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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... To Think Back Inury *COULD* Have Hurt Baby?

60 replies

WaterBored · 08/07/2015 20:56

Posting here, not preg-type threads, because want widest range of views.

Think we had narrow escape on Sat, but medics a bit dismissive. My Sis is about 14 weeks; we were in the park with my DCs when she got hit in the back really hard by a football. The lads who had kicked it were really tearful & upset, so ever-stoic Sis swore she was OK, but I took her straight to A&E.

The staff were really helpful, thorough check, scans etc; pretty clear that, praise be to Him, the baby was unharmed. But it was pretty clear also that the tests were all to reassure Sis, and that the medical view was that it was impossible for a baby to be harmed by a blow to the back. In fact, the consultant actually said something along the lines of, "If it's a back injury before about the 30th week, as long as the mother is going to walk again, I'm not going to worry about the baby".

Don't want to tempt the Fates etc, but is it really the case that babies are invulnerable to back injuries? This whole question is beginning to pray on my mind, so would be really interested in views, opinions, experiences etc.

OP posts:
SouthWestmom · 08/07/2015 21:30

Oh lay off the Op. Being pregnant can be terrifying for some people at some time. What if ops sister has had previous losses? Or Op has?
Op I'm glad you had reassurance and I can't see any damage being done .

FayKorgasm · 08/07/2015 21:31

Its not a back injury. The foetus won't have been harmed by it.

TinyTearsFirstLove · 08/07/2015 21:33

I played football until about 20 weeks with my pregnancies. Never occurred to me that it would harm the babies. Then it was just a bit of 5 a side...

Naty1 · 08/07/2015 21:34

I fell downstairs on my bottom at 28w with dd - went to a&e sent to assessment unit. All fine. No anti D needed
Dd elbowed me at 28w with dc2 had bleeding the next day. Went to assessment unit, all fine but needed antid despite having it 24h earlier.

TinyTearsFirstLove · 08/07/2015 21:34

Any pregnancy worries is always best getting checked out, I reckon.

formerbabe · 08/07/2015 21:35

I tripped over when I was 8 months pregnant...fell forward, flat on my face...bump hit the ground with a fair bit of force. Was petrified! Baby was absolutely fine though!!

yummumto3girls · 08/07/2015 21:35

Agree, this is why A & E departments are struggling, a complete over reaction and any concern should have addressed at the midwife not poor A & E!

madwomanbackintheattic · 08/07/2015 21:35

At 14 weeks, the baby is pretty much entirely protected by the pelvis. No danger at all from a football in the back at 14 weeks. At 14 weeks, there would have to be a horrific amount of damage to the pelvic girdle of a pg woman for it to affect the baby.

I did a flying superman manoeuvre out of my skis at 14 weeks and landed flat on my stomach/ face. As I had already had the discussion with the consultant as to whether it was safe to ski at this point (and he had reassured me that anything bar a smashed pelvis would be fine) I didn't even go to checked out.

If she had a massive bump and the football hid her hard on it, absolutely, a and e. Football in the back at 14 weeks? Nah.

I got hit in the back of the head by a football in similar circs - it was bloody scary as I was just standing chatting and really wasn't expecting a blow to the back of the head. So I can understand the shock and initial panic. No real 'back injury' though.... She got hit by a football, not a train?

Happfeet2911 · 08/07/2015 21:36

She's not made of porcelain, the baby is very well protected at that stage of development. Mine survived many head plants off horses, all alive, well and earning a living!! Stop living in a bubble.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 08/07/2015 21:37

I think that everyone is being really harsh here, I went to A and E for various things during my pregnancy as I was scared of hurting the baby, it's a very common pregnancy fear.

Various things? Like what? If you were scared you should have seen your GP or possibly a counsellor, (or read a sensible book on the subject) not clogging up A&E.

Hoppinggreen · 08/07/2015 21:40

No point in criticising now as its already done but please don't do it again it's completely unnecessary.

msgrinch · 08/07/2015 21:40

Yes checked our at the gp or midwife or epu not a and e.

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 08/07/2015 21:43

I was in a fairly major car crash when 30 weeks pregnant. Car written off..I was cut out. Taken to hospital to be patched up and to check on DD1. I was monitored overnight as she went quiet.. can't blame her! But she was absolutely fine. Our bodies are designed to protect the foetus :) I, on the other hand was bruised to hell!

RufusTheReindeer · 08/07/2015 21:44

Saw the midwife and had a scan when I fell out of the attic at about 7 months pregnant

A and e probably wasn't the best place to go to but it's too late now and at least she has been reassured

AgentProvocateur · 08/07/2015 21:47

Agree that this is why NHS is in a state. Accident and Emergency - the clue's in th name.

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 08/07/2015 21:49

Her uterus will barely be out of her pelvis at 14 weeks. Baby will be well protected. What do you suppose might get done in a&e?

WanderWomble · 08/07/2015 21:50

You over reacted. I doubt even a football kicked by a pro would hurt the baby.

Teabagbeforemilk · 08/07/2015 21:51

The staff weren't dismissive. They did all the checks but told you and sis that there was nothing to be worried about. Should they have lied and told you that there was as high chance of the child being hurt?

No they were probably pissed off at another pointless a&e visit.

In this case the pg woman was fine, it's her sister who insisted on the trip to the hospital

Permanentlyexhausted · 08/07/2015 21:52

I think you're getting quite a hard time of it OP, but if I'm honest A&E was probably a bit on an overreaction. This will sound blunt so I apologize but at 14 weeks if the baby has been hurt, there is not really a lot that can be done about it. Next time I'd recommend phoning the midwife or going to a walk-in centre and leave A&E for more urgent cases.

TheHormonalHooker · 08/07/2015 21:53

No wonder A&E waiting times are through the roof!

You over reacted, it wasn't worth an A&E visit .

Ashwinder · 08/07/2015 22:02

I went skiing at 13 weeks and had quite a bad fall. The very dishy French doctor reassured me that, short of breaking my pelvis, there was nothing I could do that would harm the baby at that stage. At 23 weeks or 33 it could have been very serious but at 13 the fetus is very small and cushioned by the amniotic fluid.

I think you overreacted and I think A&E went above and beyond in addressing your concerns. If you are still worried ( though I'm not sure why you would be) please get your sister to call her MW.

Original poster
WaterBored · 09/07/2015 21:50

Apologies to those who think we over-reacted: maybe we did.

But she has had a lot of trouble getting pregnant, and has miscarried at 13 weeks before. Also, the football hit her hard enough to knock her to the ground, and left a large bruise. So going to A&E seemed reasonable at the time (more reasonable than trying to phone MW who, at 13 weeks she hardly knows, a 6pm on Saturday).

OP posts:
youareallbonkers · 09/07/2015 22:23

A and e for being hit with a football, only mumsnetters!!

MissDuke · 10/07/2015 06:37

WaterBored I think it is understandable that she was so concerned given her history. However as others have said, the fetus is well protected and thankfully she was hit on the back rather than the front. I think it is time to stop being angry with the medics and to just be relieved that all is ok. I feel sorry for the children too to be honest, it was an accident - did you tell them that she is pregnant? I hope they aren't worrying about it.

Springtimemama · 10/07/2015 08:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.