Difficult Birth - Is there a connection?

[Clouseau]

I know this was touched on in another post, but the focus was more on genetics and birth order, so we didn't get many answers to this particular question. I was interested in the potential link between difficult births and dyspraxia. How many of you had a hard time getting into this world?

I managed to get myself turned around sideways (clearly had orientation problems even then) and my poor mother ended up being in labor for 36 hours while the stupid doctor refused to do anything. Finally an intern risked her career by defying the doctor and turned me around. I was born shortly afterwards.

[gherkin001]

I was breach, and required forceps, my mum was in labour 29 hours. With my son I was in labour 3 hours, and had no difficulties during the birth yet he (now 7) has been diagnosed with dyspraxia, I think its more a hereditary type link than to do with birthing problems.

Who knows, could be both!

Kirsty

[Wildcat_madness]

Mom told me I was normal delivery, about 7 hours. No Forceps required.

Dyspraxia can be genetic but it can also be from damage in specific areas of the brain such as Meningitis, Stroke or even from a major car accident.

In my case my Dyspraxia came from a rare form of Meningitis from an infection called Haemophillus Influenze type B, it attacks the Haemoglobin in the bloodstream though doesn't necessarily cause Septicemia so the symptoms can appear like you are just run down with the flu and there's only a 1 in 4 chance of surviving it unless caught in time. I was one of the lucky ones to come out of it mostly okay despite 2% of my brain being damaged in Speech, Language and motor control areas. One of my friends in primary school wasn't so lucky as she died from the same condition a decade ago, and another boy I knew from when I visited my aunt and uncle was left severely disabled by the condition. Makes me feel lucky I'm almost 'normal'.

Lindsay x

[Shadwell]

my parents seem to think it is genetic in my fathers side, dyspraxia/dyslexia, and stuff, but we are unsure, as apart from my one cousin being tested positive for dyslexia some years after i was born, and family with so called medical conditions longer than "noah's ark", then it is only speculation, as these conditions were still very new as i was growing up. and most of the family suspected had passed away quite a few years before i was born,

so it is up in the air as to whether it was really bad jaundice, or genetic, or a number of things.

[Liz944]

Not so much a hard time.... but a little to eager! Ended up 3 months premature and only 2lbs 2 oz in weight.... which would explain the lack of development.

[sheppeyescapee]

Pretty normal birth, 29hrs, but was 5 weeks early

[Meg]

I was breech and thre were many confusions about the due date, but I think I might have been late. I can't remmeber of by heart.

Luv Meg
Xxxx

[thedarkrose]

hi there

i am new here. My boyfriend has dyspraxia and i have been trying to find a forum for ages. I just wanted to comment on the post. My boyfriend's mom had a difficuly birth with him and there is no previous history of dyspraxia in his family but his uncle on his father's side has epilepsy.

[Bonny866]

Both my mother and me were induced and I was delivered with forceps and my son with ventose. Also he had jaundice. I think we are both dyspraxic although I have no diagnosis we are pursuing it for my son now the school have raised concerns.

[Tim G]

I had a diffcult birth - aparantly the ambilical cord was wraped around my neck and I was practickly born blue. I think that could have caused or contrubited to dyspraxicia as the oxeygen flow to the brain would have probably been restricted.

As for family I am not too sure but it wouldent surprise me as there is is a history of mental illness in the family. However my family dosent want to accept this or know about it so dyspraxicia could have been hereaderty in my case and the problem birth could just be a coinsendense.

[Avarice]

See my thread in the chat section here-"medical causes of dyspraxia and other neuro issues" and the link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_he ... xia2.shtml

"Causes of dyspraxia.

Anything that injures the brain may result in dyspraxia. It may be that cells didn't develop properly during a baby's development in the womb, or that a lack of oxygen during birth was responsible. It may follow brain damage caused by illness, stroke or an accident later in life. Often, however, there's no obvious cause."

There is a very strong possibility of it if is known for a fact that the birth WAS difficult,there is no family history and issues like hypoxia arise even if with current medical technology it is difficult to pin point physical areas of neurological damage for determining the exact cause and effect.

(Other than what neuropsychologists might for example conclude.)

If it is suspected that someone has been given a neurological insult then it is my view that this should be clearly stated as a possibility to parents before the school years commence and if it comes to it there should be consideration of the option as to wether legal redress is in order for failing to prevent this.

In human affairs unless you have been unlucky genetically not having the inside of your head messed with, at least at birth, is a requirement and not a request for the Doctors just to grant as some kind of special extra favour and I don't think much of what I call the do gooding industry based around education/employment for such persons.

(Or educational pysychologists talking about being "university material" when they can be a joke both in terms of how much they really understand and what they really know about careers and employment. Graduate or otherwise.)

If people are going to be parked on benefits (welfare) because of things like this (if not doing supermenial jobs) it might be asked how much this (typically happening in the NHS in the UK) has cost such people in terms of lost earnings and destroyed career possibilities ; especially the more intelligent they are credited as being ? (As well as any psychological effects.)

[delanexy]

What if I do not get the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine? Is it likely that I'll get the disease around people who have already gotten the vaccine? I am required to get one for college or sign a waiver. I really don't trust vaccines much because I know what they can do sometimes. The chances of getting meningitis is so low that I don't think I should get it. But are my chances of getting it increased if I'm around people with the vaccine?

[tillydog]

Just seen this thread ....

I have an official diagnosis of Dyspraxia, but also have autisitic/Aspergers traits. I was a difficult birth requiring forceps and even then they struggled to get me out. This has actually left me with 2 reasonable sized dents in my head!!
My brother has Aspergers traits (never investigated so no diagnosis) and was breech requiring a C-Section.
My sister is ok but still was a difficult birth. She was born with the cord around her neck, so lucky to have escaped with no problems!

[Captain_Ludd]

a lack of oxygen during birth was responsible.

This is the most likely cause in my case I was born about 7-8 weeks early and my lungs where badly under developed which according to my doctors meant my brain was starved of oxygen and development of certain parts of it were impeded.

My sister is dyslexic but apart from that no one else in my family has any other ND issues that I know of (most are actually almost annoyingly sporty and good at reading writing etc) so I don't think its genetic in my case.