Cognitive delays in children

Nurses General Nursing

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My 10 year daughter has cognitive delays. When I was pregnant I was working in a dialysis unit. I'm wondering if there are any other nurses who worked in dialysis while pregnant who have a child or children with cognitive delays. She has always had learning disabilities and she was delayed with all of her milestones during the first few years. Can't help but to wonder if there is a correlation regarding chemical exposure in utero.

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You need to discuss this with her pediatrician. We cannot give you the answers you are looking for. Sorry and good luck.

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Let's clarify the question being asked: Are there any other nurses who had a child or children with cognitive delays while working in dialysis?

I hardly think my daughters pediatrician would be one to ask this question.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

There isn't much potential for exposure to teratogenic chemicals in dialysis so it would seem pretty unlikely.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
There isn't much potential for exposure to teratogenic chemicals in dialysis so it would seem pretty unlikely.

That's what I was wondering. From my minimal exposure to dialysis in nursing school, I didn't remember any chemoical agents.

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Staff working in dialysis may be exposed to formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde, the occupational hazards that have been identified from exposure to these chemicals are respiratory and dermatological. You can check with the CDC to see if there has been any long term studies on the fetuses of women who were pregnant while exposed. I don't think so, but it would not hurt to ask if any data has been collected on maternal occupation and children with cognitive delay.

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Simply curious.....I have no idea but am sorry about your daughter. One of my grandsons is severely developmentally delayed and I still occasionally wonder if something I did when pregnant with his mom passed down to him! I know it sounds crazy but it still pops into my head once in a while.

It is such a strong instinct (I know, it can't technically be called an instinct) to want to know why when something bad happens. We try to understand why so we will avoid it next time? It is very hard to live with never knowing.

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The CDC is A great suggestion. Thank you very much

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