If a woman had a general anaesthetic unaware that she was 5 months pregnant...?

Question

What would be the long term consequences for the child?

This was 40 years ago and I am the child. I suffer from depression and ADHD-like symptoms.

Just wondering if this could be the cause...

Answer 1

Even if she didn't know, the doctor should of known, but since as it was forty years ago and you were the unborn child.............. you are what happened, only you know what the affect is, as for depression it affects 1/3 people and i can assure you it has nothing to do with a general anaesthetic!!!!!

Answer 2

All the organs are formed by then; the odds that there was harm done to the fetus by the introduction of the anesthetic is very low. The baby does not rely on its own oxygenation while in the womb; mom breathes for it, so while there may have been some central nervous system depression of the fetus (if the agent is one that crosses the placenta and goes into the fetal circulation), as long as mom was well oxygenated during the procedure, baby should be fine.

And the odds that there would be long term complications, unless there was a severe drop in mom's blood pressure or oxygen saturation, are most likely very slim.

Attention Deficit Disorder and Depression are entities that one sees not only in the general population, but also in those who have had some insult to the central nervous system. If the introduction to the anesthetic was the culprit, I would be willing to wager that you might have other difficulties with the brain as well.

Incidently, there is a strong genetic predisposition to these disorders, and also one sees A.D.H.D. go hand in hand quite often. If there is a history of these issues in your family, than you most likely have genetics to thank, and not the anesthesiologist!

I too, have A.D.H.D. and depression. Genes had something to do with this. The fact my dad chose to medicate his bipolar illness with scotch and cocaine probably did not help my mood disturbance, or his, for that matter.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I doubt that the anesthetic caused this, but I would urge you to seek help for your problems. If you do not want to seek help, find things to do to help your depression. Take a continuing ed class, exercise, find a new hobby. Find things to DO to get you moving, this way your behaviors will influence your thoughts and feelings. It's called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. You change your behaviors, and it changes the cycle so your thoughts and feelings change. You won't feel as depressed as time goes on. With the ADHD symptoms, have you been formally diagnosed? I say this because right now ADHD is a catch phrase and overused by people and medical professionals alike. I don't know if the anesthetic caused these problems, but I know how you fix them is more important than how you got them.

Answer 4

before a female gets put under a general anesthetic for surgery or otherwise. They perform a pregnancy test even if you think there is no chance that you could be pregnant.


OK well since you added that detail. I would say that it is probably not the cause... ADD and depression are both caused from a lack of serotonin if you increase your serotonin levels it will decrease the symptoms of both ADD and Depression

Answer 5

You could be depressed or have AHD due to a dietary deficiency...possibly magnesium.

Why don't you try supplementing you diet with about 500 mg of magnesium every day?

I also recommend a very good mineral supplement...like the NOW brand.

Also, try eating fresh spinach leaves and lettuce every day.
You could be very short on minerals.

Staying away from the pop, sugar, coffee, and artificial stimulants will really help to curb your AHD.

Answer 6

i would think none as at five months she has passed the 12 week thing and is not at the end of pregnancy the cross over mum to baby would be short term the baby will prob have slept through it all and be tickitiboo

Answer 7

I went thru the same thing when I was four months pregnant, my daughter turned out just fine, but if there is concern I suggest speaking with the doctor.

Answer 8

how can a woman NOT know she is 5 months pregnant that should be the question u ask her and also why wasn't blood work done before anistetic was introduced to the system......a blood test would have shown her to be pregnant

Answer 9

shouldnt be the baby's, brain etc are already developed by that stage its really the first 3 mths you have to worry about, ask your doctor?

Answer 10

unaware she was preg for 5 months ??? then she needs to visit an asylum first along with the doc who gave her the anesthesia .