Summary of "4 Questions to GUIDE you!! Baby movement or Neonatal seizure????"

Key Strategies to Differentiate Baby Movements from Neonatal Seizures:

Assess the Baby’s Overall Health:
- Is the baby otherwise healthy (tolerating feeds, having normal wet diapers, alert and active)?
- Most Neonatal Seizures (85%+) are provoked by an acute brain issue (e.g., oxygen deprivation, stroke, infection, brain bleed, metabolic abnormalities).
- Healthy-appearing babies are less likely to be having seizures.
- Epilepsy (unprovoked seizures) is rare in neonates and usually presents with other neurological abnormalities.
Determine if the Movement is Spontaneous or Stimulated:
- Seizures occur spontaneously without external triggers.
- Non-seizure movements (e.g., Jitteriness, startle reflex/Moro Reflex) are usually triggered by stimuli such as noise, touch, or movement.
- Example: Jitteriness may appear after unswaddling; Moro Reflex is triggered by loud sounds or sensation of falling.
Check if the Movement Can Be Stopped:
- Non-seizure movements often stop when the baby is held, swaddled, or distracted (e.g., calling the baby’s name).
- Seizure movements typically continue despite such interventions.
Observe the Baby’s Overall Function During the Movement:
- Seizures often affect other bodily functions, especially breathing.
- Signs like irregular breathing or bluish lips/mouth (Cyanosis) during abnormal movements are concerning for seizures.
- If breathing and color remain normal, it is less likely to be a seizure.