worried- fallen down stairs whilst pregnant

[Jzee]

I'm 5 months pregnant and I've just slipped down a flight of stairs on my bum, I'm really worried about the baby being Ok - what should I do?

I would give you midwife a quick call for reassurance. I think it is probably very unlikely that the baby has been harmed in any way. I had a nasty car accident when I was four months pregnant and I remember the midwife telling me that in this sort of situation, generally you would need to have broken bones / damage to internal organs for the baby to have been hurt.

Well, you could contact your antenatal care provider (GP, midwife, hospital clinic) and ask their advice. I think generally the view is that it takes a lot more than we think to damage a baby in the womb, thankfully - they are well protected by the mum's body, the amniotic fluid etc. To put your mind at rest, you could ask for the heartbeat to be checked, and obviously, if you get any pain or bleeding go to hospital at once. But I would hope that all that is hurt is your pride and your sit-upon . I was a real weeble during my first pregnancy and was quite surprised to see ds1 did NOT have black eyes or a broken nose when we met him. Hope you are not too badly bruised or shaken.

Jzee - my friend did exactly the same thing. She hurt her back a wee bit. She told her midwife, who organised a scan for her, just to be safe. The scan confirmed what they thought.... the baby was absolutely fine. It turned out better coz she also got to find out the sex of the baby, which they couldn't tell in the first scan!!

Give her a wee call.

I fell down some very steep stairs when I was 3 months pregnant with my dd. I made sureI rested for the rest of the day and spoke to a doctor who told me that unless I started to bleed there wasn't a problem. After a couple days rest service resumed as normal. My dd is going to be 4 next month. Babies, even in uteru are tough things.

Any doubts at all though ring a health professional. Esp if there is cramping, bleeding or you notice a change in the baby's movements.

Jzee, I fell downstairs when I was 7 months pg with ds, and everything was fine - I think the baby is very well cushioned in there, and as you went down on your bum (as I did) you've probably sustained more harm than the baby! As long as you get no cramping or bleeding I wouldn't worry about it.

BTW, my fall was in the middle of the night when dh was away in Japan on business - scared myself silly!

Thanks everyone for your advice and I've just returned from my Gp where I heard the babys heartbeat - this has made me feel a whole lot better. I felt really stupid going to my Gp, but fortunately she is really nice understood my concerns. Once again mumsnet has come to my rescue!

Glad to hear it Jzee!

Jzee - don't feel stupid! The reasurance was required and is not hard for them to do!