What Are Your Thoughts?

Mom's usually know their babies better than anyone. You know when something's not right. Get a second opinion and a third if need be. I wouldn't give up until you feel satisfied.

K. in Maryland

YOU are his mother, YOU are the one who was given that "Mom's 6th sense" for your child. If you feel something is not right, then something is not right. I don't think you're a "nervous nelly" at all. On the contrary, you sound like a very intelligent, caring and excellent mother. If the second ped won't listen to you, find one that will. I too would be concerned about the symptoms described. They may be nothing, but if they are, the sooner diagnosed, the better for your child. Any dr worth his salt will support you in caring for you child. Best of luck and God bless.

I am glad the second pediatrician was in tune to your concerns and what might be going on with your little one. It is often these things don't get found out until the child misses more milestones. I will keep you guys in my prayers as you go through further testing. Know that if there are developmental concerns there is always the county Parent Infant Education (PIE) program that he might qualify for physical therapy or other services. I am a pediatric occupational therapist and I have worked with Alexandria PIE. If you need any help with getting this started let me know. Good luck!

Sounds like it maybe seizures. I think I would ask the Dr for some test to rule that out.

I will not begin to say if any of this is more than a virus or not as I really do not know...but I would say stick with your gut instinct as a Mother. I have a friends who's child was having some problem or what the Mother considered as health problems and was told by the Ped several time that it was nothing to be concerned about. Turns out the little girl was having seizures and thank God no damage was done before it was found out by another doctor. All she needed was some seizure meds but might not have every gotten it from the first doc if her Mom hadn't questioned him.

Best Wishes!!

hi there i can't really type right now b/c i am holding my daughter...but i would love to speak with you. i have some information you might want to here. i have been in your situation before.
D.
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I agree that a second and maybe third opinion is in order. As a mother, you have to take control of your child's medical care because the doctors do not see him all day every day and have not observed the things you have seen. Your doctor gave you an opinion, but that's all it is - an opinion.

What you are describing does not sound like normal, healthy baby behavior to me. Especially the eye rolling - that sounds like mini-seizures. And that could be causing the delays and sleeping. I don't know about the coughing and congestion, but that could be unrelated. Even babies with epilepsy get sick sometimes.

Hopefully it's nothing. If 3 or more doctors tell you it's nothing, then you can probably rest easy. But you are not wrong to be worried about your baby. Remember, the Mamas are with you!

Just a suggestion...I don't know whether you are breastfeeding or not, but so many children seem to struggle with food allergies these days. And pediatricians rarely seem to consider this possibility first. You might want to do a bit of research on some allergy sites to learn more...Depending on where you live there may also be a support group for moms with children of food allergies. If you are breast feeding, a good actation consultant can probably help you. If not, there could be some sort of milk allergy at play. What else is your child eating? A food allergy can definitely cause a chronic cough, congestion and some of the other symptoms you've listed. It's worth checking out, even though it may not be what's happening. Good luck to you! :)

Hi MH,

One question, has he been vaccinated on schedule? If so, you may want to check out www.nvic.org and see if the symptoms you describe match anything on there. He could be having a reaction to a vax, sometimes they can cause a vague list of things.

I don't know what that list of symptoms may indicate but I do know you should TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT and keep searching until you get the answers.

Good luck, S.

Hi!

I do not know what could be wrong, but I would highly suggest you get a second opinion!! Go with your gut - if you feel something is not right, you have to see someone who will investigate.
Something similar happened with my daughter. She had high fevers all week and they kept saying it was an ear infection. I was persistant, went to the ER (against their advice) and it turned out to be more serious.
Please keep us updated!

I think that it is important to go with your gut feeling on this. I would start looking into developmental issues. It is not normal for babies to not be sitting up, at least in tripod position at 7 months and him rolling over was delayed. The sooner delays are diagnosed the better chance you have of completely over coming them.

