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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Anyone else's newborn need a lumbar puncture?

21 replies

scrabbledabbl · 04/07/2022 15:44

After a long induction wait and a traumatic birth with medical emergency my LOs infection markers CRP keep getting higher and higher so the doctor has recommended lumbar puncture. I am so shaken by all of it I've almost become numb. Has anyone else had to put their NB through such a procedure and what were your results???

OP posts:

anybloodyname · 04/07/2022 15:47

If this is done well it will be quick and could provide vital information

My daughter had it at aged 6 when admitted with meningitis and I had one last year whilst in hospital with Covid ( and meningitis )

I'm also a nurse and have watched hundreds of them
Fingers crossed all is ok with your baby , best of luck 💐

FeelingForced · 04/07/2022 15:52

My DD had one at nearly 3 weeks old because she had meningitis and another one a week later to check if it was clear. She's a teenager now and absolutely fine.

I hope all goes well with your little one too and they get better soon.

Tothepoint99 · 04/07/2022 15:53

My now 3 yr old did. Very scary when they start talking sepsis and leukaemia etc but markers were monitored and were okay. Eventually. The wait was excruciating though.

Ended up having 7 days in SCBU anyway due to infection.

Just need to make sure they are monitoring and ask them for updates regularly even if it's to say no results etc.

Hang on in there.

Original poster

scrabbledabbl · 04/07/2022 15:54

Hi @anybloodyname thanks for replying quickly I'm so shocked and nervous about it but I know
It's the right thing to do - what exactly is it looking for? From what I can see on Google (yes I know not best place) is ruling out meningitis and or sepsis but can't see what other purpose....

OP posts:

forlornlorna1 · 04/07/2022 15:54

My dd had one at one day old. I was told to leave while they did it as I'd probably find it very upsetting. I was back with her an hour later and she wasn't at all bothered. Fast asleep.

Hope everything goes ok op. I remember how helpless I felt x

Cinnabomb · 04/07/2022 15:54

Yes, when she was less than 24 hours old, as she had sepsis too. She’s now a happy healthy thriving toddler, like it never happened.

It’s stressful but necessary. Good luck xx

BertieBotts · 04/07/2022 15:54

It's not nice, but the consequences of an infection not found would be much worse.

DS2 had lots and lots of tests when newborn. Not lumbar puncture but may have been on the cards if the other tests hadn't been clear. They told me not to watch as my presence would not have made it any easier for him, so I didn't. I still don't know if that was the right choice or not. When they brought him back we had lots of cuddles and he seemed OK.

On the bright side he's the one out of the three who is pretty unphased by things like vaccinations. Could be total coincidence??

anybloodyname · 04/07/2022 15:57

It's to take a sample of cerebral spinal fluid . Also can measure the pressure of the fluid within the brain and spinal canal .

A very straightforward procedure

Sorry you are going through this really difficult time

bluesky3 · 04/07/2022 16:06

Yes my daughter did as she also had very high crp markers (over 100 I think). But she was so poorly that it was done before I even knew about it. She had congenital phenomena and possibly sepsis. but is now a fit and healthy 12 year old.

bellsbuss · 04/07/2022 16:20

Yes one of my children had this at 2 weeks old , thought it was meningitis.

millymae · 04/07/2022 16:21

Yes mine did too at two weeks when she was admitted to hospital after a normal delivery with what turned out to be a strep B infection
They advised me to wait elsewhere while they did it but she wasn't away from me for very long.
She was very poorly and it was a touch and go for 24 hours or so, but as soon as the meds kicked in she recovered well and suffered no long term effects.

Moon12345 · 04/07/2022 16:23

My little boy had one at 3 days old as he had very high infection markers and suspected sepsis. Like a PP I didn’t see him have it but I returned to NICU once it was done to find him be cuddled and sung to by one of the amazing nurses. It actually ended up being unsuccessful (they didn’t get the results) but given his markers started to come down they didn’t repeat and he was actually discharged as a perfectly healthy baby 4 days later. Wishing you and you’re little one all the best. I know how tough it must be xx

SergeiL · 04/07/2022 16:29

Oh you poor thing. You are really going through it. No experience of this directly - my little one had to have lots of bloods - but just wanted to say hope it all happens smoothly and they don’t find anything to worry about.

FixTheBone · 04/07/2022 16:30

Yep, been there with our second when she was around 36 hours old, not feeding, acidosis and raised markers.

Not nice, but needed to be done, the consequences of infection if not found can be terrible. I'm a doctor so stayed and held her while they did the procedure, very upsetting, but it meant they could get it done without having to wait for another member of staff to help.

Heathofhares · 04/07/2022 16:30

My DD had one at a few hours old as they were worried about sepsis. I couldn’t be with her as had just had c section. It was horrible to know she was elsewhere having it done but it turned out to just be a precaution. She’s eight now and timing herself doing laps of the garden as I write.

best wishes for it to all go ok

Evenstar · 04/07/2022 16:32

My DS had one at 3 days old to check for meningitis, they took him away for it and I didn’t see it happen. Like a previous poster’s baby he had Strep B, which had caused pneumonia and was on IV antibiotics in SCBU for a week, he was fine after that and we were discharged when he was 10 days old. He had a slightest sunken chest at first, but the midwife and health visitor monitored things for a bit longer and we had a visit from our GP just to listen to his chest.

He will be 32 next month and has been very healthy, the only thing that was affected long term was that his adult teeth have some staining due to the antibiotics.

Ionianprincess · 04/07/2022 16:36

Yes very similar op.

DS was induced and I ended up with an emergency c section. He had swallowed some poo internally so had a lumbar puncture to rule out sepsis.

It was inconclusive but by the point we got the results they were treating him for sepsis just in case, so antibiotics to the cannula in his hand three times a day. I think for two weeks.

He responded really well, really quickly op and now he is laid on my knee torturing me with Mr Beast on You tube (he’s 7 now)

All the best op, as I understand it it’s a very common procedure and the best way to figure out what’s going on

Pinkflipflop85 · 04/07/2022 16:38

DD had one at around a day old due to sepsis.

ToucanPlayThatGame · 04/07/2022 16:48

Yes, one of mine did at about 8 weeks old. They took him into another room as they said they could do their job better without me there. Thankfully nothing showed up, and he's now a happy 6 year old, and knows nothing about it.

RecordPlayer · 04/07/2022 16:49

Yes, 24 hours after birth to rule out meningitis. They had brought him down to neonatal unit as he wasn't feeding and had been sick and I had mec in waters.
They phoned me to update me that they needed to do it (I had gone upstairs to rest after feeding) and asked me not to come back to him until it was done, as it would be distressing for me to see. I was glad, as he had several blood draws in the week that followed, and he didn't mind nearly as much as I did!
They ruled out meningitis and eventually diagnosed sepsis. He came home at 8 days old after a round of antibiotics and is now a busy and thriving 8mo. Not an ounce of bother since.

thisismee · 04/07/2022 16:52

My little one had one too due to very high infection markers, he had a partially collapsed lung and was very poorly. We wasn't allowed in while the procedure was done, the consultant said that they gave him some sugar solution on a dummy to keep him calm. Not sure if they still do this as my little one is 7 now. But he was fine straight after and out of NICU aFter a few days.

Sending get well wishes to your baby

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