Understanding Potential Birth-Related Brain Damage: A Postpartum Concern

Question
Hello,Dr.Rappaport. I had my baby 3 and a half years ago but I have concerns because a Nueroscience doctor has just told me my son has suffered brain damage,possibly at birth. This is what happened: When I was 7 months pregnant my OB did an ultrasound that indicated my son's head was really large.He told me I must see a specialist for a more advanced ultrasound to see what was wrong.I was scared and very worried.I saw the specialist and he told me that my son has water on the brain.He said not to worry,he would be fine.No one told me I should have a c-section.My OB put me in the hospital a week before my due date because my baby was getting very big.This is my fifth child but the first I had in 10 years.It was the worst labor and delivery I had.It was horrible.My epideral wore off and they refused to give me another.I begged them to do a c-section.They refused.I kept pushing for 2 hours but the baby just wouldn't come.I was so tired and weak.They told me I needed to rest a while and they gave me a shot to put me to sleep.I'm not sure how long I was asleep.They woke me up and after a few pushes my baby was finally born.I was shocked at the way my baby looked.He looked deformed! His head was cone-shaped.They told me not to worry;that it would look better in a few days.Well,it did but it look very big and it still does.Now my baby is unable to speak,has unusual behavior and other symptoms of autism.I know it's too late now but do you think I should have had a c-section knowing he had water on his brain?I also feel putting me to sleep was a mistake.Thank you for your time to answer my questions.

Answer
The fact that you had a trial of labor or that you were given general anesthesia had nothing to do with the developmental abnormalities of the baby. "Water on the brain" is not a contraindication to vaginal delivery or labor. It is impossible to know if the baby developed brain damage at the time of delivery or shortly prior to your going into labor. There certainly was an indication of some problem prior to labor. If the head of the baby was too big for a vaginal delivery, a cesarean section was the way to go. However, it is quite common to have "cone-head" shaped babies at a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery.