To Tracey,
I had a perfectly fine vacuum extraction in the birth of my son; my OB never mentioned risks in the procedure, he just said “we need to get this baby out, I’m going to use a vacuum extraction.” Should he have offered me alternatives? yes. Fortunately, all went well in our experience, but I would have also opted for the c-section if I had been aware of my choices.

I was not given a “choice” concerning the use of a vaccum extraction & forceps during the delivery of my son in 2007. The consecutive use of each caused severe brain damage and ultimately the death of my otherwise perfect infant. I never once recall anyone in the delivery room informing me of possible risks or offering us an alternative.

To Rebecca:
My son is now three years old and when he was born the doctor used the vacuum for no other reason than to rush me so he could move on to more patients. It caused severe jaundice and a caput on the left side of his head. The doctor pulled him out in less than 15 minutes and didn’t even give me a chance to push. My son did not sit up around 9 or ten months and I had to call early intervention. He did everything very late and was eventually diagnosed with a developmental delay and now is showing signs and being evaluated for autism due to nerve damage. I have gone back through the medical records that show no reason for the doctor to do what he did to my son, and the damage it caused. I am turning to a lawyer for help, but in reality, no amount of money can give back what was taken from my son.

I lost my first born son 7 hours later after he was born due to the vacuum assisted delivery that had apparently resulted in a fracture in his head and thereafter brain haemorrhage. I was never told of the risks involved in vacuum delivery and was never given the opportunity to make an informed consent of the options available. The ultimate heartbreaker was when the doc told me he would have lived if the doc had done an emergency c-sect.

Our son who is 4 now sustained a sizable hematoma on his scalp as a result of the vacuum extraction. Let me also add that there were 2 pop offs, one where our O.B. literally flew back several feet and fell to the ground (that is how much pressure our newborn sustained to his head). We were told aside from the hematoma (which caused jaundice), that he was healthy. However, his eyes were spinning around after birth, and he would not stop crying after coming home from the hospital. At around 4 months, our pediatricians noted that he had hypertonia. Then by 15 months, they noted that he had developmental delays, no pointing, not looking at people. By 20 months he was diagnosed with autism. Today, he has developmental delays, is non verbal. I believe that his autism is a direct result of the vacuum and played a key role in his case. There was no reason to use vacuum. Our son was in no distress. The only reason our O.B. used it was because the time of my delivery was in the afternoon and he wanted to get back to his busy office after a long delivery. He even got on the phone from the delivery room to tell his office that he was trying to get there as soon as he could. They never offered C-section and it was a totally negligent unnecessary medical intervention that resulted in our son’s autism.

I can not believe that.I been looking for answers for 10 years and now I found it.My son is 10 years old with severe -profound hearing loss (both ears).I had an vacum delivery back in 2004 ,not by my choice .The doctor just did it with no explinations so ever. O my God I feel to kill this” doctor”.I am so angry …:(

My baby boy died six hours after he was born due to severe brain injuries suffered as a result of a vacuum assisted delivery. We were never told the baby was in distress at any time during the birth. At no point did the OB discuss the effects of the vacuum or suggest a c section as an alternative. It is so sad to see all these comments – what will it take to make doctors explain medical options to their patients.