Cerebral palsy baby was it medical negligence with amnihook?

[millienmaxmummy]

Hi all, I would really appreciate if you could read my story regarding my sons birth and let me know what you think. Thanks.
I had a normal pregnancy this time like with my first child, but unlike the birth of my first child this time it didn't run so smoothly....i was full term, my waters broke whilst I was asleep, I went to maternity assessment and I was 3mm dialated, my baby would be here soon so I went up to delivery suite. Everything was so nice, the staff the room, I was relaxed bouncing on a birthing ball and on gas and air for the contractions that were coming more and stronger, I told my midwife I felt like pushing (a poo out - sorry) and she said I can't be ready yet so she did an internal and she said we have 2 waters and only one has gone she thought so she told me she would break the second with a amnihook, I should mention that before she did this the room was relaxed me n my hubby were even having a giggle with the midwife (in between contractions of course) and she monitored my baby every 20 mins or so and his heartbeat was great, then she took to me with the amnihook, the first time she went in ouch then a second time then a third, then by the fourth she said oh I don't think it's a sac anymore I think it's his bum he's breech so she went to get her supervisor, the supervisor did an internal and right away knew it wasn't a sac or his bum, it was his head, the midwife has been using the amnihook four times may I add on his head! The room suddenly went wired, the midwife and supervisor started whispering and she just had this look of guilt on her face she was flustered and red even my hubby agreed, I weren't being paranoid. Then the midwife removed a pad from underneath me it was a funny colour she said the baby had pood inside me it was nothing to worry about, then the supervisor sternly said to me i needed to push the baby out now, his heart beat was deteriating there was no time to think He was born within seconds. He was born and quickly placed onto my chest he was perfect my beautiful baby boy. Then I noticed the blood scrapes on his head must of been about 10 of them, they took 3 months to heal, also they put a tuba grip bandage on his head when he was born, this must be a new thing as they said it was protocol but I associate tuba grip with swelling. We were left with my family and new baby for about 2 hours, no staff came in to see how me and my baby was doing, and what's even stranger is the midwife ran out as soon as my son was born, no congratulations no vitamin k jab and no checking of my baby weight, I thought it was strange but I was just full of joy I didn't really care at the time, then 2 hours after my baby was born a paediatrician came in and measured my sons head he said it was a little larger than average, me my hubby my mum n dad and aunt were all there n not one of us thought his head looked big, they did a scan it was confirmed he had a brain bleed and his ventricles in his brain weren't working which is causing hydrocephalus, his head was normal so in my eyes it couldn't of been like this for long.... Maybe 2 hours worth of brain bleed from what she did???? Also within the 5 days he was in intensive care for his head grew 3 times bigger, now if that was the rate inside my womb he would of been born with a big head but he wasn't. He had to have shunt surgery at 5 days old as he started having seizures and his eyes started to sun set and bulge. They told me his outcome is uncertain but defo cp.
So he is now 8 months old has been diagnosed with spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy, he has vision problems and seizures and has a life long commitment to his shunt. The MRI scan shows the damage is to his motor cortex and that just so happens to be at the top of the head where the scars were.
Gosh that feels better to get that off my chest thanks for listening x

[treedelivery]

obviously I can't comment on your circumstances in any way, but I can say that I personally know of no way that an amnihook could cause hydrocephalus. it isn't a condition that external factors like that, can cause. an amnihook is of a certain design to prevent it causing more than a certain depth of 'scratch', when applied to skin (either through membranes or not). so I hope that is useful info for you, although naturally you may well still want to know more about your birth.

maybe your midwife meant fore and hind waters when she said 2 membranes? or the 2 layers of membrane (anion and chorion). you could google those names to find our more about them.

I think you're getting good advice to follow up your concerns and I'd suggest asking for a meeting with the head of midwifery or a supervisor of midwives at the unit you delivered at. then you may feel better placed and have more information to decide on your next step, if that is appropriate for you. x

[2tirednot2fight]

Can I just advise you to follow Agnes's advice and go for a reputable solicitor. I went with a small local firm and very much regret it. Good Luck, I hope you get to the bottom of what has happenned.

[AgnesDiPesto]

Legal aid is changing but I think CP cases may be an exception. You should find a specialist solicitor look at Chambers and Ptrs website or Law Society find a solicitor website under clinical negligence. Go for one of the top 5 if you can. You may have to go through the NHS complaints process before you can get legal aid but a solicitor can advise you.

[thereonthestair]

Hi. I have no idea about the cause, but do know about cp and a little about the law. If you think you want to pursue this please please contact a lawyer today. I know this sounds crass but the funding changes will affect any possible claim for clinical negligence from 1 April and it will be so much easier to investigate if you get a Conditional fee agreement signed today.

[MareeyaDolores]

I don't know if the amnihook, the bleed and the damage were causing each other, or not, but I do have some
Information about Hydrocephalus if it's any use

[vjg13]

I would also type up your own recollections of what happened, at what time, the names of who was present etc. What happened in the days that followed.This will be very useful if you do get legal advice, especially if you wait for a while.

[vjg13]

I was worried that my daughter's medical care had been mismanaged post birth and years later consulted a medical negligence solicitor. They obtained all the medical records and obtained a report from an independent paediatrician. He concluded that her disability had not been caused in the way I feared and it was of great comfort to me. The case did not progress further.

I think I would follow this route in your situation. I was able to get legal aid as it was for a child but the rules may be different now. You do need a specialist solicitor. Good luck with this.

[millienmaxmummy]

Oh thank you I'm going to write a letter right away to them thanks for the advice.

[millienmaxmummy]

Hi, yes I have asked to see my medical notes and im
paying to see them, I applied 3 months ago through the normal roots but there has been a problem, just under 2 months ago they rang me and said iI have to now go through there legal department to view them I asked why and the lady just said she didn't no why she just had a note on her system saying so....so that to me sounded very shifty, so I have filled out a couple of forms and still not heard anything, iv not paid anything as of yet they said cash when I view them is fine.

[beautifulgirls]

Have you asked for a copy of your medical notes? I think that would be a good place to start and then consider if you need legal advice from there. Check your home insurance policy as it may give you legal protection cover in this sort of circumstance for solicitor fees. You may have to pay for your medical notes.

[millienmaxmummy]

Sorry I also forgot to mention the scrapes where right on his soft spot so there was no skull protecting it

[millienmaxmummy]

Sorry cm not mm