I fell back down our stairs with my 3 month old

[Ellerdcc]

I’m in absolute hysterics I fell backwards down the stairs with my baby I can’t remember much of it but in the fall I remember turning my head and seeing him hit his forehead on on the step o think in that time I pulled him into me but everything went black. We’re in hospital now and they’re monitoring him but I just don’t know I’m so scared and feel like the worse mum in the world, did I do enough to keep him safe? I’m super anxious and was wondering if anyone has been In a similar position? I just need some positive energy right now. I’m driving myself insane

Firstly: I hope you and your LO are both ok ❤️ you are in no way WHATSOEVER the worst mum in the world - you didn't do it on purpose! Accidents happen and you cannot be blamed for having an accident - you did everything you could possibly do to keep him safe, including as you were right in the middle of the fall it sounds like.

It sounds like worst case scenario you will both have some bruising and mild concussion - both of which will heal. Imagine that your friend or relative fell down the stairs holding their child - would you be berating and attacking them and telling them they are the worst mum in the world? No, you wouldn't - you would be treating them with kindness and sympathy and making sure they were both ok, so treat yourself the same. Let us know how you both get on and tell the critical voice in your head to eff off! x

Your instinct would've kicked in to keep him safe once you felt yourself falling. You definitely did your best. We'll all keep our fingers crossed for you. Please update us, and best wishes xx

I hope you’re both ok OP.
I once went arse over tit down the stairs with baby DS2 in his buggy whilst dropping DS1 to nursery. Buggy ended up upside down with me on top of it.
I’ll never forget the sobbing I emitted as I sat there dazed hugging my baby.
DS had just toddled off into class and not really looked back so he was fine. They both were.
Crossing everything for you and sending hugs. Accidents happen sweetheart x x

Hope you’re both okay. How scary for you! Dh fell down the stairs when dd (our eldest) was about 24 hours old. He took the brunt of it and managed to hold on to her. Both were fine, his tailbone a bit bruised.

I also fell down a steep hill with youngest ds in the pushchair. My ankle gave out on a road going down a steep hill with him in the pushchair. I managed to cling on to pushchair with a death grip as we went down. Pushchair flew backwards and I got dragged down the hill on my hand. Broke two fingers and completely scraped up my hand but I didn’t let go! I managed to make it home, wrapped my hand up and Dh found me just sitting in shock at the kitchen table bleeding everywhere with ds.

We were fine. My hand was a bit knackered and I needed some physio for a few months to get it back to normal, but ds was okay. It was during COVID on our one walk each day, so it remains an enduring and traumatic lockdown memory for the dc. 😂

How are you doing now op? How is baby?

This is an excellent post. I quite agree. OP, these things happen. I once tripped over while carrying my DS when he was about 3, he was concussed and I felt exactly the same as you do now. But it wasn’t my fault- carrying my child was a perfectly reasonable thing to do, I didn’t fall on purpose. A friend fainted while carrying his newborn down the stairs. That was not his fault- he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that happening and he had never passed out before. This situation is not your fault either.

I hope your little one is on the mend and that you’re also feeling better. Be kind to yourself.

I have a deformed little toe, it might need amputating if it gets worse, after falling downstairs to catch my toddler after she climbed over the stair gate! In my haste,I smashed my foot on the stair gate then grabbed hold of her before falling the rest of the way down, ending up with my toes trapped in the railings at the bottom of the stairs! I banged my head and lost consciousness for a short time. Luckily my hubby was in the garage and heard Revme scream so he came running in and grabbed our daughter then helped me up. We both ended up in A&E and I was terrified I would be reported to Social Services. I had to wear a cast and an ankle brace for several weeks which was challenging with three children under 4 years old and a husband who worked abroad a lot! My Mum drove 250 miles to help out and a neighbour looked after my eldest one who was the same age as her child.

Accidents happen and it’s just unfortunate that mine has ended with me getting arthritis in my toes and one is bent sideways hence a possible amputation to stop the constant pain! My daughter is now an adult and it has become a family joke about how clumsy I am!

It happened to me almost 3 years ago. I still have a dent in my arse, I think I cleaved the muscle I went down that hard. Baby was unharmed, and I hope yours is too. They (and you) are in the best place,

I’m really sorry this happened — that must have been terrifying. From what you described, you did react to protect him, and you did the right thing getting to hospital immediately. Accidents can happen in seconds and this does not make you a bad mum. Babies are very resilient, and he’s in the safest place right now being monitored. Your anxiety is completely understandable — try to be gentle with yourself. Sending you calm, steady thoughts right now.

Thank you all for the lovely messages, they really helped me while I was in hospital. Ds was observed for 4hrs and we took him home to observe the remainder of the 48hrs, he seems okay just has a cold now. I didn’t get checked over, wishing I had as now I’m feeling the full impacts of the fall. Mentally I’m not okay, been replaying it over and over in my head and it’s killing me, I haven’t stopped crying and really struggling with the guilt.

I blame myself, I was poorly the day before with mastitis and a fever but felt fine most of Sunday. I keep trying to think how it happened but I never remember actually going down the stairs just being mid fall and seeing his head hitting the stairs…so maybe it was my fault? Maybe i fainted/blacked out? I don’t know… I just hope I did pull him into me and he didn’t feel much of it. My poor baby.

i hope this anxiety and self loathing eases off soon? I’ve reached out for help because it’s really taking it out of me..

Look after yourself, if you blacked out the you could have given yourself concussion. Hopefully you have someone who can keep an eye on you both? You do not need to feel bad, he was checked over and is fine.
I fell down the stairs at my mother in laws when my daughter was a baby and was pretty hysterical as I heard a bang when I fell. They all checked her over and she was fine, it was me that had hit something and bruised my arm and back!

I dropped my baby down the stairs. I completely lost grip. No idea what happened. She really bounced hard. I was beside myself. She was absolutely ok bar having a mother with a nervous breakdown

Ill never forget when I fell down the stairs with my 2 month old daughter 18 years ago. I went down the full lot. My foot slipped on the second step. How I managed to keep hold of her I will never know. Even though she was not hurt in any way I felt enormous guilt that I didnt look after her properly. I ended up with a massive bruise on the back of my leg, twisted my back and bruised my right arm, it hurt. I've got a 6 month old granddaughter now and it still frightens me going down the stairs with her. It sounds silly but I whisper to myself don't fall down the stairs on each step when I have her in my arms. It's such a relief when I get to the bottom

Darling, I'm so glad your baby is ok, but it sounds like there could be something more worrying going on with you. If you can't remember things before the fall and you've got an infection then you really should be getting checked out.
Remember to look after yourself as well as your baby.