United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I was just talking to a friend who teaches courses in Bradley birthing method and she is very into safety for the babies... and the mothers...

She said that when she read the Stats... she assumed that when they say 90% resolve on their own they mean that the children get 100% of their function as if they were never injured... I thought that no one injured at birth like me ever got a 100% back... I thought when they say resolved they mean partial use or 80% not 100% normal function.

Is that true? Are there any children that get 100% movement and recovery? I just could not answer this question since I am in the 10% who don't....

Just wondering thanks for any information on this so I can pass it on...

I have a friend who's son suffered a bpi at birth and he's 100% recovered. It took about 1-2 months, she started therapy the week after he was born and has taken him to a bp specialist in Los Angeles Area. If the child continually gains movement in the first month or two (at a good rate) chances are they will have 100% recovery. My daughter Madison progressed very slowing in her recovery, she didn't have any movement until she was 3-4 months old, she'll never regain 100% at this point (she's four) but she does continue to gain strength and improve function. It is true that many many children who suffer this injury do recover 100%, we just don't hear much from them on this network as they don't have the need for the support as the parents of children who have to live with this thier entire life.

Interesting question.

I would like to point out recent findings that indicate that even those babies who are assumed to have 100% recovery are sometimes showing related deficits at or around age five years. I think Krista might have a link/reference to this particular research, I believe it is referenced in the awareness materials...

Peggy also may have some input into this topic. Her firstborn Joel had what they considered a "transient" bpi at birth. He is now indicating some signs of bpi related issues at age six (I think he is six?).

Anyways, interesting question.

Bridget

The friend who asked said she had read the stats somewhere...

She felt that if 100% is not the recovery then child is still injured... only 100% use & range of motion should go into the stats as being resolved...
This was said by a person who's last baby was 10 lb. 3oz... and not injured but she was amazed at all of the injuries...
We just started walking again now that both of us are not working and this of course is the topic of our walks... She knows me at least 10 years and never realized how limited my use is... So she is really interested and also as a birthing instructor it is important to give her students all the right information and questions to ask mid-wifes and doctors.
Kath

Kath, this is just my personal opinion, but here are my thoughts. I think that when they say that 90% recover completely (and I think I read a range that started much lower than that like 70-90% or something in the awareness materials), it is SUPPOSED to mean that they have a total and full recovery. However, I think that while there are some babies who really do recover completely and never have any issues in the future, there are also some babies who have some residual effects that surface later or still even have some present issues (just not enough to require surgery or therapy perhaps). In fact, I talked to an OB/GYN who said that he knew of a couple babies who had complete recoveries. I asked within 2 months? and he said within 6 months. Well, based on what I've read and seen, if they weren't "recovered" until 6 months of age, then there are probably still some deficits there. Sooo, to answer your ?, I think that there are some with total recoveries included in that number and there are also some with very good, but not complete recoveries. JMO. -Tina

P.S. There's another Mom on here too with two children with BPIs -- she posts as "M&M Mom." I believe her first child had a complete recovery within a couple months, but her second recently had surgery. Hopefully, she'll reply.

Hi Kath - Brittney weighted 10 lbs 3 oz too. I'm only 5'3" and small/med boned though. I know I shouldn't feel like this but sometimes when I hear that someone else had no problems delivering that same size baby and I couldn't do it without injuring my child - I get all sorts of emotions - (I know - quit thinking like that) but I am so glad that your friend's child was NOT injured. It goes to show how careful every Mom should be though. Your friend sure sounds like such caring person and birth instructor to want to find out as much information as possible. I wish there were more like her who seek to find the answers.

I understand just how you feel ... I am only 5 ft. 3" even though I was 11 lb. 14 oz. when I was born my Mom was 5'8"...
I also had all big babies... so does my daughter and I bet when my granddaughters grow up they will have large babies too!! I just wonder if having big babies runs in families..
Kath

When my friends baby was born at 10 lb 3 oz....

Please don't forget she is a birthing instructor and her fist baby was large and had to be vaccummed (sp) that is why she became more involved....

She said by the time she had the third she had no idea her baby would be that big but she knew what to do to move and squat etc... and not every woman would know what to do.... that is why her child was not injured....
We are not expected to know how to deliver our own babies...
Just wanted you to know...

Kath, Thanks for your kind words and for understanding. I am so glad that your friend knew what to do. When I heard the 10lb 3oz I had to reply. Sometimes the trust I had in my doctor makes me sick to my stomach! I was so careful of everything I did throughout the entire pregnancy. Do you know that I was worried about using eye drops and didn't use them when I was pregnant because I didn't want to chance anything harming the baby? (Sounds silly/stupid? but I was so careful!) My eyes would be red after doing computer work all day. I guess that's where the emotions get all swarmed up in me sometimes. After me being soooo careful the whole pregancy...... And - my own family sometimes used to imply that maybe if I hadn't gained so much weight..... I gained 50 and my OBGYN said that was fine. I guess I haven't gotten over the feelings of guilt like I thought I had almost done. Big babies didn't run in either family until I had Brittney. After she was born and I found a different OB GYN and had a c-section with Sabrina and she weighed 9 lbs and was taken early. Thanks again for listening Kath. I didn't realize that I wasn't auto-logged in on my previous response - so I'm the "null". Christy

Christy

LOL.. I knew who you were and remember you are never to blame...

If I have any anger about my injury it is the one I feel because they tried to blame my Mother...
Anger is not really a big part of the adult/obpi issues.

As for you I would be angry and upset... I think it must be so hard to be the parent of an injured child...
I have three not injured (I guess God thought I needed a break) but that is only because I had one doctor who knew what to do and knew I was so scared that this injury was inherited... (dumb but no one explained it to me then) so he delivered Suzanne and invited everyone to watch... because of her shoulders...
I was told to smoke to keep my babies weight down after the first... so I did and they all have allergies and also one had asthma... now that is guilt... and that is my fault... but then again they told us the placenta was a barrier!! filter for the baby... yup! dumb!

If you want to see a basket case you should have seen me in June when my daughter had the 9lb. 9 0z. baby... I thought I was going to jump out the window if that baby was not born soon... then rushed into room and checked her arms... thought my daughter was going to choke me! I was over the top... but who could blame me.. when she had the first two large babies I was not as worried and trusted all would be well because doctors always told me that this injury was RARE.. so I thought she was OK... till this time and I had all the UBPN information and met all the parents...
So I do understand how you must feel or at least I try to...
Just don't let yourself ever feel that you could have done anything to prevent this injury and don't let anyone say anything about the weight... I gained 13 lb and had 8lb 3oz... gained 14 and had 8 lb. 14 oz. and gained 17 and had a 9 lb baby... I know people who gain 65 lbs and had 6 lb. babies... the babies weight was not under your control nor was Brits delivery....
Take care sleep tight... and no guilt allowed for Mommies ever..!!
Kath