For those with children with ADHD - How was your labour?

Hi all, this is probably a weird question, but I'm wondering how common the connection is. My DS1 appears to have ADHD, it has not been officially confirmed by a paediatrician, but he's been evaluated at the Listen and Learn Centre here in Melbourne and he certainly meets the criteria. They asked me how my labour with DS1 was and I told them it was extremely long (37 hours). They mentioned that it is very common for kids with ADHD (there are other issues that could lead to ADHD too, but a long labour was one of the common ones).

I can't help but feel terribly guilty that my DS1 may have ADHD because of me :(. If I'd only been more informed about labour, if I'd only known about calm birthing with his labour and about being active in labour, etc., maybe things would have happened more quickly... I know it's silly and there is nothing I can do to change it. I just wanted to see if anyone else has found the same issue - if you have a child with ADHD, did you have a long, difficult or traumatic labour? If you don't mind sharing I'd really appreciate it :).

I only labored for six hours from first contraction until delivery.

Why would it be your fault??

My little bro was ADHD diagnosed, changed to ADD in his early teens. My mums labour was about 45 minutes!

Thanks guys :). Yes, not all ADHD is caused by a long labour, but it appears to be a common cause from what I have been told. I don't know for sure that DS1 has ADHD because we had a long labour, but it could be too. Mummy guilt I tells ya lol!

Banish all mummy guilt. Whether you had a long labour or not is not something you could control.

You did not cause your DS's ADHD.

There are so many better things to feel guilty about as a mum, like not buying your kids the latest smash 'em up, shoot 'em down video game that all their friends have that they really want, making them go to bed at a reasonable hour so they get enough sleep while their friends are allowed to stay up late, and not buying the latest One Direction album because you hate the music ;)

Let go of the guilt :hug: It doesn't help him and it doesn't help you xxx

:rofl: Thanks N2L :hug:. I know it's silly, and I know you're right (especially about One Direction). I guess I just feel guilty more when I've just spoken with an expert. We had an appointment this arvo which is why I'm thinking about it again. Must. stop. blaming!

We suspect my eldest DD has ADHD - it was a long induced labour (20 hrs) with all kinds of nastiness thrown in. DD was quite flat when she was first born and I have often wondered whether her ongoing concentration and self-organisation issues are a result of not getting quite enough oxygen throughout that time.

it's also highly likely that my DH has ADHD - and his birth was quick and easy. But he fell off the balcony at age 2 and cracked his skull. He was also lovingly fed cows milk (no, not even formula) from the time he was about 3 weeks old, which feeds into the theory that deficiencies in long chain fatty acids are implicated. Or maybe there's a genetic link. We will never know.

FWIW, I *was* prepped for a calm and active labour and it just didn't roll that way. I don't think you can blame yourself. Besides which, the connection (if any) is a statistical correlation and doesn't imply causation. There are a whole lot of these correlations in relation to ADHD, but I don't think they really understand yet what exactly causes it.

Guilt is in the range of normal emotions that parents feel faced with a diagnosis like this. Going through all the "what if's" is part of the process of coming to grips with it. But don't get stuck on this one thought. You will never know for sure. And it doesn't change anything. ADHD is what it is. Be kind to yourself, give yourself some time and space to receive this new reality. Then you can get on with dealing with it in the best way to go forwards. :hug:

My sisters boy was delivered by csection so hows that fit in with the theory?

I wonder how that correlates with the number of adhd cases who are first born children - which are typically the longest labours....

My nephew is the first born in their house...just putting it out there... ;)

In my DD's case it seems genetic. Her paternal GF, her biological father, two brothers and a sister have it (they all have different mothers).

My DS1 has ADHD. I was in labour with him for 7.5hrs from first contraction.

He was posterior and was born with forceps. He was distressed and spent 12 hrs in the SCU.

Like MD, too often wondered of the lack of oxygen when being born may have contributed to the issues he's had.
I think that when there is something wrong with our babies we as mums automatically become hard on ourselves. Try to be gentle on yourself hun. Your DS's ADHD is certainly not your fault.
Sending huge hugs your way :hug:

Thanks lovelies, your words are what I need to hear tonight :).

Arimeh - A complicated labour or birth (including c-section, forceps, etc.) can also be a contributing factor. Interesting stuff!

Time for me to put the Mummy guilt away. It's so hard!

I believe AD/HD is genetic. I have ADD, my Dad and at least one brother have ADD. Pretty sure my Dad's siblings have ADD. Not to mention probable Aspergers in the mix. There's depression from my maternal side, intelligence on both sides and my own quirkiness, developed through genes, the way I was raised and nurtured, birth (9 hour labour, 3rd child), food, all sorts of things. There's an epigenetic theory that many modern developmental issues are related to our grandmothers' diets.

If you're beating him and telling him he's useless, then for sure, feel guilty. But let go that over which you have no knowledge or control. You're not a bad Mum and this is not something you caused. By all means, get him the help he needs but also realise it doesn't help him for you to beat yourself up about it :hug:

Lach has ADD and he is the only child I had issues in labour with. I've often wondered the same thing, if labour had anything to do with it. But I do possibly think Andrew might have been in the category if it was more well known back then.

Thanks guys :). Yes, I do believe ADHD can be genetic too. My DH makes me wonder sometimes, he and DS1 are like the same person lol!

There is some research to show there may be a link between the use of syntocinon during labour and ADHD/ADD. I'm sure it's a multi-faceted thing, though, as with so many other things. There's not much point worrying about it now! But it may be useful information for another mother thinking about induction/augmentation of labour, particularly if there's already a family history.