Newborn twitching in sleep?

[dreamer_x]

My nearly-week old is doing a hell of a lot of twitching in her sleep at the minute. I read online that it's pretty normal, but that seems to be little twitches and when they're startled etc.
These aren't little twitches. She's currently lay on her playmat fast asleep and I can see her twitching from the sofa.
My grandparents came round last night to meet her and from the other side of the room, I could see all 4 limbs twitching away, quite violently!
Is it normal or is it something I should be concerned about? Half the time it looks like she could be having a bit of a fit! I'm slightly worried about it at the minute :/

 

[lewood88]

If it was me id take her to a&e xx

 

[Clo]

It is difficult to know without seeing it. Is it only at certain times (like if she falls asleep after a feed, or just before she wakes up hungry?).

Sometimes my baby throws his arms and legs about if he's hungry or if he has wind so it could be something like that.

It could also be fits however (I quite often worry about this with my baby as my 2 year old started having fits over Christmas.

If you are worried I would video it and show your doctor. xxx

 

[Dime Cuando]

My LO twitched a lot - arms, legs...it was extreme and used to freak me out. I mentioned it in her first week check-up and they said not to worry.

She's 5 months now and grown out of it.

 

[Bonnie11]

New babies can be quite jerky, however I would video it and show your health visitor to put your mind at rest

 

[supertabby]

Is it frequent fast twitching or going from fairly still to throwing out limbs? Just wondering if it's the startle reflex (which is normal and healthy development). If it's more like a fit then video it and show your doctor (fits and convulsions are not unusual in babies but should always be investigated).

 

[dragonfly26]

Babies nervous systems aren't fully developed for the first few year. But if you are really concerned I would bring it up to her doctor

 

[dreamer_x]

Thanks everyone. It's not the startle reflex, she obviously does that too, but she just has little periods of jerking her arms and legs about, it can last for about 5 minutes at a time, rather than just the couple of movements if there's a loud noise etc.
It is only in her sleep too, she doesn't do it when she's awake. I did some good googling last night and it could be something called Sleep Myoclonus, but obviously I don't want to go on that so I'm going to mention it to the midwife on Tuesday and see what she says and try and video it like you've all said.
Thanks

 

[Oasis717]

When my son was in his first week he used to literally shake in his sleep, I'd never seen it in my other children and I was really bothered so I rang up the Delivery Suite and spoke to a lovely midwife that assured me it was completely normal and he'd soon stop, which within two weeks he did, I'm not sure if your lo is doing the same but he would literally shake and judder from head to foot! Anyway he soon stopped and he's absolutely fine. I checked with the hv also and she said it was normal while they slept xx.

 

[felix555]

Does she have reflux? Could it be Sandifer's Syndrome?

 

[dreamer_x]

Does she have reflux? Could it be Sandifer's Syndrome?

Jesus, I don't know it could be, she does have quite a bit of reflux.
I'll definitely mention it to the midwife on Tuesday. I could be worrying about nothing but I don't even care, I want to know she's alright she gets hiccups quite often too. Oh god I'm worried now

 

[felix555]

Oh please don't be worried! Look it up on youtube and see if that's what your LO is doing.

It's something they outgrow.

 

[Noo]

If you are concerned about your child's health you need to take them to a medical professional

 

[Oasis717]

Please try not to worry too much. I know how hard that is believe me but it could be absolutely nothing, of course your worried and you want lo checked out which you're going to do which is absolutely right if you're worried but there's every chance it's just normal as with my son, hopefully, try and hang in there until you can get her seen and put your mind at rest. Lots luv xxx

 

[dreamer_x]

I looked it up on youtube, it seems that Sandifer's happens when they're awake too? She's only doing it in her sleep.
It's hard to take her to a professional when midwives tell me that it can probably wait until my appointment on Tuesday, and the doctors aren't open on the weekend either.
I think at the very least she has a sensitive stomach - she does have quite a lot of reflux, and when I try and breastfeed her, she arches her back away from me an awful lot - it's making it really stressful to try and breastfeed her.

 

[Oasis717]

As with me it was only when my lo was asleep, he didn't do it awake hopefully the mw can ease your mind when you see her.xxx

 

[dreamer_x]

Just an update for anyone who's interested - we mentioned it to the midwife on Tuesday who got us to see the Doctor on Wednesday. Doctor didn't know what to make of it so rang pediatrics at the hospital who said it would be best for them to see her in person, so we took her down on the Wednesday evening and after a lot of questions and watching the videos that I'd taken, the consultant diagnosed it as Benign Sleep Myoclonus, which I had read about online. He said it's nothing to worry about, quite common and that she should grow out of it!
The relief was indescribable!

 

[felix555]

Good news!

 

[Oasis717]

Fantastic so pleased xxx

 

[Bonnie11]

Great news, glad she's ok xx