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Original poster

What are the implications for a baby who has to be resuscitated at birth?

10 replies

TW · 20/04/2004 19:29

This could, I suppose be in the "childbirth" topic, but it seems a bit negative.
A very close friend of mine had to have an emergency section last night. She went into labour (39 wks)at about 7pm, was at the hospital by 9.30. The baby was being monitored and the midwife noticed that the heartbeat was constant - ie not reacting to contractions. She called in the dr who broke the waters which were blood. Ie placenta coming away. There was a sudden rush of people in one door and out of the other, sweeping mum-to-be up along the way. She was given a general anaesthetic, and when the surgeon made the incision, the pressure in the uterus was so great that he was covered from head to toe. Baby came out at 10 to midnight, and was resuscitated. 7lb 1oz. By the time Dad left the hospital at about 4.30 the staff were being very positive (but are they ever not?) and said the baby was doing well.
The 2yr old sister was with us, and the Dad came here for a couple of hrs kip before going to meet his MIL off a flight with his dd. We have heard nothing since.
Can anyone offer me any reasurance; any statistics on the baby's chances etc? We are out of our minds with worry. I have left a message on his mobile saying we are thinking of them and please keep us updated but don't feel I can do more.

OP posts:

tamum · 20/04/2004 19:33

You poor thing, and poor poor them. The problem is that I don't think anyone would be able to give you any statistics or say anything meaningful as it would depend entirely on how long the baby had gone without oxygen. Sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear at the moment. FWIW, I would have thought that the staff saying that the baby was doing well was quite a positive thing, I don't think they're necessarily going to be handing out false reassurances.
Hope you have much better news very soon.

charliecat · 20/04/2004 19:34

Not sure of the details, except for the fact he had the cord round his neck and was a vaginal birth, but my nephew was born under the same rushed out of the room sort of cicumstances,he was blue and lifeless, and hes now 15 and over 6ft tall...Im sure the doctors would be slightly honest if there was going to be any problems id be more worryed about mummy and the traumatic birth. Hope they are doing fine

Davros · 20/04/2004 19:38

TW, how awful as you must be desperate to know what's happening but don't want to be a nuisance Sophie & Edward's baby had traumatic brith and resucuscitation didn't it? Haven't heard any more about that...

Original poster

TW · 20/04/2004 19:39

Thank you both so much. These are both very reassuring messages.

OP posts:

LIZS · 20/04/2004 19:45

This is very sad and must have been a real shock to the parents. I would have thought that the nurses would be trained not to give false hope. Don't think there is much more you can do. They are probably preoccupied at the moment but might still welcome your messages of support and any help in due course. Hope all is well.

Davros, there was stuff in the papers just before Easter about concerns regarding lady Louise's sight as she has already developed a serious squint. I wondered at the time whether this could be related to the complications of her birth and whether there is more yet to become apparent.

kid · 20/04/2004 20:19

I hope you get some reassuring news from them soon. It must have been very scarey.
My nephew was born at 35 weeks (5lb 1oz) and was grey and floppy. It took them 7 minutes to resucitate him. The brain can cope for upto 4 minutes without oxygen, after that they could be problems. My nephew is now 10 years old and is fine. Infact, he is the brightest in his class.

He wears glass due to a squint but I'm sure everyone will agree that is a small price to pay.

Marina · 20/04/2004 20:23

As others have said, TW, staff involved in neonatology are not in the business of giving falsely positive information. Our dd was not rescuscitated at birth, but she did have post delivery shock and needed to spend a couple of days on SCBU being monitored. The staff who dealt with us were always reassuring but cautious in the sense they never told us what we really wanted to hear...that she was and would from now on be fine. If they've said, doing well, I am sure that is a good sign. But in your position I'd be worried witless too and I am thinking of you all and hoping for better news soon. Please keep us updated.

mears · 20/04/2004 20:32

TW - just to echo what others have posted - SCBU staff tell parents the truth and do not give false hope. If they say baby is doing well I am sure he/she is. Babies often need resuscitation and are given a score (APGAR) at 1 minute and 5 minutes. It is the 5 minute score the one that predicts more how a baby will fare. A baby can have a score of 1 out of 10 at one minute but have 10 out of 10 at 5 minutes. Hope everything is OK.

luckymum · 20/04/2004 20:35

TW......I don't have experience of resus. at birth, but my dd spent many weeks on ITU post heart surgery. I have to say that IME the Drs tend to tell it how it is rather than 'gild the lily' so if they say baby is doing well I would be hopeful. Hugs to all, keep us posted.

dinosaur · 21/04/2004 12:01

TW - I've only just seen this.

My DS1 had to be resuscitated at birth, it took them quite a long time to get him going (three lots of adrenalin, the third lot intra-cardiac).

The staff were not at all reassuring to us, all they would say was that we would have to wait and see, but that if he was able to suck, that would be a good sign.

So I think it is indeed very reassuring in your friend's case that the staff said the baby was doing well, because ime they would not say that if they did not believe it - they don't give you false hope. Please try not to worry.

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