Baby muscle spasms, due to low potassium???

[AirForceDad]

Hi,

In the last two days my seemingly healthy-almost 8 month old daughter has been having involuntary arm/shoulder/upper body spasms.  Yesterday, I saw it happen maybe three times, (2-4 twitches per instance) today, there were probably over 100 times that she had this spasm, all except while sleeping. No fever or any other sign of sickness.  Seems to have most when she's excited, like an excited fist pump. Any other parents have this due to low potassium? She is exclusively breast fed and for almost 2 months has been eating rice/oatmeal veggie/fruit servings with 4 nursing sessions daily. Now, lately we have not been giving her the Poly-vi-sol vitamin regularly, maybe once a week, if that. So before I freak out over what brain disorder that is causing this in an otherwise perfectly healthy baby with no complications EVER since conception, I hope someone may be able to help. Thanks.

[mummy0208]

my four year old son when excited twist his hands round and in the air in a fist,also when he is sitting down or lying down settleing for sleep his face contorts as if he is pictureing things and his arms and legs are thrashing around when i talk to him and ask him what he is doing he says he is thinking!he doesnt seem to be aware he is doing this and has done so since he was about six months old.what is it?

[mommyofnathan]

I would suggest you take her to a specialist.  I don't think you should ignore abnormal movement patterns.  Better be safe than sorry, ask for an EEG.  Rock Rose has a good point, for some reason once they go to the doctor, there's nothing wrong!!  good luck

[RockRose]

AirForceDad - you describe this as if it's an involuntary muscle reaction - are you sure it's involuntary?  My nephew started something like this at that age - they called it "being intense" for lack of any better word.   It was hard to tell whether he was doing it voluntarily,  but it could replicate it EXACTLY if you said hey Dave be intense.  

Since then I've seen parents describe this on this forum occasionally.  

I think you're doing the right thing taking her to the doctor.  But first,  get good video of her doing this because its hard to picture with just a verbal description.  Video is a GREAT thing to have at the docs office!

Best wishes.

[AirForceDad]

No, she is a very happy baby. Her motor skills are great, if anything scooting across the floor forwards better this morning. She can be laughing while it'll happen, it mainly happens when excited by either a toy or feeding her some cereal/veggies. I've observed her sleeping for over 45 min's total at different naps, and I don't see any jerking/twitching/spasm while sleeping. I have called the pediatrician, closed on sunday. I'm debating taking her to emergency today, all they'll do is check her vitals which I'm sure are fine, maybe they'll take blood work which I'm very interested in her iron and potass. levels. I'm just surprised I haven't found anything like this with other breastfed only babies, but I haven't searched that deeply. Thanks for your reply!

[plymouth]

i would go ahead and call ur pediatrician. could be nothing but with little ones its best just to call ur doc. try to get back on track with ur vitamins and maybe she just strained something. are there any signs or symptoms of pain or discomfort with the twitches?