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Conference moira::parenting_v3

Title:Parenting
Notice:READ 1.27 BEFORE WRITING
Moderator:CSC32::DUBOIS
Created:Wed May 30 1990
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1364
Total number of notes:23848

1304.0. "Dev. Milestones " by CSOA1::TAYLOR_T () Wed Feb 05 1992 11:49

    Does any one know anything about congenital infections?
    My son 6 month old son is having genetic testing done today at
    Childrens Hospital (blood and urine tests).  The nuerologist previously
    thought he had Cerebral Palsy but is now leaning more towards the
    infection.
    
    Jacob isn't meeting the developmental milestones.  He's just now able
    to push up on his arms while on his belly.  The doctor explained
    that the part of his brain that tells his muscles what to do is not
    working right.
    
    Anyone out there have anything to offer?  It will be about 10 days
    before we get the results back.  It will be a long week!
    
    Thanks!
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1304.1have you tried medical notesfile ?MR4DEC::SPERAWed Feb 05 1992 13:088
    I wish I could help but I don't have info...only questions of my own
    which I will hold off on.
    
    However, there is a medical notesconference...VMSZOO::MEDICAL. Perhaps
    a reader there has some insight.
    
    Whatever the diagnosis, I hope you will be able to do something to help
    your child along. I know how frustrating it is to watch them struggle.
1304.2pointersTNPUBS::STEINHARTFri Feb 07 1992 14:5213
    Please see the many notes about development.  Most of them are listed
    in note 13.11, which is a listing for keyword DEVELOPMENT.  For a
    current listing about DEVELOPMENT, please do the following command
    (allow some time for this to complete):  DIR/KEY=DEVELOPMENT_MISC.
    You will find a recent discussion about a baby who is slow to develop.
    
    
    You can also do a search, DIR/KEY=ILLNESSES_MISC.  There was a recent
    discussion about cerebral palsy.
    
    Laura
    
    
1304.3thanks for the directionCSOA1::TAYLOR_TWed Feb 19 1992 12:1615
    Thanks for the info.  Both NOTES have been very helpful!
    
    Now that the neurologist has completed the genetic tests (which came
    back normal)  he wants to do a test called E.M.G.  I'm told this
    is very painful.  They're looking for a muscle disease.  (They will
    put electrodes (needles) into his muscles and nerves).
    
    The little guy has been through so much, I don't know if I can put him
    through this.  My Pediatrician said I should wait and give him a
    chance...for instance if he isn't sitting up by 9 months....  He's 6 1/2                                        
    now and isn't near that.
    
    I'm getting different advise from the doctors.
    
    TT
1304.4Just a slow developer?IOSG::RUMBELOWJWed Feb 19 1992 14:0333
Can you elaborate a bit more on what your son is/isn't doing?

When my daughter was six months old, if you put her down on the floor 
on her tummy she could raise her head and shoulders off the ground 
(supported by her arms), but that was all.  She didn't try to crawl, 
or roll over.  She didn't "stand up" or trampoline on my lap which I 
think is another six-month milestone.  She didn't roll over until she 
was 7.5 months old, didn't "crawl" until 9 months (then it was 
tummy-squirming, real crawling wasn't until about 10 months), didn't 
sit unsupported until 8.5 months.  At six months she did kick her 
legs in the air when lying on her back, reach out for things, grab 
and hold light objects, hold her head up when supported sitting on 
someone's lap, turn her head to respond to noises, look at things, 
smile, laugh, make baby noises.  Just for the record, she first stood up 
(holding on to the furniture) at about 10 months, and started walking round
the furniture at about 11 months.  She started to walk alone at about 14.5 month. 

She's now 2 years 9 months old - walking, running, jumping, climbing etc, in 
other words, perfectly normal.  When she was a baby she had her first 
"milestone" check at 8 months.  I told the doctor that I was worried 
that she (my daughter) wasn't doing much and the doctor just said 
"Don't worry - she will" - and she did!  Having said that, there are things
that other children of the same age do - eg pedal a tricycle, walk downstairs 
on their own - that she doesn't do.  The only difference is that now, I know
that one day she will do these things, when she wants to, and when she's ready.

I do hope that it turns out that there is nothing wrong with your son and I 
hope I don't raise false hopes by entering this.  I know from 
experience how worrying it is when you see other people's babies 
doing so much more than yours, but it doesn't always mean that there 
is something wrong.
                                                             
- Janet
1304.5take a break from itMCIS5::TRIPPWed Feb 19 1992 15:5920
    I just wanted to add that my prayers are with you, that this will turn
    out to be nothing more than a happy, content baby, who just will do
    thing in their own time.
    
    From a personal note, the EMG is not *that* painful.  I had several due
    to back problems, which eventually led to two spinal surgeries.  The
    test does require you to lay still for a period of time, on you back. 
    The probes are a little like the scalp monitors used during labor. Not
    particularly painful, I just didn't like them because the alchol they
    used to clean the skin was COLD!  Trust me, if it was an awful
    experience I'd be the first to tell you.
    
    From where I'm coming from, it sounds like you are reaching "doctor
    burnout", and maybe you simply need to do what I did; except for
    absolute necessities, keep the doctors appointments to a minimun for a
    couple of months.  Then after you've got a clear head, and some
    respite, schedule the testing.
    
    Keep your chin up!
    Lyn
1304.6Don't use that "N" word with me!STUDIO::POIRIERFri Feb 21 1992 15:3227
    Something I have learned about development from my daughter's physical
    therapist is...You CAN influence movement by working with the child and
    a therapist.  When Shannon came home from the hospital, she was given a
    developmental evaluation by a group of therapists from Easter Seals. 
    (the neonatologist referred them to us).  When babies are still young,
    it is hard to determine whether they are "slow developers" or if there
    are "problems".  So, working with them either brings development or
    helps with a diagnosis.  Either way, you have fun with your baby and 
    learn all the facinating ways the human body develops (head down, 
    center out).
    
    From my own experience, I would suggest that you don't only seek
    medical attention, but request a developmental eval from some
    therapists!  Our therapist is very helpful with milestones...seems they
    encompass wide time spans (wider than all parenting books and pedi
    recommendations).  "Normal" (oh I hate that word) development for
    sitting is anywhere from 4-9 months, Walking from 9-16 according to my
    source.
    
    Hang in there and press on for help!
    
    -beth 
    
    It helped us, Shannon's "problem" was just not (as far as we can tell
    at this point) CP, but rather preemie tone -- mom and baby worked hard
    to overcome it!  
    worked hard to overcome it.  
1304.7forgot to mentionSTUDIO::POIRIERFri Feb 21 1992 15:367
    Forgot to mention something that may/not help.  Medical experts
    (doctors who treated my daughter during her 3 month stay) told me that
    given the brain hemorrage and hydrocephles (sp?) she had suffered, that
    she WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CP but couldn't tell to what degree.  Turns
    out, the therapist does suspect any problems at all and has decreased
    the visits from every week to every 3 and will decrease them further
    when I am ready!!!!!