Could a problem birth be the cause of Autism

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone else had a problem during childbirth that they think might be the cause of their childs Autism, my daughter was left for 5 hours pushing while my Grandson was stuck, my daughter was finally taken to theatre for a cecerian but first the Dr tried forceps where in the end they managed to bring my Grandson into the world, but the shock at the sight of my Grandsons head frightened my daughter so much she could not hold him, my daughter was also exhausted and and fell asleep after 29 hours of labour, my Grandson was given to me and I gave him his first feed, I asked the Dr what was wrong with my Grandsons head and I was told it was because he had been stuck for so long the top of his head to one side had was swollen so much that it was raised at least 2 inches above the rest of his head and was like a cone, they told me it would go down in a few hours, when it didnt go down I mentioned it to a nurse and she said no it would take about 3 days or so when after 3 weeks it still hadn't gone we took him to see the health visitor and she told us not to worry, I have never known a swelling to last over 3 YEARS, 3 years and it was still slightly visible when his hair was wet, luckily he had a mass of blonde curly hair which disguised it, my Grandson was such a good baby and hardly ever cried except for the sudden outbursts of screams that sounded as though he was in severe pain, he would be asleep and all of a sudden would wake hysterical and it would take a lot of cuddles and singing to him to calm him down this started within his first week of life the GP and health visitor both told us my Grandson was fine the sudden outbursts stopped at around 5 months of age and the only thing I can associate with these screams was his head there was no other explanation for it, apart from these every so often my Grandson was a little angel, until he was about 2 years of age and he started getting very violent to my 2nd Grandson, his cousin, who was just 5 months younger than him, this was the start of what now has been diagnosed as Autism, it took another 3 years and many many appointments with his paediatrician to get a diagnosis, I would like to know if anyone else has been through a similar experience.

Parents

orsteve over 9 years ago

Hi Fran,
At the time of our eldest sons birth we were both serving Police officers. Neither of our families have any history of ADD/ADHD or Autism.
My eldest son was over due by 15 days. My wife is allergic to general anesthetic.
My wife also has a fused spine after surgery in L4/L5 area where they use the Epidural.
We informed the hospital about the spine surgery and were informed that they would go further up. We also spoke about her allergy to general anesthetic. We were informed that all of this had been taken into consideration for her and our child’s delivery.
On her due date we went to the hospital only for her to be checked over and discharged. The hospital refused to admit my wife or induce her.
This went on daily for 14 days. They even refused to admit her over Christmas simply because of the lack of staff.
Eventually they admitted her on the 15th day. They induced her about 6:30pm that evening.
Hours after being induced and no sign of her waters breaking or our son wishing to come into this world they moved her to a side ward. There we stayed for another 10 hours.
Her waters didn’t break so they broke them. Then about an hour later they decided to take her to a delivery room.
They tried using forceps and then ventouse but still nothing.
By this stage she was in absolute agony. The baby heart rate monitor was going absolutely mad and when asked about it they said it was normal.
She signed a consent form for a C section.
This is when the trouble appeared to start.
We got to theatre where I got into a gown. I could hear my wife screaming but wasn’t allowed near her.
Out of the blue a female appeared that we hadn’t seen before stating that my wife’s spine was very hard and they couldn’t get the Epidural in and would be using general anesthetic.
I started to ask who she was and explain why they couldn’t get the Epidural in only for her to turn her back on me and walk away!
I continued to hear my wife screaming then nothing no sound at all. I tried to get to her to see what was happening but was not allowed anywhere near her. At some point I tried to get to her again and the porters and security called the Police.
The Police arrived, my shift where I sat with them outside.
I was eventually allowed in to see my wife and son; however, we cannot account for the first half an hour of his life.
When I saw him his face was completely de-formed, he had one eye lower than the other, he looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame.
You could still see the marks where they tried the forceps and the ventouse on his face and head.
I was so happy that both were alive I didn’t think anything of it.
I was stuck on for acting in a disorderly manner.
As a result of the hearing some 4 months later we found out that our son had been in severe fetal distress for almost 12 hours, the length of her labour after being induced. We also learned that his heart rate was so high at one point he almost died.
Since my son has been at school he has always shown signs of ADD/ADHD or Autism. His concentration levels are quite bad however he is exceptionally intelligent in certain areas. He is now 11. His hand writing is that of a 5 – 6-year-old and his drawing skills are that of a 4 – 5-year-old. He has severe trouble some days concentrating or doing the simplest of task that require him to remember. He has to keep things in order his way plus he has quite a bad temper.
We are now living in Scotland, my wife and I separated 2 1/2 years ago. Since being in Scotland he has been tested and examined. Today he has been diagnosed with possible ADD and my ex-wife has reluctantly agreed for him to take medication.
I am of the opinion that the problem encountered at birth have caused our sons problems.

