A mother who feared something was wrong with her newborn says that trusting her instincts ultimately saved her baby’s life after her concerns were initially dismissed at the emergency room.
Maddie Muhs, 33, from Houston, Texas, shared a viral Instagram video in May under the username @itsmaddiemuhs, recounting the frightening experience she went through shortly after bringing her baby son home.
The clip, which has received more than 20,900 likes, shows Muhs holding her newborn as she explains how her persistence led to a life-saving diagnosis.
She says in the video: “Ten hours after bringing my son home form the hospital, I knew something wasn’t right… So I took him to the ER… I was asked multiple times if I was a ‘first time mom’ and brushed off.”
Speaking to Newsweek, Muhs shared more details about the early warning signs that prompted her to seek help.
She said that within a day of bringing her baby home, she felt something was wrong. He was not feeding properly and was difficult to wake for feeds. After he missed multiple feedings, she decided to take him to the emergency room.
There, doctors carried out a series of tests before admitting him to critical care. Muhs said her son spent 16 days undergoing treatment while medical staff worked to identify the cause of his condition. Eventually, doctors diagnosed him with Group Strep B caused by a urinary tract infection, despite Muhs having previously tested negative for it.
“After 8 hours in the ER,” she said. “They determined he had inflammatory markers (which indicated an infection)… We were sent to critical care and my son had every test under the sun… After four days they finally determined he had Group Strep B from a UTI… which I had tested negative for…
“We spent 16 LONG days in critical care… And on the last day, my doctor told me that my quick thinking and intuition saved my baby’s life. Trust your instincts.”
The incident happened five years ago, but Muhs says the experience left a lasting impact. Today, her son is healthy and thriving.
Now reflecting on the ordeal, Muhs is urging other parents to be confident in their instincts, especially when something feels wrong. She emphasized the importance of advocating for a child’s health, even if concerns are questioned or dismissed.
“Trust your gut and don’t back down! Moms always know best,” she said.
Her story has resonated widely online, with social media users praising her determination and highlighting the importance of listening to parental intuition.
One user, Rebeccavross, commented: “I’m so glad that you persevered! My son had his clavicle broken at birth and no one believed me either. ‘Babies just cry.”
Toledoleth said: “Mom’s instinct never fails. I’m happy your baby recovered!”
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