Second it sounds like he has a few other issues going on, the eyes in a funny position, almost rolling back in his head indicate that he IS having seizures, not might, he IS that is a classic seizure symptom in babies. If he is having siezures this could also cause his developmental delays.

The other issues, congestion, cough, vomit, sleeping more could all be caused by acid reflux.

You should keep getting second opinions until someone really looks into what is going on with him

I don't think the symptoms are anything unusual. Sounds like normal development to me. Coughing - is he teething and drooling a lot because of it? Vomiting - spitting up is common up to 1 yr old. The drooling (if any) can be part of that or acid reflux is not uncommon either. Eyes focusing - eyesight changes occur as they grow. Congestion - teething again could be it aside from dust pollen etc. Sitting comes a bit after the rolling over (from front to back and back to front). It's a muscle development/coordination thing. Standing, creeping (while holding on to things) comes closer to 1 yr development mark (boys tend to be a bit later, girls a bit earlier). It's great to be observant. There's nothing wrong with that. And discussing with a Dr or two is fine as well. If you don't have some already, look for a few books "What to Expect the First Year" and "What to Expect the Toddler Years". They give a good idea about what is normal and what to look for if you suspect a development problem.

the "sick" symptoms are less of a concern to me though I know when you are living with it, it seems like a big deal. But really, cough for 5 weeks could be something as simple as allergies or reflux that could be fixed with meds. Vomiting that intermittently shouldn't be associated with anything seriously wrong but COULD be associated with the above mentioned allergies (vomiting from gagging on phlegm) or reflux. Congestion in the morning is common with both of those conditions as well. Sleeping more could be fighting off an illness, making up for waking up frequently due to cough, or just a growth spurt.

I would be more concerned with the developmental delays. If your child was a preemie, then that could explain it--they get extra time to achieve their milestones. If not, this really ought to be investigated. Also, the eyes--if they are crossing at 7 mos, an eye doc ASAP is in order. If they really look like they are rolling back, esp if this is accompanied by the child not being responsive at the same time, then a neurologist ASAP is in order. Either way, not bearing weight and not tripod sitting are good reasons to evaluate further. But it seems like you have taken a good first step by getting a second opinion. Good luck to you and hopefully it's just a bunch of "nothing" symptoms that all came together at once to make this SEEM more serious and it will all resolve soon!

CT scan done? Checking for epilepsy? Seizures? EEG with sleep studies? the eye rolling sounds like a little focal seizure tic (an focal seizure is an isolated misfire in the brain; think of it as a small short circuit). Have you noticed episodes of staring or absence? (this could be hard to tell in a 7 month old)...if you feel that something isn't right, keep pushing for more testing. you know your son better than the docs.

M.H.

Hello! You are NOT a "Nervous Nelly". Follow your instincts.

A 7 month old baby will NOT sleep 15 hours a day - that's a LOT of sleep for a 7 month old. He should be sitting up on his own. Why a peditrician isn't concerned about that, I don't know. I hope you are going to a ped OUTSIDE the practice. Why the ped said NOT to worry about development?! HOLY SMOKES Batman! Even at 7 & 9 - our ped asks about things they SHOULD be doing at 7 months - these are CRUCIAL developmental "milestones".

A virus doesn't last 5 weeks - a virus usually lasts no more 2 weeks.

My instincts say the next time his eyes roll to the back of his head, call 911 - get someone to look at him who doesn't have a pre-disposition to say "don't worry about it". I know that's extreme but sometimes you need to do the extreme to get your child the help he needs.

I will keep you in my prayers. Please let us know what happens.

God Bless.

Cheryl

My first instinct based on the symptoms would be that he has allergies. the persistent coughing, stuffiness only in the a.m., and even vomitting ( the nasal drainage can really upset your stomach). The developmental signs are probably unrelated to the symptoms. Good luck and God Bless!

