blaming myself for my daughter having Hydrocephalus

August 10, 2012 my daughter was born weighing 5lbs 12ounces 18 inches long. due date was Aug 9th, I was induced because the dr thought i was going to develop preeclampsia, she couldn't keep her temp up and wasn't wrapping her tongue around the nipple so the dr thought she may have been premature, she had a head ultrasound done and they found extra fluid on the left part of her brain. She went yesterday for pre testing at ruby memorial and goes this monday for a MRI, she will get sedated and stay over night.

At the hospital the Dr diagnosed her with Hydrocephalus and Microcephaly.

Is it normal to blame self for child's health problems?
I know this type of stuff just happens, but everyday i find myself thinking of if there was anything i could've done different or if this and that caused this to happen. I never smoked or had alcohol while pregnant, i ate healthy but did work 40 hours a week.


Does anyone have any information on her health problems?
I've researched it, talked about it with the Dr. etc.. I still don't quite understand what causes this, if it will affect her future..

I had a friend years ago who was born with hydrocephalus. He had to have a stint put in to drain the excess fluid from his brain, but he lived a fairly normal life. He was a little behind in school though, having to take remedial classes, but I don't know if that was related to the hydrocephalus. I haven't seen/talked to him in years, but a friend of mine says he's doing really good in life now.

That's about all I know about it. I hope you get more answers soon, mama   Good luck!

It's perfectly normal to blame yourself. However, this is not your fault nor could you have done anything to prevent it. I wish you the best of luck staying strong for your daughter.

Don't blame yourself for your baby having hydrocephalus, theres nothing you could/should have done that would have made a difference. A couple years ago I randomly passed out and when they done scans on me they thought I was in the very early stages of hydrocephalus and the doctors told me that it's a spontaneous thing and nothing causes it. I didn't have it but I just wanted to let you know that I was 18 and the doctors told me it can just happen and it wasn't anything from when I was a baby. Sorry you're goin through a tough time. I hope your baby is well soon! Also the course of treatment I was told is they will put a stint in to drain the excess fluids.

Quoting 2012 Marie:" August 10, 2012 my daughter was born weighing 5lbs 12ounces 18 inches long. due date was Aug 9th, I was ... [snip!] ... it, talked about it with the Dr. etc.. I still don't quite understand what causes this, if it will affect her future.."

Microcephaly, No, But it looks like it Is a Gene Mutation which May or May Not be Genetic, & Some other Possible Causation Links are Alcoholism (& there in by FASD), Diabetes(Maybe Gestational as well?), Chickenpox, Rubella(aka German Measles), CMV, or Radiation Exposure(as in At Ground Zero of a dropped Nuke).
Since it's Also By Definition an Undersized Skull I could see how it caused the Hydrocephalus. Oh it's also Linked to Higher incidence of Autism.

Hydrocephalus I DO Know about. My, Son's however was caused By a Stroke (the type known as an IVH/Intra-ventricular Hemorrhage, or "Brain Bleed") During L&D, an Issue that is Normal in Preemies &/or Low Birth-weight, Neither of which he was. He is actually Unusually smart, & Overall "Advanced", & That is NOT My estimation of his abilities, I always thought he was Behind, Until I had a more "Normal" kid. He Does get Migraines however, & they suspect it may be because of his VP Shunt (Ventriculoperitoneal aka "Artificial Brain Drain" aka "His Cyborg Parts"). As In By it's Very Presence, since it is Technically a Foreign Body.
As well, Our Little Cousin was Just Diagnosed with Hydrocephalus due to a previously unknown diagnosis of Spina Bifida, & Possibly Exacerbated by a case of Varicella(Chicken Pox). He was Just Diagnosed this June as he was Completing Grade 1. He currently does Not have a Shunt & May Not ever need one. It's a "Wait & See if He actually needs it" situation. At least I know the Signs of if His Hydro's acting up, Because they're the Same as Shunt Failure. Ohh umm yeah except for the Fact He does also Get Migraines too, which may or may not be related to the Hydro. & The signs of a Migraine are the same as Shunt Failure/Hydro-Pressure increase, & Then some.

My little sister has microcephaly. The drs pretty much said she would never walk or talk, But she proved them all wrong. she can walk and talk and play like any nine year old, she is mentally more like a toddler but way better than the drs said she would be. She has had all kinds of testing and they never determined the cause of her condition. her genetic test came back normal.