see improvements but first baby and all that I'm not really sure what he "should" be doing.
What was your baby doing at this age? I kinda hoped that we'd be discharged from the hospital soon but now he's going to be an out patient until at least 6 months

 

[MaisyMay]

Hugs to you for a worrying start with your lo. I'm sure the doctors are just being extra cautious, which is great cos sometimes first time mum's are labelled as neurotic and their babies don't get the medical attention that they need. At 10 weeks my ds could hold his head up well, but he could do this from day 1. That being said every baby is different. I wouldn't try and compare because it often leads to worry. I remember being really worried about my son not focusing on my face at 4 weeks. I posted a thread on here and most other babies his age seemed to be doing it. I got really worried and he just did it in his own time about 5 days later.
I hope everything goes well with lo and if you can see improvement that's really positive. Trust your instincts x x

 

[Kizzy454]

Hunni Molly is 10 months now and its only been in the last month shes gained full head support! she cant roll or stand on her legs.

Massive hugs as i no it can be stressful and worrying

 

[Katerpillar]

My LO has just started to support her own head in the last week! (15 weeks) I worried that she was really behind but she just woke up one day and was doing it! 10 weeks seems really early to be expecting your LO to do it...I thought 12 weeks was the average 'normal' time. Try not to worry...hope everything turns out ok for you

 

[summer rain]

With my eldest he had some extra bone on the back of his skull and a port wine stain over it which is often a sign of certain medical conditions associated with developmental delay. At around ten weeks he had a check up in the hospital for it and he was doing all the things you were told your LO should be doing and the paediatricians said with my son that this was more than they'd expect at this age and that most babies they see aren't able to do all of the above by this age. Try not to worry I think they are just being over cautious xx

 

[MaisyMay]

With my eldest he had some extra bone on the back of his skull and a port wine stain over it which is often a sign of certain medical conditions associated with developmental delay. At around ten weeks he had a check up in the hospital for it and he was doing all the things you were told your LO should be doing and the paediatricians said with my son that this was more than they'd expect at this age and that most babies they see aren't able to do all of the above by this age. Try not to worry I think they are just being over cautious xx

My ds has a little port wine stain on the base of his skull, it's kind of patchy rather than solid and it light in colour (pale pink) My mum and me have it too, I just thought it was a birth mark he had inherited, I never knew it was a sign of a medical condition??

 

[MaisyMay]

With my eldest he had some extra bone on the back of his skull and a port wine stain over it which is often a sign of certain medical conditions associated with developmental delay. At around ten weeks he had a check up in the hospital for it and he was doing all the things you were told your LO should be doing and the paediatricians said with my son that this was more than they'd expect at this age and that most babies they see aren't able to do all of the above by this age. Try not to worry I think they are just being over cautious xx

My ds has a little port wine stain on the base of his skull, it's kind of patchy rather than solid and it light in colour (pale pink) My mum and me have it too, I just thought it was a birth mark he had inherited, I never knew it was a sign of a medical condition??

Just googled it and my ds has a salmon patch not a port wine stain, just thought it was a birth mark, guess it kind of is. It's cute whatever it is

 

[pinklightbulb]

I hope the docs are just being over-careful and your LO is fine

 

[momofmisters]

My DS is 10wks this friday and honestly I haven't even thought to try to pull him to sitting as he doesn't have the head control to do it yet. When holding him he does lift his head and and is very strong. But I still support his head most of the time.

I think your doctors are just being careful since your DS had such a rough start.

 

[wemustntpanic]

Thanks everyone, I hope the doctors are just being over cautious too. Better that way than the other.

Interesting about the port wine stain, he also has a red birth mark on the base of his skull too and the doctor kept asking us if he had any new birthmarks. (He doesn't) but I was too frazzled to ask why they were asking at the time.

 

[summer rain]

With my eldest he had some extra bone on the back of his skull and a port wine stain over it which is often a sign of certain medical conditions associated with developmental delay. At around ten weeks he had a check up in the hospital for it and he was doing all the things you were told your LO should be doing and the paediatricians said with my son that this was more than they'd expect at this age and that most babies they see aren't able to do all of the above by this age. Try not to worry I think they are just being over cautious xx

My ds has a little port wine stain on the base of his skull, it's kind of patchy rather than solid and it light in colour (pale pink) My mum and me have it too, I just thought it was a birth mark he had inherited, I never knew it was a sign of a medical condition??

Just googled it and my ds has a salmon patch not a port wine stain, just thought it was a birth mark, guess it kind of is. It's cute whatever it is

It can be a sign of a medical condition if it also has extra bone growth directly under the port wine stain however this is only in some cases . With my son he was one of the ones where it was just coincidence and he is completely fine, it was 9 or 10 months though before we finally got confirmation of this. My second eldest has the port wine stain but without any extra bone and my nephew has the same. These days they are able to do an ultrasound in the hospital as soon as baby is born (when my second youngest was in SCBU there was another little boy with the same issue and they could give him the all clear right away) xx

 

[SaraEmily]

My LO has this birth mark as well. I wasn't aware it could be a problem. Is there any way to tell if there's extra bone growth without an ultrasound?

 

[summer rain]

They would have spotted any problem when the paediatrician checks them within 72 hours of birth, it's one of the things they check for as routine. Any extra bone growth is usually obvious from the outside, with this condition there are usually vein abnormalities and possibly brain abnormalities immediately under the skull where the birthmark is from what I understand and an ultrasound done early enough before the soft spots start to close, will usually detect this so please don't worry xx

 

[sequeena]

I want to offer you some my son is behind in his development (by a year) so I know how scary this situation is. I hope everything is ok x

 

[baileybubs]

My LG is almost 10 weeks and she isnt supporting her own head yet either, I wouldnt worry too much, like others have said they are probably just being overly cautious.

My DS is 10wks this friday and honestly I haven't even thought to try to pull him to sitting as he doesn't have the head control to do it yet. When holding him he does lift his head and and is very strong. But I still support his head most of the time.

I think your doctors are just being careful since your DS had such a rough start.

My baby is also 10 weeks this Friday (birthday buddies!) and she is the same, seems to be strong and lifts her head but I also still need to support her head most of the time.

 

[SaraEmily]

They would have spotted any problem when the paediatrician checks them within 72 hours of birth, it's one of the things they check for as routine. Any extra bone growth is usually obvious from the outside, with this condition there are usually vein abnormalities and possibly brain abnormalities immediately under the skull where the birthmark is from what I understand and an ultrasound done early enough before the soft spots start to close, will usually detect this so please don't worry xx

Okay that's good to hear. She's already had x-rays of her head for plagio so I'm sure they would've caught it then too if something were wrong.