Patient's question:
Sprinkle sunlight on the child, the sun shining on the child's head is fine. First question supplement: The baby sometimes has convulsions, what should I do? Yesterday, the baby had a convulsion every ten minutes and cried, but there was nothing wrong in the second half of the night. Today is fine. What is the reason for this?Doctor's answer:
Sleeping for long periods is a characteristic of the neonatal period. Sleep is a protective inhibition of the cerebral cortex. During sleep, nerve cells recover and store energy, while the endocrine system releases growth hormone, promoting the body's metabolism. Therefore, infants grow while sleeping, and the younger the child, the longer the sleep they need. Attentive parents will notice that newborns often experience startles during sleep. What is the reason for this? Due to the underdeveloped nervous system of newborns, excitations caused by stimuli tend to "spread." Any loud noises, bright lights, vibrations, or changes in their position can cause them to startle. When newborns are startled by strong stimuli, they may open their arms wide and then quickly retract them, sometimes crying. The hand movements and crying can intensify the fright, causing them to cry even harder. Sometimes, even if the sounds and vibrations are not loud but close by, the same reaction occurs. This phenomenon is called the Moro reflex and gradually disappears around 3 to 4 months of age, making it a normal occurrence. However, if you notice that a newborn has staring eyes, tremors, or constant blinking, along with repetitive chewing or sucking motions, irregular breathing accompanied by bluish skin, and facial muscle twitches, these are signs of neonatal convulsions. This indicates that the child may be suffering from an illness and requires prompt medical diagnosis and treatment. Understanding these points helps you recognize that neonatal startles and convulsions are two different things. Startles are not a disease but a normal physiological phenomenon.When a newborn startsle, simply having an adult gently support any part of their body can calm them down. Newborns who are not swaddled can also be calmed by holding their shoulders or