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AIDAN'S STORY
Everything seemed normal during Gretchen’s first pregnancy. In fact, she had an ultrasound just three days before giving birth, and all looked good. On May 19, she went into Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay when her labor started and again, things seemed to be going according to plan. However, some hours later her doctors became concerned as the baby’s heart rate was dropping, so they decided to assist the birth using a vacuum extractor. [Vacuum extractors and forceps may be used if the delivery process slows.] It still took another couple of hours before Aidan finally arrived, but the doctors knew immediately that he had life-threatening problems. He was completely blue and “posturing” (holding his limbs and head at abnormal angles). They ordered a spinal tap and a CAT scan right away to determine if he had a neurological problem. With no definitive results, the doctors realized that Aidan needed more sophisticated treatment than the hospital could offer. They contacted Sacred Heart Medical Center to have its Neonatal Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulance sent to bring him to Eugene.
 Gretchen had to remain in the Coos Bay hospital overnight, but her husband, Randy, followed the ambulance. He then had to spend many hours anxiously waiting to hear what the doctors had to say. Aidan was given an immediate transfusion of red blood cells as he had a subgaleal hematoma on his head (see description below), caused by the trauma of his birth, and his doctors were concerned about internal bleeding. In addition, because he was still “posturing,” doctors were worried he was having seizures and had to have three electroencephalograms (EEGs) to rule out seizure disorders. In all, this little boy had to undergo two MRI exams, two spinal taps, a CAT scan, the three EEGs as well as a blood transfusion. He spent the next 14 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where he had been placed on a ventilator because he was also suffering from sleep apnea. His parents stayed close by throughout his ordeal before they finally could take their new son home to Port Orford.
Aidan is now developing well and shows no signs of any problems.
A subgaleal hematoma can be the result of birth trauma with a high percentage occurring when using a vacuum extractor. The bleeding occurs in the space between the skull and scalp connection. The problem arises as there is no confined space for the free flowing blood and it could create a hematoma as well as leak into the neck and facial area. This loss of blood could result in a drop in the baby’s hematocrit, requiring the need for monitoring the baby’s need to receive blood. |
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