Hi MH
I am sorry, it is pretty scary when you think something is wrong but the doctor says all is fine. I say follow your gut since I think a mom knows best....my daughter had issues that were dismissed and I kept persisting and she did have a medical problem..........so follow your gut.
I am sorry I don't have any other advcie for you...I hope this helps.

I cannot say this enough... Trust your instincts when it comes to your children. Get a second opinion. As another poster said... Keep going to doctors until you find one that will listen.
Doctors are not always "all knowing" and can become complacent so make sure that the doctor you are seeing has your family's best interest at heart.

I have my own personal experiences but don't want to go into detail. Just TRUST YOUR GUT!!!

Always trust your feelings- you are the mom and that accounts for more than any degree!! I think you are right to be concerned- the eyes are what would concern me the most. Keep going until you find your answer! My daughter saw a dr that said she was great at 5wks and wasnt- she is fine now but if I hadnt trusted my feelings who knows what would have happened. If you are close to CHKD in Norfolk VA- they are awesome and will do whatever they can to solve the mysteries!

Get a second or third opinion until you feel a doctor has seriously listened to you, examined your child and given reasons for what he or she thinks. I have heard many many times about how glad people were they kept asking questions...you know your child MUCH better than a Dr. who sees them for a short time. I've also heard sad stories about people who wished they'd gotten better care for their children. I sincerely hope there is nothing wrong with you son!! But you will sleep better knowing you got a second opinion. (Even if nothing is seriously wrong, maybe he has a food allergy or something?) Best of luck to you! D.

i would absolutely make sure to get that second opinion... and third, and fourth, whatevers necessary. the coughing is probably due to excessive drooling related to teething, and the spitting up, as mentioned, is normal for that age. the congestion again is related to all that excessive drool settling in the sinuses (remember, your ears, mouth, nose, and throat are all connected)... the thing that raises concern is the oversleeping. a lethargic 7 month old is almost underheard of, most babies are curious about everything and anything at that age, and too busy taking it all in to sleep. now, it may also be nothing, when i was a baby i slept more than most babies (18 hours a day)... and i still love sleeping, its my favorite :) BUT thats not normal. i was only an exception. the thing that alarms me the most is the fact that his eyes kind of go crazy, like they cant focus, like he's lost control of them. that could be a sign of seizure. honey im not trying to scare you i'm just saying, i support your decision to get a another opinion on this. better safe than sorry when it comes to your child! i'm sorry i couldnt help more, and its going to be hard to get a doctor to listen to you bc chances are, if they dont actually witness the rolling eyes, they're going to act as is it's nothing... but be persistant! if your baby is anything like mine were when they were younger, hes probably the happiest, smiliest baby at the doctors... then sick as a dog at home. stand by your heart, and good luck!

I'm so sorry to hear about your little one. I say trust your instincts. If you feel something is not right, go get a second, third, fourth opinion. Remember, doctors are not all-knowing and more often than not, they're just guessing. You know your son better than anyone else. If your heart says 'something's wrong' then you need to listen to that. Best case, you take him to another doctor or two and he turns out to be perfectly fine. Worst case, you're right and your little boy is sick. I'm no expert, but I think you're right to be concerned. From what you've said, I would be worried too. Seems like it's time to cut your losses with your current doctor and find someone else. I wish you and your family all the best.

I am the mom of 6 boys. One of them is autistic, one has low tone, another has significant speech problems. My pediatrician is AWESOME, and she said, "Birth to Three." I don't know if you are aware, but every state has a birth-to-three program whose purpose is to identify and help kids who are a bit behind or are having problems, and to help catch them up or make progress in areas where they are deficient. I live next door to an Occupational Therapist for birth to three, and she evaluates kids all of the time in order to help the parents find out what, if anything, is wrong, and how to make things better. There are Physical therapists, developmental specialists, speech therapists, and service coordinators who all work with you to help your little one. Give them a call for an eval, and at the very least, you'll have objective opinions, and at best, they will help you get your little one on the right track, if he is off teack. God bless!