Reply

orsteve over 9 years ago

Hi Fran,
At the time of our eldest sons birth we were both serving Police officers. Neither of our families have any history of ADD/ADHD or Autism.
My eldest son was over due by 15 days. My wife is allergic to general anesthetic.
My wife also has a fused spine after surgery in L4/L5 area where they use the Epidural.
We informed the hospital about the spine surgery and were informed that they would go further up. We also spoke about her allergy to general anesthetic. We were informed that all of this had been taken into consideration for her and our child’s delivery.
On her due date we went to the hospital only for her to be checked over and discharged. The hospital refused to admit my wife or induce her.
This went on daily for 14 days. They even refused to admit her over Christmas simply because of the lack of staff.
Eventually they admitted her on the 15th day. They induced her about 6:30pm that evening.
Hours after being induced and no sign of her waters breaking or our son wishing to come into this world they moved her to a side ward. There we stayed for another 10 hours.
Her waters didn’t break so they broke them. Then about an hour later they decided to take her to a delivery room.
They tried using forceps and then ventouse but still nothing.
By this stage she was in absolute agony. The baby heart rate monitor was going absolutely mad and when asked about it they said it was normal.
She signed a consent form for a C section.
This is when the trouble appeared to start.
We got to theatre where I got into a gown. I could hear my wife screaming but wasn’t allowed near her.
Out of the blue a female appeared that we hadn’t seen before stating that my wife’s spine was very hard and they couldn’t get the Epidural in and would be using general anesthetic.
I started to ask who she was and explain why they couldn’t get the Epidural in only for her to turn her back on me and walk away!
I continued to hear my wife screaming then nothing no sound at all. I tried to get to her to see what was happening but was not allowed anywhere near her. At some point I tried to get to her again and the porters and security called the Police.
The Police arrived, my shift where I sat with them outside.
I was eventually allowed in to see my wife and son; however, we cannot account for the first half an hour of his life.
When I saw him his face was completely de-formed, he had one eye lower than the other, he looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame.
You could still see the marks where they tried the forceps and the ventouse on his face and head.
I was so happy that both were alive I didn’t think anything of it.
I was stuck on for acting in a disorderly manner.
As a result of the hearing some 4 months later we found out that our son had been in severe fetal distress for almost 12 hours, the length of her labour after being induced. We also learned that his heart rate was so high at one point he almost died.
Since my son has been at school he has always shown signs of ADD/ADHD or Autism. His concentration levels are quite bad however he is exceptionally intelligent in certain areas. He is now 11. His hand writing is that of a 5 – 6-year-old and his drawing skills are that of a 4 – 5-year-old. He has severe trouble some days concentrating or doing the simplest of task that require him to remember. He has to keep things in order his way plus he has quite a bad temper.
We are now living in Scotland, my wife and I separated 2 1/2 years ago. Since being in Scotland he has been tested and examined. Today he has been diagnosed with possible ADD and my ex-wife has reluctantly agreed for him to take medication.
I am of the opinion that the problem encountered at birth have caused our sons problems.

Children

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