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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

My baby was blue....

44 replies

broguemum · 14/03/2008 21:33

I was wondering how many babies are blue and floppy when they are born - do you know? I've done some goggling but not got any idea of percentages.

The reason I am asking is that DS was blue and floppy when he was born 3.5 months ago. It was a relatively easy vaginal delivery although he was big and got stuck for a short while with the cord wrapped around his arm and shoulder. He was given to me as soon as he was born and he just lay there, totally immobile. I then clearly heard the midwife say something like, "Oh God, a still birth." Then my doctor replied, "No, he just needs some stimulation," and then rubbed him a bit and he started moving. It freaked me out a little and I haven't told anyone in RL about this although I have discussed it with DH who was also freaked out by it. The funny thing is I remember this conversation as being in French and DH remembers it as being in German - memory is a funy thing isn't it? We're in Luxembourg BTW.

So what are the stats? Are many babies born blue and floppy? Was it reasonable for the stillbirth comment to be made?

Thanks for any info as it will, I hope, put my mind at rest.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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BumperliciousIsStillNotDressed · 14/03/2008 21:36

I can't answer your questions I'm afraid but didn't want your thread to go unanswered. That must have been pretty scary for you. Are you able to go through your notes from the birth?

moodlumthehoodlum · 14/03/2008 21:38

I don't know I'm afraid, but I think that hearing something like that would be incredibly traumatic, even if the outcome was OK. Regardless of the stats I think it was a terrible thing for a midwife to say. I also think its an important thing to talk about, so that you can process it, if you like, in your mind, and how you feel about it.

Sorry not to be any help.

funnyhaha · 14/03/2008 21:38

I think it isn't completely unusual (esp if, for example the baby has cord round neck - and that is not unusual) Bump for someone who knows more

Sounds very scary for you & your dh

charliegal · 14/03/2008 21:47

DS was born like this too- blue and limp. When they passed him to me he just hung there and I said 'is he alive'? Sounds horrible, but you know how crazy everythng is at this point. The midwife whipped him away and rubbed him (probably!?) and then he perked up a bit.
Actually he looked terrible, it is scary. Very long induction and 2nd stage and I think that is why he was like that. He was big too (10lbs).

funnyhaha · 14/03/2008 21:51

bump

Original poster

broguemum · 14/03/2008 21:52

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've not spoken to anyone in RL and DH and I have spoken about it only twice. I will try to speak to my doctor about it (we're doctor not midwife led here in Luxembourg) but in a way I am so grateful for my beautiful boy that I sort of don't want to speak about it and tempt fate but it is just niggling at the back of my mind all the time. I was petrified - thankfully it lasted only a few moments but I don't think I will ever forget.

OP posts:

Heated · 14/03/2008 21:53

DS1 born blue after an overlong 2nd stage and was whisked away. Although I felt alarmed it was all part of a horrible experience so it didn't really stand out iyswim. They made it seem like it wasn't much to be concerned about.

Not good your mw's comment, maybe inexperienced?

morningpaper · 14/03/2008 21:54

I've seen lots of those birth-programmes and lots of babies seem to come out like this, and need a bit of suction and stimulation before they shudder into life

Did your DH hear the comment? Do you think perhaps your memory 'added' the comment afterwards, or mis-heard in shock? I would have thought midwives are very used to seeing 'blue' babies born

3NAB · 14/03/2008 21:55

In defense of the midwife she was probably not thinking straight when (if) she said still birth.

My sons were both born needing stimulation - the first one was in a bad way but both are fine now. Try not to let this eat away at your lovely first months with your baby but I would suggest you try and speak to someone at the hospital who can explain what went on.

Yorky · 14/03/2008 21:56

broquemum, where in Lux are you? I have a friend who is an English midwife there who I am sure would be happy to talk to you about it

morningpaper · 14/03/2008 21:58

When you are in a state of shock your brain processes things very differently - which is why awful experiences can seem to last for ages when they are only seconds

It sounds like a terrible experience - have you thought about counselling/therapy with someone trained in post-traumatic shock or something similar? It might be helpful to consider for the future. Births can be a hugely traumatic process when things like this happen.

Congrats on your son.

Original poster

broguemum · 14/03/2008 22:03

Hi Yorky, Lux is v. small so anywhere is fairly near . I'd love a chance to talk to someone - my e-mail is zzKat_Ellis at yahoo dot co dot uk (no spaces).

