Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

My baby suffered a ping pong fracture!! scared to death! Pls help

16 replies

worriedMom05 · 23/07/2013 16:52

Hi fellow moms,
I am new here. I delivered a healthy baby boy on 12th July. Due to delayed second stage labor forceps were used. The pressure of the forceps produced a dent on my baby's head on left parietal bone. The doc explained it that such depression fractures are common and are nothing to worry about. We were discharged in 2 days and now are home. I've been reading up in such cases and totally freaking myself out!! Will my baby suffer brain damage or suffer from learning disability? Does anyone over here have experience with such a case? Pls tell me what I can do..all of this is so overwhelming.
Thanks

OP posts:

ThatsSoVanquish · 23/07/2013 17:38

You need to speak to your doctor. It doesn't sound like there's anything to suggest long term difficulties. Stay away from internet searches - you could convince yourself of anything!

GladbagsGold · 23/07/2013 17:45

Congratulations on your little boy!

My DS was born with forceps (eventually...) and had a cephalhematoma, ie a lump rather than a dent. It is easy to freak out especially as no one wants a forceps birth, so there can be fear and disappointment that it wasn't all calm and lovely.

However if the doctor said don't worry, that is very reassuring. Babies are checked so carefully. I am sure your DS will grow up fine and healthy and strong. I was so upset that I had 'broken' my son delivering him, which was silly and he is now a strapping happy healthy 8 year old.

Talk to your midwife about how you're feeling. A tough labour means you do need support and care for you as well as your lovely new baby.

courgetteDOTcom · 23/07/2013 17:57

My husband was like that at birth, apparently he was quite deformed by it. Doesn't seem to have had an effect on him.

Original poster

worriedMom05 · 23/07/2013 18:02

Thank you so much for your quick replies ThatsSoVanquish and GladbagsGold. Feels good to have some support.
The delivery was tough on me too. But all I care about right now is that my Lil angel doesn't have to suffer later in life because I damaged him too bad. There are so many scary brain damage articles on the internet with respect to birth trauma. I did come across that term cephalhematoma too,its totally harmless and does nothing to the brain. But this dent maybe hurt his little brain. I feel like a terrible mother. This was not the way I dreamed it. Maybe I should talk to a doc from another hospital, to make sure its not a cover up...my minds thinking in a hundred directions right now.

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 23/07/2013 18:03

Very common, you should see my baby photos,I look dreadful !

Talk it through with your doctor x

Original poster

worriedMom05 · 23/07/2013 18:07

Thanks Courgettedotcom. If you don't mind me asking, did he suffer from any repercussions due to his deformity, any LD or speech impediment? Did he have it elevated. I was told it would resolve itself as my son grows,he did ask me to check his development milestones as well.

OP posts:

Original poster

worriedMom05 · 23/07/2013 18:10

Thanks valiumredhead. I'm so glad I found this forum! Phew I wish I had done this earlier :-)
Sorry if I sounded panicky..well I was. All of this is so new for me. Its been a traumatizing few days. Hope the dent pops right back out. His hair should cover it anyway. He's a handsome Lil fellow :-)

OP posts:

ExBrightonBell · 23/07/2013 18:15

All these questions really need to be directed at your doctor - none of us can say as we have not seen your son or are doctors. Please do try and get seen again so you can ask them.

But, as an anecdote, a friend of mine's baby girl had exactly the same issue and is now absolutely fine. No visible mark and no other problems at all.

Original poster

worriedMom05 · 23/07/2013 18:27

Thanks ExBrightonBell, thanks for the anecdote, its reassuring...my doctor has explained the situation to me pretty much. He said its not a matter for concern and is a normal occurance in forceps delivery. Apparently since my son didnt show any symptoms or signs of any brain damage and is otherwise fine he should be ok. If his dent doesn't show any elevation by 3 months time, it will have to be manually elevated which sounds scary. I just wanted to know this from someone who has experienced such a case. I do have a few more queries which have popped into my head especially after scouring the interweb for more information. I will be directing them to the doc during my next scheduled appmt this week.

OP posts:

courgetteDOTcom · 23/07/2013 19:26

As far as I know it resolved itself. He had a lot of health problems but nothing to do with that - a different part of his anatomy. I don't think it's affected him, he's quite an intelligent man (not that you'd believe it half the time) and doesn't seem to have any issues. Apparantly his head was almost an S shape from how they'd pulled and squashed him.

valiumredhead · 23/07/2013 19:48

My head was a mess, looked completely deformed and black with bruising and huge dents-all fine now

If you think how soft a babies head has to be it will change shape a lot.

Stop googling x

Fazerina · 23/07/2013 19:49

Hi OP and congratulations on your baby:)!

My DS, now 2.2, was delivered by forceps after a difficult labour. He didn't have a dent, but quite a 'coney' head and some bruising for some time. He's very healthy and normal in all respects. The only thing is, he's always been a terrible sleeper and still wakes up every 1.5-2 hours through the night. I always just thought this was something he does and dismissed it as part of his character, until recently I heard of cranial osteopathy and that it might help babies and children, who have suffered a traumatic birth.

I've now taken DS to the Ostheopathic Centre for Children in London twice and it's already helped a tiny bit in that it takes much shorter time for DS to fall asleep and he wakes less frequently. The osteopath said DS carries a lot of tension on his chest and still has a slightly cone-shaped head and that all this can make it difficult for him to calm down in the night. The treatment is very gentle, almost subtle and the best way I could describe it is like a gentle massage. Had I known about this before, I would have definitely taken DS much earlier.

I'm not saying osteopathy is a cure all, but I'm definitely convinced and have heard that it can be an enormous help for small babies to make sure any tensions and bad postures caused by a difficult birth are relieved. Definitely read about it and there are some good videos on youtube as well, if you look for Osteopathic Centre for Children London.

Fazerina · 23/07/2013 19:56

Here is some more info on cranial osteopathy in general and the effects of a forceps delivery in particular : www.cranial.org.uk/page3.html HTH

Original poster

worriedMom05 · 23/07/2013 20:08

Thanks a lot Fazerina! I will definitely consider that. I'm glad it helped your Lil one in easing his discomfort :-) Will go through the sources you mentioned pronto. Thanks again

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 23/07/2013 20:12

If you are in SE London then the sun shine clinic in Hillyfields is v good for cranial osteopathy.

valiumredhead · 23/07/2013 20:13

Or sun flower clinic-memory is shot to bits

Flip