breath holding spells

**Marley&Me** · May 7th, 2014, 10:44 PM

Ive just been googling this as im pretty sure dd does this. Three times this has happened now. Its only when she has a fall though. First two times she fell and hit her head on the floor. She lets out a shreik and then hasca huge 'silent scream' so much that her face turns red and she passes out for a few seconds

it's so scary. Her little body goes limp too. Anyone else experience this?

**ladybirdflies** · May 7th, 2014, 10:56 PM

My second daughter did this whenever she hurt herself or was overtired, sometimes it was several times a day! It started when she was about 2 months old and went until she was about 2. Her lips would go blue and then she would go limp and then come back around. No medical explanation, once they pass out their body kicks into gear and gets them breathing etc, my heart would stop EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. As she grew older it became harder for her to do and she would actually try to make herself pass out but she got to the point where she just couldn't do it anymore.

Just make sure she has a safe place to go limp, hold her or remove any dangers, turn her on her side and call her back in. Make sure anyone who looks after her knows what to do, how long the scream, silence and passing out usually lasts for etc. I feel for you, this was very challenging for me, as it usually happened everyday for some reason or another!!

**Marley&Me** · May 8th, 2014, 09:00 AM

Omg, how scary ladybirdflies

It's horrible. The first time it happened was her first big fall. She had a big lump on her head and i though she had knocked herself out from the fall. But now it's happened a few times I'm thinking it might have been this instead. Should I take her to the GP to ask them about it and confirm maybe? When it happens I just hold her in my arms until she comes around. I can't get the picture out of my head of her little eyes rolling back. And the feeling of her little limp body, it's just so awful

**ladybirdflies** · May 8th, 2014, 01:50 PM

It would be a good idea to talk to the Dr about it, we found there was nothing we could do about it just wait it out each and everytime. It is so scary, after a while we became so used to it that people would freak out and not understand why I wasn't reacting!!

Worse for mama then it is for bub! My sister did the exact same thing, thankfully mum was able to calm my nerves when it happened for the first time.

**minniemouse** · May 8th, 2014, 09:22 PM

My son used to do the silent scream and turn blue, the first time he did it i thought he was choking on something because he was changing colour, it is scary.

I took him to the dr because i was worried there was something wrong with his heart/circulation that he changed colour so quickly but he was fine.

**Sorka** · May 8th, 2014, 09:44 PM

My first son used to do this when he was 4. He would do it whenever he was feeling stressed out/anxious. Once he got blamed for pushing someone down the slide at childcare and he swore he didn't do it. As he was defending himself he just dropped to the ground. He did it about half a dozen times before he just stopped. I'd get it checked out if she hasn't done anything like this before just to be sure.

**Marley&Me** · May 9th, 2014, 09:05 AM

Am booking an appointment for next week, just to be sure. I have to let daycare know because they will probably freak out if it happens. I'm glad i'm not alone, statistics say one in twenty kids get it, less common in babies.

**Lenny** · May 9th, 2014, 08:56 PM

statistics say one in twenty kids get it, less common in babies.

Going to the GP is a great idea always if you are ever worried about anything. And the same GP too, or at least the same clinic so that they can look back as see any other history which always helps them understand better.

Please try not to google or read statistics off the net. Honestly, you can find absolutely anything on the net. And it's not necessarily right.

**sepata** · May 9th, 2014, 07:43 PM

My ds1 did this, I think the first time he was about 8mo. It was after he hit his head bad, so we took him to the ER, he was all good and after obs they concluded that's what had happened. He did it a fair few times after that, always freaked DH out. If you blow on their face while they're doing the silent scream it forces them to breathe in and will hopefully help you avoid the pass out.