Thanks again to everyone for your comments. I think I do need to talk about it although I have this huge reluctance to. Part of my problem is that I'd love to talk to my best friend over here about it but her baby is due in 5 weeks and I don't want to worry her!

OP posts:

ingles2 · 14/03/2008 22:04

ds2 was born blue and limp with the cord wrapped round his neck. It is very scary, especially they way the whipped him away so quickly His apgar score was good though. I'm sure everything is fine with your ds, so try not to worry about it and IME I don't think it is that uncommon.

Aitch · 14/03/2008 22:08

oh gosh i can completely see why you don't want to mention it to your friend, that's very decent of you.
i wonder if MP's right, you know, i remember the first time i saw a baby born on telly and it was definitely blue and needed suction and rubbing before it started crying but the staff didn't seem overly concerned.
if you have the strength, maybe you could ask for your notes and speak to the doctor. because if that midwife is a panic-merchant then she needs to be spoken to. what she has said in one stupid moment could have had a terrible effect on your mental health in those first few months with your child.

rumblethump · 14/03/2008 22:13

broguemum, my baby was blue too (well a kind of dark purple). i was out of my tree on gas and air after a long drawn out induced labour and rather than thinking he was dead, i thought, "oh, isn't that strange - my baby is half-caste". my dh and i are both white btw!

my baby boy was whisked away to be given oxygen and to be stimulated and with very little fuss returned to us within minutes, a very healthy looking, pink cheeked raving redhead!

he had no ill effects and is a bouncing 5 yr old now.

your experience was very traumatic and i agree you shld try and speak to someone to ensure that you can enjoy your first precious months.

xxx

Mercy · 14/03/2008 22:21

My brother was born at home nearly 38 years ago. He was purple with the cord wrapped round his neck and shoulder and only the midwife and my dad were present.

From what I have been told the cord was unwrapped asap, a tube put down his throat and he was physically stimulated (rubbed vigoursly, given to my mum to hold and 'jiggle' him)

I think in 'those' days people panicked less (although obviously there was just as much potential for major problems to occur) simply because you did what you had to do - with less medical knowldege/intervention but with more hands on experience.

So, top cut a long story short (not) the midwife was unreasonable but I think it was through lack of experience and therefore panic.

Ledodgy · 14/03/2008 22:25

Both of my friend's children were blue at birth and took quite a while to breathe. Her first dd had to go into special care for a few days because of it but both are fine. I think it's reasonably common but agree try to speak to someone as it's obviously affecting you.

Yorky · 14/03/2008 22:29

I've emailed my friend to ask if she thinks it would be treading on anyone's professional toes by talking about a case which (I hope) doesn't involve her. I'll be in touch. Enjoy your baby

suedonim · 14/03/2008 22:30

My first baby was born blue and floppy (after being OP and a long 2nd stage) and he was rushed away for treatment, which included a stomach washout. I've heard this sort of birth referred to as a 'flat' birth by doctors, maybe that was what the mw meant? Congratulations on your baby!

Original poster

broguemum · 15/03/2008 08:40

Thanks everyone. I feel a bit more at ease now.

Thanks Yorky. Much appreciated.

OP posts:

ernest · 15/03/2008 09:01

How scary for you, esp the midwife panicking and saying something like that Maybe she was inexperienced and never been at one, and feared it happening. She is a professional, but still human. It did happen also to my mum. Apparently I was blue when I was born. The doctors panicked and thought I was going to die, called in the priest and had me baptised there and then. My mum, in her panic couldn't think of any name other than her own (which is hideous) so I've been lumbered all my life with a really crappy name In the following 11.5 months it apparently never occurred to her to change it. I was obv perfectly ok. But scarred for life with my name

Aitch · 15/03/2008 11:58

yes, ernest is a tough name for a girl...

maxbear · 15/03/2008 13:58

Most babies are blue when they are born, it is far more worrying if they are white and floppy. I would guess at 97% are blue to varying degrees. (I'm a midwife btw )

ernest · 15/03/2008 14:19

yes, sniff, it's been tough

orangehead · 15/03/2008 14:33

I was told at antenatal class that all babies come out blue but normally pink up quite quickly, so not to worry. They didnt say anything about floppy though. I have watched many birthing progs on tele (a bit sad) and from that it looks like alot are blue, floppy and not breathing probably and need stimulation(aware that they may just show more of these). However the midwife souds very unprof and should not of said that, sounds like she may of been a trainee possible. Glad ds ok now

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