The only question i have is did your baby get oxygen when he was born? My sisters son did and they said he was delayed because of it. he is nearly 2 1/2 yrs old and hardly talks, he didn't walk until he was 2yrs old. He seemed to be with in most areas except for physical and talking. I can't say what is wrong it seems a little off. I mean most children talk at 1yr so i would expect imitating to be happening. (but not always) he should have rolled over sooner (but not always) I would think he would be tripod setting by now and bearing at least a little weight on his legs. The eye thing happens i think to most babies until they are about a yr old.
Another question i would have is do you give him alot of opportunities to hold his own weight. outside of a chair of any sort. I'm not saying set him alone I'm just saying lay him on the floor with things to get to and give him ALOT of time to figure out how to get them. I think parents over use entertainment things or holding things like swings, jumparoos, excersauceers, car seats, high chairs and all these types of things. They take away the chance for them to build up straingth. If they lay on the floor in any position they have to raise their head to see and people like to see so it gives them good reason to learn this. Good luck and i hope you figure this out if there is a prob. Mothers intuition looks like it's in play here.

Go with your instincts and make sure you keep pressing until someone gives you answers. It could amount to nothing, but you, as his mom, know him better than anyone and if you feel that something is wrong, you should get answers until you feel satisfied. He is depending on you to be his advocate. I hope that all goes well and that whatever is wrong is found and taken care of soon. It's incredibly stressful to worry about a sick child. You don't say where you are located but I have a wonderful pediatrician I've used for 16 years and he never brushes me off and always follows through. My oldest son was 3 months premature and we went to him for every little thing and he said "if I had a baby born that early I'd go to the doctor for every little thing too". He's wonderful and in the Catonsville area of MD. I'd be happy to pass on any info, just contact me. I'll be thinking of you and hoping that all goes well. Good luck!

Trust your instincts and get as many opinions as you can from different types of doctors. Consider going to a different pediatrician or a family doctor. Anything until you feel comfortable. I wouldn't worry too much about each individual symptom because all of them can be explained (i.e. coughing could be from acid reflux, allergies, etc.) Is the vomiting something more than normal spit up? Also, some of the "delays" don't seem very serious to me as these milestones are different for every child. I have nieces and nephew who did not walk until almost 2 and they are perfectly fine. Some were late crawlers, one did not have one tooth until she was over one year today that niece is 15 and still hasn't lost all of her baby teeth!). My third child barely spoke until he was over 2 and now at almost 3 he is still hard to understand. (I just wasn't giving him all the "verbal attention" he needed.) My point is, everyone is different so try to stay as calm as you can while you work to get all the information you need. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS first and foremost! Get a notebook and make sure you write a list of all the symptoms and all of your questions. Take it with you to every doctor and pull it out immediately. Write down what they say and compare all your notes. I had a similar experience as you and writing everything down gave me a sense of control and helped me feel organized. I hope this helps. God bless you and your whole family!!

Hi MH,

My first response when reading this was "go with your gut". If you feel something is not right, then you are the one that knows your little one better than anyone else! My prayers are with you.

I agree w/ you, it does sound as if somethings not right. Always trust your gut as a mother, you will be right most of the time.
This is just my opinion or thoughts on what is going on:
There may have possibly been some bit of brain damage during birth. They should check for that.
As for his eyes rolling: that could be a seizure. They come in many stages of seriousness. I think you can even have a silent one, which might be what he has.
As for the nagging cough: and the persistent congestion you might want to check for CF. Im not sure how young children exhibit symptoms of that. His vomitting could be from the drainage/congestion making him nauseaus (sp).
You might have a doctor tell you that the coughing is asthma. They might want to hear the cough as well, so make your appt. early in the a.m. while he is congested the most. You should ask for a lung xray as well.

How is his appetite?
I would definately get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion. Dont give up. I hope some of my info was helpful, I hope you figure out what is going on and that its not serious.
Best wishes.