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Baby birth injury... any advice?

1 reply

Grumpynewmum23 · 10/07/2023 14:55

Hi Everyone.

DS is now 6m and doing really well except for ongoing birth injury.

For context we had a less than ideal vaginal delivery which resulted in facial palsy (from forceps) and a basically a torn sternocleidomastoid (neck) muscle from his head being pulled into position as was slightly transverse and then also had shoulder dystocia. Fortunately, the facial palsy has mostly cleared up (except for a slightly quizzical eyebrow!), however his neck is still causing him grief.

Initially, he couldn't turn his head at all so we were referred to paed physio @ 4wk old and we've had regular physio since and it has helped so much and DS can now move his head mostly normally and is so super strong and trying to get started on crawling. His neck has flared up a few times but tends to settle after a few days - tell tale signs are struggling to feed on my right boob, disliking lying on his left, crying when being rocked lying on his left.
He is bf (ebf until recently starting solids), and recently has begun to really struggle again with his neck and hasn't been feeding well on my right for a week or so.
I just really feel for him as I think it effects his sleep too as he can't get comfortable. When he's obviously been in a lot of discomfort we do give him calpol to help him sleep.

I know its a bit specific but has anyone got any experience of anything similar? How long did it take to completely settle? Did it effect your LO sleep in anyway? Any tips for helping flare ups?

TIA xx

OP posts:
CurlyNo2 · 15/08/2023 12:15

My now 7 year old was a tricky labour which resulted in shoulder dystrocia and a later diagnosis of Erbs Palsy.

He could use his leg arm due to the nerves being torn in his neck from the delivery. He couldn’t do a lot and he couldn’t get comfy in any place. We were referred to physio and it was amazing! When we felt that he was struggling, we just done some stretches and exercises that the physio had done.

I won’t lie, it was a long process but thankfully he fully recovered by about 3-4yrs and had full use of his arm and strength again.

Can you visit your GP to ask for some advice?

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