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Childbirth

ventose delivery causing skull fracture - help please

7 replies

kaa0901 · 19/10/2007 17:56

We have just found out that our 2wk old son has a fractured skull from the ventose delivery.

I fell down the stairs last night and at the hospital they found he had a broken nose (from me grabbing him against my shoulder as I fell) and a fractured skull. We were referred to the children's hospital and after an ultrasound scan today, have been told that the fracture was caused by the ventose delivery not the fall.

I haven't ever heard of this but the docs said it wasn't uncommon and he shouldn't experience any long term prblems as the brain scan was fine.

Has anyone else experienced this?

kathxx

OP posts:

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VooJu · 19/10/2007 17:58

No experience kaa, what a perfectly dreadful start for you and DS

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Pennies · 19/10/2007 18:00

Ooh you poor things. Ive also got no experience but wanted to send you some sympathy. It's all hard enough isn't it without all that happening as well. have you got lots of help and support?

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NineUnlikelyTales · 19/10/2007 18:59

Gosh you poor things I am so glad your son is okay. I fell down the stairs with my son when he was a few weeks old and I felt terrible, but I think that so soon after the birth you are still a bit shaky on your legs sometimes (and our stairs are lethal anyway, I fell down half of them yesterday). Don't feel bad about it.

Here's hoping that things improve for you from now on

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ConnorTraceptive · 19/10/2007 20:21

No experience of fracture but ds's head shape never totally recovered afterwards so I'm not altogether surprised that it could cause a fracture.

Hope you're both ok what a horrible experience for you

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boozle · 19/10/2007 20:40

I've no experience in this, but, like Pennies, just wanted to send you some sympathy. What a terrible thing to happen at the birth and then so soon after. I hope you are both OK and mend well. Take care!

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TattyCatty · 19/10/2007 20:58

How scary for you, hope that you both recover quickly.

My dd had 3 failed ventouse attempts, eventually delivered by forceps. She was left with a large swelling on the top of her forehead , which was a caephal haematoma, or blood blister on her skull.

We were told that in later years it would show up on an xray as looking like an old fracture, so shows how much damage it can do. It took a good few months for it to disappear completely. I know it's not the same as your own horrible experience, but shows the different degrees of damage it can do.