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Behaviour/development

11 month old not using one arm

12 replies

Jenkeywoo · 03/03/2007 15:47

I've been worrying for months but can't seem to get any answers. Heather was born at 35 weeks and when we left hospital we were told we were leaving with a 'normal full term baby' but Heather seems to be developing differently than I would expect a full term baby too. We have had no follow-up and support and I have mentioned my concerns to the HV who says 'I'm sure she'll get there in the end'.
My concerns are:

  • from as soon as she started grabbing things we noticed she only uses her left arm - her right arm often just hangs at her side. She does use if she can't reach with her left hand but we have noticed that she can't use her right thumb. It just sort of stays stiff - if she grabs with her right hand she just uses the three middle fingers and kind of claws. All eating is done with her left hand. She also picks things up in her left hand and then kind of grips them for hours - example a biscuit I gave her before we left the house was still enclosed in a tight little fist two hours later.
  • She has been sitting from about 10 months but doesn't roll and shows no interest in crawling. If she falls over from sitting she just ends up in a heap on the floor and does not attempt getting more comfortable.


I love her so much and it's breaking my heart to see her struggling with things. Any advice or experience?

Thanks,
Jenny x
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RTKangaMummy · 03/03/2007 15:58

What happens if she is in your arms and so her left arm is kind of behind you

Will she use her rightarm then?

IMHO I would go to GP and ask/insist to be referred to Paeditrician

Also ask maybe for a scan or xray

Mine were born prem {27 weeks} and the HV hadn't got a clue so basically we ignored stuff she said cos it was rubbish

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LadyOfTheFlowers · 03/03/2007 16:03

jenkeywoo - wouldget referred to the hosp asap if i were you.
it sounds as if something is not right.
has anyone else noticed?

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RTKangaMummy · 03/03/2007 16:03

She may just need physio

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RTKangaMummy · 03/03/2007 16:06

What happens if you do "round and round the garden like a teddy bear" on her right hand

Do you know that rhyme?

How does she react if you move her right thumb?

what about when you are cutting her fingernails?

Does it seem to hurt her if you move it?

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Jenkeywoo · 03/03/2007 16:15

sorry typing one handed so no caps. rtkangamummy - she doesn't seem to mind if i touch that hand, in fact i gave her thumb a bit of a wiggle and she was a bit annoyed because she's grumpy today but i wouldn't say she was in pain.

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ladyoflincoln · 03/03/2007 16:19

hi jenny,

i am an occupational therapist and i used to work in paediatrics. i would definately go to your gp and ask for a referal to the paediatrician to get things 'checked out'.

it may be nothing but if any input or advice is needed from physio/ot etc. the paediatrician will refer you on to them.

my own little girl (now 6) was late to crawl and late to walk - i convinced myself that she had a variety of terrible and incurable conditions, which actually turned out to be nothing more than slightly low muscle tone. this was much improved by a referal to physio (who i shared an office with)for some very basic excercises

i think it always best to be over rather than under cautious though - even if my gp probably cringes at the sight of me!!

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RTKangaMummy · 03/03/2007 16:20

I would deffo go to GP and ask for referral to Peadiatrician and/or physio

The physio will give her excercises

I am glad it doesn't hurt her

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Jenkeywoo · 03/03/2007 20:27

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to get an appointment with my GP and get assertive for my little girl!

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RTKangaMummy · 03/03/2007 21:15

++++++++++++++++++++ powerful vibes to boost you

Please let us know how you get on

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ladyoflincoln · 03/03/2007 22:11

thats it - be assertive

and let us know how it goes. xx

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mumofhelen · 04/03/2007 12:49

I agree with the other posters - time for your lo to see a peadiatrician. Mine did at 13 months although I had to insist - I told the GP at the time that I wasn't leaving the surgery until he promised a referal to a peadiatrician. I'm really glad and pleased I was so forthright. Problem sorted and now I have a healthy happy 27 months old.

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RTKangaMummy · 27/03/2007 15:33

Any news?

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