Baby movements

My baby moves a little bit, is this normal or should I be concerned?

Posted on 21/06/2022 - 10:22 by José Ángel Araujo

What is a transcendental moment for you? Life is full of them, it is true. If you are pregnant, you will know that one of those moments is when you feel your baby moving inside you because with each “nudge”, “kick” or “push” he tells you: “Mommy, I am alive and my development is healthy!”

Fetal movements, as they are known in the medical field, are the first signs that a mother can perceive about the well-being of her child inside the uterus. The reduction of these is associated with causes such as that the fetus sleeps, medications with steroids for lung maturation, drugs for blood pressure, or infections that damage the concentration of oxygen.

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The first kicks

Dr. Mercedes del Pilar Alvarez Goris, a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, explains that from week 20 -between month two and three- the mother can already detect the activity of her little one. At this stage of pregnancy, the tummy has more amniotic fluid, therefore there is more space for it to jump, bounce and explore the environment.

There are different movement patterns that depend on the trimester you are in and your habits. For example, it is common to notice them better at night, due to the state of relaxation caused by rest. However, these also tend to increase after meals, as a consequence of increased levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood, according to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

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“There are calm and restless babies, but in no case should there be periods of inactivity of more than two hours”.

Mercedes del Pilar, specialist in gynecology and obstetrics.

Detect possible dangers

Of course, it is valid to feel fear! Especially if you have already faced a painful experience or someone close to you has. However, you need to be aware that no baby moves the same as another does. The specialist Mercedes del Pilar points out that the “normal” thing is to feel approximately 10 fetal movements per hour, but it is not a number that should be considered a rule. There are little ones who only do it two, three or five times and they develop in a healthy way.

On the other hand, the mother can be exposed to situations that reduce her perception of the movements of the fetus. The Barcelona Clinic highlights the following:

Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Taking sedatives or antidepressants
Maternal stress
Standing for a long time
Excessive or intense physical exercise
Fasting for hours

“At the end of the pregnancy, the movements diminish at the same time as the duration of fetal sleep is extended”.

Clinic Barcelona

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Few fetal movements, what do I do?

Fetal movements are considered to be scarce when the woman has not felt the baby for more than two hours, even with external stimulation, such as eating food (it is important to avoid fasts longer than eight hours, for this it is recommended to eat five meals a day or include snacks), moving the tummy through gentle massages, talking or making a loud noise.

If there is no response, it is important that you call your doctor immediately to carry out a fetal well-being test, which consists of performing an ultrasound to identify movements and heart rhythm or a cardiotocographic recording, which tracks possible variabilities of the heartbeat rate.

If your baby is moving poorly due to a problem, the doctor will evaluate the possibility of continuing the pregnancy or terminating it with an emergency C-section.

Since conception, the dialogue between you and your baby is unique. Don’t be afraid to find out and understand it! And do not forget, along with it, go to your medical appointments for control and monitoring.

A change in the normal pattern or the number of fetal movements may mean that the baby is undergoing physical stress.

Stanford Children’s Health

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

At what age can babies hold their heads?

Posted on 08/03/2022 - 14:03 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

Every day in your child’s life is a discovery. Seeing him move his arms and the sounds he makes to try to communicate with you fills you with emotion and many doubts. His movements raise many questions, and one of them is at what age babies can hold their heads and how you can help.

The first weeks of children’s lives are very important; they develop in surprising ways. They begin to acquire skills and movements that emerge very quickly; this is called “motor development”.

The motor development of children begins with the head and progresses little by little through the body. Gross motor skills are the big movements that your little one makes, allowing them to move, generate balance and then be able to walk, explains Cecilia Aguilar, a child neurologist.

“Motricity develops little by little; in the first two months, the baby manages to hold his head as you stimulate him. Massages are very important. At three months, he begins to roll over in bed. At four months, they begin to sit. Between six and seven months, they manage to sit up, so they can eat more things”.

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Motor development begins with the head. Photo: Pixabay

Your baby’s movements will be given little by little until he develops enough strength in his muscles. You must help him move with games. The American Academy of Pediatrics details what the baby’s movements are like:

First month: Babies cannot control many movements; they can move their heads to the sides to look for their mother’s breast. They don’t have good neck control, so they need your help to hold their head.
Two months: Most children can lift their heads when lying on their stomachs; frequently, putting babies in this position help strengthen their neck and trunk.
Four months: There is greater strength in the neck muscles; they can now hold their head.

Dr. Sydney Greenawalt, a pediatrician who graduated from the National Institute of Pediatrics, explains that by the fourth month, in addition to controlling their heads, babies can keep their eyes fixed, smile, and bring their hands to the center of their body, and grasp objects.

