Jitters and shakes

KZD · Nov 23rd, 2009, 09:12 AM

Hello all, I'm a NEW mom of a preemie. I never in my wildest dream thought that I would have be a mom of a preemie - but here we are

He was born just a tad bit early so not too bad. He was born 34 wk 6 days! My question is: Everything else seems to be going great *knock on wood* but he still has these 'jitters' where he acts as though he was just startled but over and over...his hands and feet also shake..

We checked with the Pediatrician who said it's completely normal even in full term babies....but he didn't specify whether this would be permenent or if it goes away?

premmiemum123 · Nov 23rd, 2009, 09:18 AM

Hello, glad to hear your LO is doing well. It is strange as you don't expect your LO to be early, it didn't cross my mind anyway.

I would not worry, babies don't gain full control over their limbs until they are about 2 or 3 months old corrected age, so yes full term babies do this also. Babies will shake their arms and legs and will flail everywhere until their muscles grow stronger.

Best of wishes to you and your LO...x

bumpsmum · Nov 23rd, 2009, 09:39 AM

welcome

congrats on your new baby, glad to hear you little boy is doing so well. These involuntary movements will die down the next few months, Matthew had them alot until maybe 2-3 months old - 'startle reflex' I think this is called and common in all babies so nothing to be overly concerned about which your DR should have explained more fully to put your mind at ease. You will find the forum a great resource and place of support and most importantly to brag and show off your wee one - we are all rather shamless in this area

x

Dona · Nov 23rd, 2009, 10:06 AM

Oh the startle reflex...I remember that! Yeah it will go in a few months time. I swaddled for the first couple of months due to that as it can wake up babies.

Welcome to the forum!

bumpsmum · Nov 23rd, 2009, 10:12 AM

oh yeah - swaddling helped forgot about that xx

AtomicPink · Nov 23rd, 2009, 12:01 PM

oooh alex had her wee shivers too! i forgot about that!

Foogirl · Nov 27th, 2009, 17:49 PM

Welcome and congratulations! As has been said, I can guarantee someone here will have experienced some or all of what you are going through and can give some great advice.

Startles, involuntary jerky legs, and the involuntary shivers were commonplace for Abby. Most have gone now but she does give a shiver every so often and she's nearly seven months. I was worried too but it is entirely normal.

premmiemum123 · Nov 30th, 2009, 02:43 AM

Emily still has some involuntary movements, one particular wierd one is when she wakes up, her arm bent at 90 degrees moves continuously from her tummy to her mouth, it looks as if she is punching herself in the mouth, she does it for about 10 secs. Really odd.

Nov 23rd, 2009, 09:12 AM	#1
KZD Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 462	Jitters and shakes Hello all, I'm a NEW mom of a preemie. I never in my wildest dream thought that I would have be a mom of a preemie - but here we are He was born just a tad bit early so not too bad. He was born 34 wk 6 days! My question is: Everything else seems to be going great knock on wood but he still has these 'jitters' where he acts as though he was just startled but over and over...his hands and feet also shake.. We checked with the Pediatrician who said it's completely normal even in full term babies....but he didn't specify whether this would be permenent or if it goes away?

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 09:18 AM	#2
premmiemum123 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Surrey Posts: 464	Hello, glad to hear your LO is doing well. It is strange as you don't expect your LO to be early, it didn't cross my mind anyway. I would not worry, babies don't gain full control over their limbs until they are about 2 or 3 months old corrected age, so yes full term babies do this also. Babies will shake their arms and legs and will flail everywhere until their muscles grow stronger. Best of wishes to you and your LO...x

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 09:39 AM	#3
bumpsmum Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: greenock, scotland Posts: 1,611	welcome congrats on your new baby, glad to hear you little boy is doing so well. These involuntary movements will die down the next few months, Matthew had them alot until maybe 2-3 months old - 'startle reflex' I think this is called and common in all babies so nothing to be overly concerned about which your DR should have explained more fully to put your mind at ease. You will find the forum a great resource and place of support and most importantly to brag and show off your wee one - we are all rather shamless in this area x

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 10:06 AM	#4
Dona Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,121	Oh the startle reflex...I remember that! Yeah it will go in a few months time. I swaddled for the first couple of months due to that as it can wake up babies. Welcome to the forum!

Status: Offline

Nov 23rd, 2009, 10:12 AM	#5
bumpsmum Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: greenock, scotland Posts: 1,611	oh yeah - swaddling helped forgot about that xx

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Nov 23rd, 2009, 12:01 PM	#6
AtomicPink Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 19,122	oooh alex had her wee shivers too! i forgot about that!

Status: Offline

Nov 27th, 2009, 17:49 PM	#7
Foogirl Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Falkirk, Scotland Posts: 4,604	Welcome and congratulations! As has been said, I can guarantee someone here will have experienced some or all of what you are going through and can give some great advice. Startles, involuntary jerky legs, and the involuntary shivers were commonplace for Abby. Most have gone now but she does give a shiver every so often and she's nearly seven months. I was worried too but it is entirely normal.

Status: Offline

Nov 30th, 2009, 02:43 AM	#8
premmiemum123 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Surrey Posts: 464	Emily still has some involuntary movements, one particular wierd one is when she wakes up, her arm bent at 90 degrees moves continuously from her tummy to her mouth, it looks as if she is punching herself in the mouth, she does it for about 10 secs. Really odd.

Status: Offline

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