What Kind of Damage Can Be Done To Baby With Forceps?

[Whisper]

Just looking for medical info. My niece's ds was delivered by forceps and has been having trouble ever since.

Of course the doctors say there is no relationship between the two but I suspect. He has been diagnosed and is being treated for torticollis and NOW the doctor says the babies skull may be closing too fast and they may have to do surgery to REMOVE part of his skull temporarily!!!!!!!!

My niece is not ready at this point to pursue the idea that the forceps did damage. She is content -- for now -- to listen to the doctors. But I want to have some info for her when she is ready to hear it.

Thanks!

[lorijds]

I'm unsure about the torticollis, but I don't think the premature fusion of his skull bones would have anything to do with forceps being used at his birth.

I'm sorry she's having to deal with this right now. Does her sweet baby get physical therapy? Does she have good support?

Good luck to her and her little guy. I hope everything goes well for them.

Lori

[lorijds]

I just goggled it; there appears to be an incredibly supportive website for torticollis.

www.torticolliskids.org

On some sites, it does mention nonspecific birth trauma as a potential cause. I think it would be very difficult to point to forceps (at least, in a court of law, if that is what you were thinking), because there are many other things that can cause the same type of trauma, some of them "natural," ie intrautero positioning, fetal positioning during birth, etc. Most cases seem to be congenital.

That's what I gleaned from 5 minutes of googling. I hope you can find more, and I hope your little nephew can get appropriate treatment for both his conditions. Keep us posted.

Lori

[lorijds]

Another website--

www.plagiocephaly.org

It appears that these two often go together as far as conditions.

[anonymommy]

Not sure about the other but your neice needs to ask the question REALLY fast "what damage can be done to a small baby by cat scan levels of radiation to the brain"! There is some research out there that's really scary and the standard of care is to throw cat scans at babies like candy and doctors are in deep denial -- whereas they cannot even answer the question, is there any harm to a baby in and of itself having premature fusion of a single suture.

[nznats]

I am not sure about the condition described but an Ex boyfriend of mine was delivered with forceps, the doctors crushed his skull causing blindless in his left eye and epilepsy. If used incorectly on such a soft skull it can cause damage, so your neice def needs to ask tons of questions, possibly even seeking second or even third opinions.
Hugs to your family :)

[mwherbs]

have this kid see a good chiropractor-- can really help with some of the trauma
now I am not sure about early closure- craniostenosis this can be many things
here are some web sites that has several bits of info on


http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:RK7yCOnVmSUJ:
www.lineurosurgery.com/pdf/Craniosynostosis.pdf+craniostenosis+and+torticolli s&hl=en&client=safari

http://www.bdid.com/sagittal.htm


I wanted to add that they may have been pre-existing conditions that led to forceps delivery -- less flexible skull and a neck twist that causes the head to tilt