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At four months, the baby can hold his head. Photo: Pixabay

Head control and its importance

One of the most important moments in a child’s development is controlling his head, also called cephalic control, which consists of keeping this part of the body in a vertical position concerning his trunk, details Efisiopediatric Institution.

That your baby holds his head is an outstanding achievement. Visual development depends on it; that is, he can follow objects with his eyes and the coordination between what he sees and his movements. It is also important for him to eat other foods besides breast milk.

Head control is key to other movements. Photo: Pixabay

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When should we visit the doctor?

Every child is different, so that some skills may be developed faster, and others may be late; that is normal. Mayo Clinic advises going to the doctor if you notice the following signs:

He has stiff or tense muscles.
He looks too flaccid.
When trying to reach objects, he uses only one hand.
He has not shown any improvement in head control.
He does not respond to sounds, such as being startled by sudden loud noises.
He does not try to reach objects or put them in his mouth.
He does not attempt to roll over or sit up.
One or both eyes constantly turn in or out.
He doesn’t babble.
He does not seem to enjoy being around people or smiles spontaneously.

Tell us on Facebook if your baby can hold his head up.

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Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

When can a baby sit up?

Posted on 10/02/2022 - 17:21 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

Throughout the growth of our little one, many questions arise; one of them is about the baby’s movements. How to hold them or when babies can sit are the most frequent doubts.

As they grow, the motor skills of our little ones mature; they acquire skills. They start with slight movements such as turning their heads, and then they can sit up, crawl, and walk.

Dr. Sydney Greenawalt, a pediatrician who graduated from the National Institute of Pediatrics, explains that when it comes to the development of children, we speak of developmental milestones, which means that for an action to happen, an antecedent is required, that is, for a child to be able to sit down, he must first have held his head up, if he doesn’t, he can’t sit down. If he doesn’t sit down, he won’t walk.

“The movements must be progressive. It is essential to know that no child is lazy or spoiled. If a child does not make any movement, something is wrong; for example, he is not stimulated. If so, the doctor should tell the mother what to do, and if there is no change in three weeks, then there is a problem, and it should be evaluated”.

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The movement of the little ones is progressive. Photo: Shutterstock

The first months of life are crucial for motor development. The American Academy of Pediatrics points out that newborns can move their heads to one side; they do this as a reflex to seek the mother’s breast to feed; they can’t support their neck, so they need help to keep it up.

The institution explains that, by the second month, the baby’s nervous system is more mature, so he can lift his head when lying on his stomach; he can also wave his arms when he is excited and can smile since, at this age, he can control the tension in his lips and not do it just for imitation.

By the third month, he can move much more: he stretches, he can roll over to lie on his back, he starts to grab things within his reach, and will try to make small jumps by holding his arms and lifting him as if he wants to bounce.

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As babies grow, they develop more movements. Photo: Shutterstock

Sitting age

After the first trimester of life, babies begin to master new movements. They can support their head and chest while lying on their stomachs; they begin to roll over and move their legs.

Between four and eight months, there is an increase in the strength of the neck and trunk muscles so babies can begin to sit with support. Your little one will learn to lean forward by stretching his arms to use them as a support point.

This will give your child the strength and self-confidence to be able to sit for a while, but he will still need some help getting into this position, says the organization Nemours Children’s Health.

The Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) recommends placing your little one in front of a mirror to see and get to know his body; at the same time, play and talk to him in a sweet voice; in this way, you stimulate his movements.

Dr. Sydney Greenawalt explains that between 6 and 8 months, the little ones can stay seated; this process is called sitting.

“At eight months, a child can sit up. If he doesn’t sit down, watch out, that’s a red flag of development; you have to go to the doctor”.

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Help him move

To stimulate the baby’s movements, it is essential that you play together since play and learning go hand in hand; therefore, you should find a quiet place in the home to encourage him to move. The Mayo Clinic Foundation offers the following tips to help your little one get moving:

Talk to your little one: Describe what you see, what is in the house; your tone of voice and your expressions transmit ideas and emotions.
Change the position. Lay your baby on his stomach for a few minutes, and hold a toy or object that can attract his attention so that he raises her head. Try to sit him up and prop him up on pillows so he can support himself.
Simple toys: The colorful ones or those that make noise are preferred at this stage. Pick up a toy and move it slightly out of his reach to encourage him to stretch, crawl, or roll over.
Read aloud: By reading stories to him, you develop his language and thinking skills. He will try to imitate the sounds you make. Start with books that have large, colorful pictures.
Kisses and hugs: The signs of affection to your little one will give him a feeling of security, protection, and love.
Music: Playing lullabies or nursery rhymes will help him calm down, and it is a way to entertain your child.