Can Bell's Palsy due to birth trauma show up 6 weeks after d Posted: 03-23-06 11:11am
My 2nd son was born at 41.1 weeks on
January 30 weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and 21 1/2
inches long. It was a pretty standard
delivery. I was scheduled for induction
but started having contractions on the way
to the hospital that morning. My labor
went pretty quickly. I was admitted at
5:30 am and delivered at 2:43 pm. The
only "complications" of the delivery (if
you call it that) is that I have a 'high
posterior cervix' and the docs had
difficulty when trying to check me for
dilation and effacement and couldn't
artifically break my bag of waters. I
also had a previous tailbone injury
delivering my first child (who weighted 8
lbs 8 oz). Considering this and the
pretty average/good size of my baby, here
is my question: My baby developed Bell's
Palsy at 6 weeks old. The docs here are
confused that it didn't show up right
after delivery IF it was caused to
compression on the nerve in utero or
during delivery, or that he's had no
preceding infections that could cause
inflammation on the nerve. Do you know if
Bell's Palsy due to birth trauma can show
up up to 6 weeks after delivery? We have
an appointment with a pediatric
neurologist for a consultation in
mid-April. What is your opinion?
|
DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Baby Q&A Answer A681 Posted: 04-06-06 08:34am
According to my atudies, if Bell’s
paralyses was either intrauterine or
caused by birth trauma, it would show up
right after delivery. It is very important
to have the pediatric neurologist identify
if paralysis of the facial nerve is
peripheral (Bell’s) or central:
-Peripheral facial paralysis (Bell’s) is
caused by damage/pressure of the nerve
itself or its nucleus and is manifests
via: Failure of the lower lip to pull
down symmetrically while crying (typical);
Failure of any movement on the affected
side of the face (total involvement,
unusual); Eyelid does not close on
affected side, and lower face (below the
eyes)...the eyelid appears asymmetrical
during crying.
-Central paralysis of the facial nerve is
caused by brain cortex damage and there
assymetry is present only around the
mouth. The eyelid is not affected, so the
baby can close the eye.
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