Read How An Online Doctor Came To Sarah’s Rescue And Diagnosed Her Baby With Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus.
I thought my newborn baby had a seizure but was diagnosed with benign neonatal sleep myoclonus by a doctor online.
I thought my baby was having fits.
We were very excited when we got our newborn baby came home two weeks back. On the day of her “Aqeeqa”- the head-shaving ceremony, I felt Sofia jerk in my lap. She was asleep, but her leg kept twitching. I got scared; I’m not sure if I imagined it or felt real kicks. I put her down and removed her swaddle to see if her leg was still twitching. I asked my husband to see if he could feel anything. He was in denial and said it was nothing, and I probably imagined it. Later that night, there was a dinner to celebrate baby Sofia’s head-shaving. That night one of the guests pointed out that the baby was twitching in her sleep.
Our paediatrician advised us to go to the ER, but a doctor online came to the rescue.
I lost my cool, I knew I felt the same kicks earlier today, and there was something wrong. I did not imagine it. It was real. Was my baby having a seizure? I broke down into tears. Being a first-time mom is difficult there is so much to learn every day and not know what to do.
My husband called Sofia’s Pediatrician, who suggested we take her to the ER. On our way, I searched online for what may be wrong with my baby. Instead of Google, I decided to talk to a doctor online for professional advice and downloaded Your Doctors Online.
The doctor diagnosed it as Benign Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus
The doctor was empathetic and calmed me down before digging for history. She asked me several questions including:
- Were there any problems during delivery or birth?
- If she was a preterm or term baby? Her age?
- If her entire body was involved? or stiff?
- Was the baby awake or asleep during the episode?
- How long did each episode last?
- Did the baby have a fever? Was she irritable or crying?
- Was there frothing from the mouth or uprolling of eyes during the episode?
She took a comprehensive history and gathered all the information within a few minutes. The doctor concluded that my baby has what is known as benign neonatal myoclonus or sleep myoclonus.
The doctor explained what Benign Neonatal Myoclonus is.
Sleep myoclonus usually occurs within the first week of life and usually involves the limbs. It occurs when the baby is asleep due to muscular spasms and has no underlying pathology. benign infantile myoclonus or sleep myoclonus is not a risk factor for fits or epilepsy in the future. I asked her why my baby’s paediatrician had advised us to go to the ER? She explained how electrolyte deficiencies or imbalances such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, glucose cause fits in children. But the doctor reassured me that my child’s presentation was typical of a benign sleep myoclonus.
We went to the ER only to confirm the diagnosis of sleep myoclonus.
I took a sigh of relief. The doctor put my mind at ease, relieving a lot of stress. However, we also took the baby to the ER to get all necessary tests to rule out anything underlying.
All her tests came back clear her neurological exam was also unremarkable. The ER doctor confirmed the baby was fine and must have experienced sleep myoclonus which is benign and common in neonates.
My trust in YDO increased by many folds.
I felt terrible; I put my little one through the pain of needles for blood tests. However, my confidence and trust in the Your Doctors Online physicians increased as she told me the exact thing while sitting at home through a detailed history.
Your Doctors Online has become my go-to app for any queries I face on a day-to-day basis as a first-time mother. The doctors always give the best diagnosis and advice. It is convenient and comforting that professional help is just a click away.
FAQs On Neonatal Sleep Myoclonus Answered By Your Doctors Online
As the name suggests, it is a benign condition that may mimic epileptic fits or myoclonic seizures. It occurs due to the spasm of a group of muscles causing twitching or jerking of the limbs, trunk, or the whole body. It can start as early as within one week of birth and usually resolves spontaneously by 6-8months of age.
It is also known as sleep myoclonus as it occurs only during NREM or deep sleep. The muscle twitching is short-lived and occurs in clusters of 4-5 jerks per second during sleep and abruptly stops when the child wakes up.
Diagnosis is usually clinical. An EEG done during the myoclonus shows no abnormal activity in the brain. Additional workup to rule out other causes may include a metabolic panel and screening for toxins. Rocking the baby back and forth while the baby sleeps can bring about sleep myoclonus. That helps differentiate it from epilepsy or a pathologic seizure. No treatment is needed for sleep myoclonus as it resolves spontaneously within 6-8months of age.
Infants who experience sleep myoclonus are not at risk of developing epilepsy in the future; As it does not cause brain damage.
