Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a condition that affects the central nervous system. This disease is genetic and is a leading cause of increased infant death rates all over the world. Here are some of the early warning signs of spinal muscular atrophy that one should know about if they’re new parents or are soon going to be parents:

• Decreased fetal movement: Even before a baby is born, doctors look for decreased fetal movements as one of the early warning signs of spinal muscular atrophy. Children of women who report decreased fetal movements in the late stages of pregnancy are monitored closely for signs of the condition.
• Difficulty sucking milk: Newborns and infants who show difficulty sucking milk are also considered to be at high risk of being diagnosed with the disease. Since babies with spinal muscular atrophy do not have fully developed muscles, their sucking actions are not as strong as other babies. If one thinks their newborn is not breastfeeding or accepting milk from feeding bottles, it’s best to approach a doctor about it.
• Breathing difficulties: Babies can be diagnosed with the condition as soon as they are born because of their breathing difficulties. Many babies need breathing assistive tools right after birth.
• Tongue fasciculation: Another early warning sign of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is tongue fasciculation. Also called tongue quavering, children with SMA are unable to control their tongue’s motions and constantly keep moving their tongue inside the mouth.
• Recurrent respiratory infections: Babies born with SMA do not have fully-developed lung muscles. This can cause them to develop recurrent respiratory diseases, which may even prove fatal.
• Reduced or absent tendon reflexes: Tendon reflexes are the stretches in muscles experienced when there is a blow to the muscles. People with spinal cord problems like SMA have low or no tendon reflexes. Doctors check for this as one of the early warning signs of SMA.
• Hypotonia: Hypotonia is also called floppy baby syndrome, and it causes low muscle tone in children. This is among the very early warning signs of SMA that doctors look for in infants and children. One of the signs of hypotonia is that infants with this condition are unable to keep their limbs stiff like other babies.
• Delayed gross motor skills: Another important point in the list of the early warning signs of SMA is delayed motor skills. As babies grow older, they keep missing out on milestones and do not crawl, sit on their own, or walk unassisted.

These early warning signs of SMA should not be taken lightly. Parents should discuss them with their doctor if they notice that their child is unable to meet milestones or is facing difficulties sucking, swallowing, or breathing. That said, mild to moderate symptoms of the condition may not be noticeable before the child is 18 months old.