Baby received Brain Damage at birth

[josey]

Has anyone been through something like this?

I had my DD 3 weeks ago today and she was born with the cord tightly round her neck, she didnt breath for a long time and suffered a hit to the central brain.

She has been suffering seizures and has only started to wake up slightly from the sedation.

MRI suggests Cerebal palsy.

We are preparing to take her home and she will be tube fed for the time being, she seems to be recovering her gag reflex, can swallow and we have been given a little dummy for her to learn to suck properly, she can such but doesnt seem to know why she would want to IYKWIM

I have just read your posts and wanted to say congratulations & I'm so glad she is home with her Mummy

My little boy who is now 2yrs old has CP (4 limb dystonic) if you are anything like me you will want to know how affected she will be, unfortunately this is something that only time will tell and you have to learn to be optimistic and pessimistic at the same time.

There are excercises you can do to keep her limbs supple, and I'm so glad I did this as it was nearly a year before we got physio! and if you start early the child just gets used to it, and it's not until you have physio that you realise how important it is to do it.

This is a good book for excercises as it starts at babies and goes through the different stages of learning (Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And Professionals) it costs £20 new but abebooks.co.uk have several from about £6.

I'm sorry for going on but I wish I had had a mum or dad to ask questions and you will have many! so if you have any questions at all feel free to email me ([email protected])

I wish you both the very best x

Sorry ... just had to say any mum with a child with CP or similar disability reading this should look up 'Team Hoyt' this young man is severly disabled and is just amazing and has the best dad in the world (bearing in mind he now lives in his own home and has a job and so on) ... you can also see video clips on certain websites ... it is truly inspiring.

Hey

I know a bit what you are going through. My ds was born with good apgar scores but started fititng after 12 hours with apnoeas. He was sedated for a week as they had to give him so much medication.

He had all sorts of scans and was diagnosed with brain damage, in the visual cortex and frontal lobes. We were warned that severe visual impairment or cortical blindness was likely as would be a raft of other problems.

Once he was awake properly he did not take long to start breastfeeding. Hopefully that will come for your little one soon.

Fact is that baby brains are remarkably elastic and have a huge ability to fix themselves. My lo is no nearly six months old and is doing fine bar not using his right hand enough (although it works fine). He seems to see very well indeed and smiled very early. He likes to stand, can almost sit alone and loves to play. Have a look at his pictures on my profile.

Take it a day at a time.

And remember that both dh and I had fellow students at uni who had sometimes very severe cerebral palsy.

Happy for you to contact me off topic just let me know.

Thank you for the new posts, they all give me strenght and something to focus on.

We had DD for a new EEG today and although we didnt get results the change was unreal, there was hardly any trace at all 5weeks ago and now the lines are poping up and down without breaks so Im really please.

Also we are starting to bottle feed small amounts at each feed, the SALT is pleased with her.

Bless my DD1 she told the lady that did the EEG when we were leaving, "thanks for fixing my sister"bless her.

Madmouse, and Josey - have been checking out your pictures. What totally adorable babies!! I hope they both continue to go from strength to strength. My DD3 has v different special needs, but I remember the feeling of those early days when you just don't know what the future holds. To some extent I still have that feeling a little. But she is now almost 8 and is a proper little character, and to be honest I try not to worry too much. I take my cue from my girl who just thinks she's the bee knees! Most people she meets agree with her