My cousin had a C-section 3 days ago at almost 8 months pregnant. Her baby was getting to large and was causing her lots of pain. The baby was also pushing down on her bladder and the doctor said it could rupture it at any minute. So they made the choice to operate. When they delivered the baby they noticed she was not breathing normally. Come to find out one of her little lungs did not fully develop. She was put on a respirator which was the only thing keeping her alive at that moment. The doctor said there was nothing they could do that it would be better to take her off the respirator and she past away moments later. My question is could the doctors have detected the baby was not breathing normally while pregnant? It would've prepared my cousin for this.
Her baby was almost 9 pounds and very beautiful. She looked very healthy, but apparantely she wasn't.
2006-10-12 05:35:46 · 12 answers · asked by cihuatl 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
My cousin is a healthy 24 year old. The amnio test was never an option because nothing seemed abnormal with the baby. I understand that this test is only done to older women or to women with a risky/unhealthy pregnancy.
2006-10-12 11:26:01 · update #1
Besides all the other "interesting" answers, here, it may help you to know this:
A fetus does not use it's lungs while still in the womb. It receives nutrients and oxygenated blood, via the umbilical chord, from the mother. Until shortly after birth, the lungs are not working.
Usually, the shock of passing through the birth canal promts the newborn baby to gasp and start breathing. Sometimes, the baby does not start on its own, so the delivery team will help it along with a respirator until the baby starts breathing. In the old days, the doctor would give the baby a little spank to shock and surprise the baby into that first breath.
Regarding your cousin's tragic story, I tend to agree with the writer who thinks there is something missing. The doctor would not have advised letting the baby pass unless there were something else, terribly wrong. I also believe the baby was determined to be brain dead. There could have been many causes for THIS, but I can't think of any ways the doctor to have detected the fetus' brain activity while still in the mother.
My brother's ex gave birth to a beautiful daughter who, unfortunately had a difficult birth because the chord wrapped around the baby's neck. By the time they were able to extract the baby she was brain dead from lack of oxygen. doctors advised the family that there was nothing to be done, and got permission to take her off the respirator.
We all got a chance to hold the baby before she passed. I remember sitting in a rocking chair, looking down at her beautiful face. Something prompted me to softly sing the "Hush little baby" lullabye. Even writing this brings the tears to my eyes. I held her for about fifteen minutes.
She passed an hour, or so, later.
Give you cousin some more hugs. Tell her you love her. There is no more YOU can do for her. And that is the BEST thing you CAN do.
2006-10-12 05:58:21 · answer #1 · answered by Vince M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are certain types of Ultra sound that can be done to see if the baby has lung function and a hole in the lung may have shown up on that test. Also an Amnio. should have been done because the baby was preterm. Your cousin should get a Lawyer because that was totally preventable.
Also, Babys don't stop growing once they're born ,they shouldn't have taken her off the resperator, her lungs would have developed if given the time. My baby's did, he was 2 months premie, and on a resperator for about 2 weeks, until his lungs were strong enough for him to breathe on his own.
2006-10-12 05:46:03 · answer #2 · answered by aloegirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can tell if the lungs are developed...they do an amnio to test the lungs. She could have stayed on complete bed rest for a couple of weeks to make sure that the lungs were far enough along...but at 8 months she should stood a better chance of living...babies born at 7 months still survive
2006-10-12 11:18:45 · answer #3 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like there is more to the story, for one at only 8 months gestation and 9 pounds indicates an oversize baby. Did you cousin have diabetes? That can contribute to high birth weight. those kind of babies generally have a lot of health problems.
However, there are several ways to test lung development before doing what sounds like an unnecessary c-section. Lawyers if not investiagors should be getting involved in this case.
2006-10-12 05:50:45 · answer #4 · answered by Fire_God_69 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a doctor, but I know that the doctor can usually give the baby steroids to get the lungs more developed. This is strange that this happened in this day and age with all the advances they have for these baby's. Maybe there was something else wrong with the baby. They have a good chance of saving baby's from about 25 weeks on.
2006-10-12 05:49:51 · answer #5 · answered by Rosey55 D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The baby wouldn't have been breathing yet. It is hard for the doctors to be prepared for everything. If they took the baby early then they probably knew that there was a risk that the baby's lungs wouldn't be fully developed, but it sounds like the risk to the mother was greater than the risk to the baby. I am sorry for your family and your cousin's loss.
2006-10-12 05:49:09 · answer #6 · answered by kat 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
At 8 months the lungs should have been fully developed. Something apparently was very wrong. There is something missing from this story because unless the baby was brain dead, why would they take her off a respirator?
2006-10-12 05:39:00 · answer #7 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes he could have. When given her the ultra-sound for checking the babies condition and sex, he should have seen it on the monitor with 0 problem. My husband is a lawyer, and i'm a nurse. She has a lawsuit regardless of the results in the future. He has a great case of malpratice against him. Also, with her having complications he knew before he even operated. I will pray for her and the child. Doctors and hospital's bottom line is the almighty $.
2006-10-12 06:36:46 · answer #8 · answered by vickie p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
did she ever have an ultrasound during her pregnancy? i know s.o. whose doctor detected under-developed lungs in her baby before it was born, and once she gave birth they operated on it right away. the baby is completely fine now.
2006-10-12 05:48:35 · answer #9 · answered by una g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My heart goes out to her. Contact a lawyer ASAP. My deepest sympathy goes out to your cousin.
2006-10-12 12:18:08 · answer #10 · answered by tymiri 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