Breath-holding spells

Apparently breath-holding spells is a real thing, real diagnosis.
and it is so scary!
Last night (May 3, 2016) Lincoln fell while running and playing outside and he stood up after tripping and then passed out and fell down again. He was unconscious for about 30 seconds which is so freaky our neighbor Gary called 911 and the paramedics and fire trucks came to check on him. This is the second time this has happened to him. The first time it was actually much worse and he was unconscious for about a minute after falling off of the back of the couch. (Maybe 1 year ago)
I am so thankful for my family. I love Lincoln so much. I am thankful for Juliette. I am thankful for my wonderful husband Matt. I cannot even imagine life without them. I'm so glad he's okay. I just want to hold him in my arms and read stories together and snuggle forever. He is so creative and funny. I love my kids! I love my family. I am so glad Gary was out working on his truck and saw what happened and helped!

I love this little face! 

Matt took Lincoln to his pediatrician this morning to get checked out and that's what he thinks.

Breath-Holding Spells - Topic Overview

What are breath-holding spells?

Breath-holding spells are brief periods when young children stop breathing for up to 1 minute. These spells often cause a child to pass out (lose consciousness). Breath-holding spells usually occur when a young child is angry, frustrated, in pain, or afraid. But the spell is a reflex. Children don't have breath-holding spells on purpose.

There are two types of breath-holding spells:

• A cyanotic spell is caused by a change in the child's usual breathing pattern, usually in response to feeling angry or frustrated. It's the most common type.
• A pallid spell is caused by a slowing of the child's heart rate, usually in response to pain.

Some children may have both types of spells at one time or another.

Breath-holding spells can occur in children 6 months through 6 years of age. They are most common from 1 to 3 years of age. Some children have them every day, and some have them only once in a while.

Breath-holding spells are usually not serious and don't cause lasting damage. With time, they go away on their own.

What causes breath-holding spells?

Breath-holding spells are usually caused by either a change in the child's breathing or a slowing of the heart rate. These reactions may be brought on by pain or by strong emotions.

In some children, breath-holding spells may be related to iron deficiency anemia, a condition in which the body doesn't produce a normal number of red blood cells.

What are the symptoms?

A breath-holding spell may cause:

• Fainting. It usually lasts for less than a minute. (first time it lasted about 1 minute, second time lasted about 30 seconds) 
• Twitching muscles, a stiff body, or a seizure. (STIFF with head back) 
• Changes in breathing and heartbeat. (breath and heart beach SLOW)
  • In a cyanotic spell: The child may breathe too fast or too hard. When the child breathes out, there may be a long pause before the child takes another breath.
  • In a pallid spell: The heartbeat may slow down.
• Changes in skin color. (PALE face with blue lips)
  • In a cyanotic spell: The skin may turn red or blue-purple, especially around the lips.
  • In a pallid spell: The skin may be pale and sweaty.
• Crying.
• In a cyanotic spell: There may be a short burst of intense crying.
• In a pallid spell: There may be a single cry or no cry at all. (NO cry at all) 

What to do

Breath-Holding Spells: Helping Your Child Avoid Injury - Topic Overview

To keep your child safe during a breath-holding spell:

• Lay your child on the floor on his or her back, facing either upward or to one side.
• Protect your child's head, arms, and legs from hitting something hard or sharp accidentally.
• If your child was eating before a spell, open his or her mouth carefully and look for pieces of food, but do not try to remove food with your fingers. Instead, tilt your child's head to the side so the food can come out on its own.
• Touch and talk to your child. This helps you stay calm.
• Time the spell with a watch. Spells usually last only a minute but seem longer.
• Do not give your child any medicines during a spell.
• Allow your child to wake up on his or her own after a spell.

Your child may stop breathing for up to 1 minute (60 seconds) during a spell. If your child doesn't wake up quickly and start breathing again, call 911 or other emergency services. The 911 operator may tell you to give your child rescue breaths  while you wait for help to arrive.

Breath-Holding Spells: Keeping a Record - Topic Overview

Before taking your child to a doctor for breath-holding spells, write down what typically happens. These descriptions will help you to give your child's doctor accurate information to make an initial diagnosis. Try to observe and record what happens before, during, and after the breath-holding spell. Keep the following questions in mind:

• What situations occur just before your child has a breath-holding spell? (first time he fell off the couch, second time he tripped on sidewalk outside)
• During a spell, does your child's skin color appear to become more blue-red or more pale? (Pale)
• How does your child act during a spell? Do your child's muscles twitch? (unconscious, still, eyes roll back, bloody nose)
• How long do the spells last? (first time it lasted about 1 minute, second time lasted about 30 seconds) 
• Does your child pass out? (yes) 
• Does your child vomit or pass urine? (no) 
• How does your child act after a spell? (unstable, tired, weak, wants to be held and cuddled)

Preventing Breath-Holding Spells in Children - Topic Overview

As children learn to deal with frustration, fear, and anger, breath-holding spells become less frequent.

Parents may be able to prevent some spells by seeing that their child gets plenty of rest and that he or she feels secure. Some ways to help your child get enough rest include:

• Having regular rest times for your child during the day.
• Ensuring that your child gets adequate sleep at night.

Here are some ways you can help your child feel secure and less frustrated:

• Have regular daily routines for your child.
• Keep your home atmosphere calm.
• Allow your child to make some simple choices, such as which shirt to wear.
• Praise your child for behaving appropriately and meeting your expectations.
• Praise your child when he or she learns and masters new tasks, and afterward when he or she does them well.

Encouraging your child to play alone will help your child develop a more positive self-image. This also can reduce feelings of frustration.

Some parents are so upset by breath-holding spells that they shelter the child from any and all frustrating situations or may fail to set consistent limits for the child in an effort to prevent the spells. As a result, the child doesn't learn other ways to express his or her frustration and anger.

Even if the parents' efforts succeed in preventing breath-holding spells, the behavior problems may remain. To avoid this problem:

• Do not overreact to your child's negative behavior.
• Do not overreact to breath-holding spells. When your child is beginning a spell, suggest an alternative way of expressing feelings of frustration, anger, and fear, such as "Use your words." After the spell, acknowledge your child's behavior and feelings.
• Avoid overprotecting or sheltering the child from the normal frustrations of childhood. Minimize unnecessary frustrations, but do not try to remove them all.
• Remind yourself that breath-holding spells are not hurting the child and that the child will grow out of them in time.
• Be firm, fair, and consistent when establishing discipline for your child. Set limits and follow through with consequences.

If you struggle with any of these issues, parenting classes or counseling can sometimes be helpful.

Growth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is a person's core belief about himself or herself. A person's self-esteem is reflected in his or her actions, both in how as well as what he or she does. Although self-esteem varies from time to time, the pattern usually leans toward a healthy or unhealthy view of self. With healthy self-esteem, a person is more likely to succeed in life.

Although building self-esteem is a lifelong process, the foundation of self-esteem is established in childhood. That foundation can do much to help a child deal with difficult life issues as they are encountered.

Parents have the greatest influence on a child's belief about himself or herself. Letting your child know that he or she belongs, is doing well, and is contributing can help him or her develop healthy self-esteem.

Keep these things in mind as you raise your child.

• Children sense that they belong by the way their parents talk to them and act toward them. Show and tell your child that you love and care for him or her.
• Children learn about how well they are doing by how their parents react to their behavior. Offer praise to children when they show positive behavior, and provide them with correction when mistakes are made.
• Children learn how to work with others by learning how to cooperate within a family. Give your child some age-appropriate household responsibilities.