Brain Damage at Birth

Understanding Infant Brain Damage

Infant brain damage occurs when brain cells are damaged or destroyed before, during, or shortly after birth. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, a baby’s symptoms may appear immediately or not until months — or even years — later.

Causes of brain damage at birth include oxygen deprivation, infections during the mother’s pregnancy, and umbilical cord problems.

“Thousands of newborn infants are born each year with signs of brain injury caused by lack of adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery.”

– Duke Department of Pediatrics

When a brain injury is caused by a health care provider’s mistake, it may be considered medical malpractice.

LawFirm.com works with birth injury lawyers who have secured over $962 million for families impacted by infant brain damage and other birth injuries.

Get a free case review now to see if one of our legal partners can fight for the compensation and justice your child deserves.

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Infant Brain Damage Symptoms

Brain damage at birth symptoms may vary depending on the type of brain injury, its severity, and the child’s age. The child may be extremely fussy or have a head that’s unusual in size or shape.

Signs of infant brain damage include:

• Abnormally small head or large forehead
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Excessive drooling
• Extreme fatigue
• Hearing and vision problems
• High-pitched crying
• Malformed spine
• Poor reflexes
• Seizures or tremors
• Sensitivity to light
• Stiff muscles or neck
• Unusual eye movements
• Visible scalp injuries

Not all signs of brain damage in infants are always present. If you suspect that something may be wrong with your child, trust your instincts and contact a doctor as soon as possible.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of brain damage at birth can give your child the best chance of a favorable outcome.

What Causes Brain Damage in Infants?

Multiple events surrounding a mother’s pregnancy and a child’s birth may cause birth injuries like infant brain damage, which can lead to serious physical and cognitive impairments.

Oxygen Deprivation (Asphyxia)

Asphyxia is the most common cause of brain damage at birth. It happens when the infant’s brain does not get enough oxygen before, during, or soon after birth.

“Decreased oxygen intake can result in chemical changes in the baby’s body that include hypoxemia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood, and acidosis, in which too much acid builds up in the blood.”

– Johns Hopkins Medicine

Causes include problems with the umbilical cord or placenta during delivery, infections in the mother or baby, and blockage of the baby’s airway.

Brain damage at birth from lack of oxygen can result in serious neurological or developmental problems, including cerebral palsy.

Physical Trauma

Another common cause of brain damage at birth is a physical injury to the head. Physical trauma can occur when the baby’s skull presses against the mother’s pelvis or birth canal for a prolonged period.

Medical professionals can also damage a newborn’s delicate head and brain by misusing forceps or vacuum extractors.

Infections During Pregnancy

If a mother develops an infection that’s not properly diagnosed or treated, it can move through the umbilical cord to the unborn child and cause brain damage at birth. This is more likely to happen during the early stages of pregnancy or if the baby is delivered vaginally.

Maternal infections that can cause brain damage at birth include:

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV): A common herpes virus that can cause mild symptoms in adults but severe harm to a newborn
• Intrauterine infection: An infection of the chorioamnionitis, which is the amniotic sac that surrounds the fetus
• Meningitis: An infection of the membranes covering the spinal cord and brain that can be fatal
• Rubella: Also known as German measles, this contagious viral infection affects the skin and lymph nodes and causes a red rash
• Syphilis: This bacterial infection can be fatal to vulnerable infants
• Toxoplasmosis: A parasitic infection from an organism most often found in soil, uncooked meat, and cat feces

Health care providers should screen for maternal infections and promptly treat them to protect the health of the mother and the unborn baby. When they fail to do so, they can and should be held accountable.

Newborn Jaundice

Bilirubin is a pigment produced during the normal breakdown of red blood cells. When bilirubin builds up in a newborn’s blood, it can cause jaundice, a common condition that leads to yellowing of the baby’s skin and eyes.

In severe cases, untreated jaundice can turn into kernicterus, a rare but serious form of brain damage. Kernicterus affects the areas of the brain responsible for hearing and movement, potentially leading to cerebral palsy or even death.

“Complications can lead to hearing loss and permanent brain damage. If you notice changes to your newborn’s behavior or appearance, contact their healthcare provider immediately.”

– Cleveland Clinic

Since kernicterus is preventable with the timely treatment of jaundice, it may be considered medical malpractice.

Types of Brain Damage From Birth

The different types of brain damage at birth depend on which part of the brain was affected, its cause, and the severity of the injury.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the most common type of infant brain damage. It occurs when the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen or blood flow for an extended period.

“Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an umbrella term for a brain injury that happens before, during, or shortly after birth when oxygen or blood flow to the brain is reduced or stopped.”

– National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

HIE may be caused by maternal conditions like high blood pressure (preeclampsia) or complications during labor, such as prolonged delivery, umbilical cord issues, or respiratory failure.

The severity of the damage usually depends on how long the brain goes without oxygen. If HIE damages brain cells and tissue in the motor cortex, which controls body movements, it can result in conditions like cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia.

Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a type of brain injury that occurs when the brain’s white matter is damaged due to reduced blood flow.

Since PVL affects the brain cells responsible for movement, it can lead to spastic (tight) muscles, vision issues, and a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy.

Common risk factors for PVL include hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, infections, and premature birth. Treatments can help minimize PVL brain damage at birth symptoms and help children live with the condition.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is bleeding that happens in or around the ventricles, the fluid-filled spaces in a baby’s brain. It occurs most often in premature infants because their delicate blood vessels in the brain are more likely to burst.

The smaller and more premature the baby, the greater the risk of IVH, especially in babies who have endured physical trauma during birth.

“IVH is most common in premature babies, especially babies weighing less than three pounds, five ounces. Nearly all IVH occurs within the first three days of life.”

– Boston Children’s Hospital

Newborn Cephalohematoma

Newborn cephalohematoma is a birth injury where blood collects under a baby’s scalp following a difficult vaginal delivery.

This buildup of blood often appears as bumps or bulges on the back of the head, resembling bruises, and usually becomes noticeable shortly after birth.

Most cases of cephalohematoma are harmless and heal on their own. However, if the injury is severe and left untreated, it can result in infant brain damage and other complications.

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a rare condition where excess fluid builds up in the brain, causing a baby’s head to grow abnormally large to accommodate the fluid.

Without surgical treatment, hydrocephalus can put excessive pressure on the brain’s ventricles, potentially leading to complications like epilepsy, learning disabilities, vision problems, and coordination issues.

If your child’s brain damage at birth was caused by medical negligence, you may qualify for financial assistance. Get your free case review now.

Get the Help Your Child Deserves

Take the first step toward compensation and justice for a birth injury.

Get a Free Case Review

Diagnosing Brain Damage in Infants

Doctors diagnose infant brain damage using a combination of imaging scans, physical exams, and other tests.

Tests used to diagnose birth injury brain damage include: 

• Physical exams: Doctors look for abnormalities and check for things like low muscle tone, poor reflexes, and more.
• Blood tests: Blood samples taken shortly after birth may reveal the cause of the brain damage.
• Imaging scans: CT scans and MRIs can show brain damage by creating detailed pictures of the brain.
• Intracranial pressure monitoring: A probe placed inside the head measures the pressure inside the skull.

Signs of brain damage in infants may not appear until months or years after birth, or they may not be obvious enough to diagnose. As a child grows, developmental delays or other abnormalities may help doctors diagnose a brain injury.

Treatment Options for Birth Injury Brain Damage

Doctors use different treatments to help children who have suffered brain damage at birth. Treatments may vary depending on the type of injury and its severity.

Brain damage at birth treatments include:

• Hypothermic therapy: Also known as cooling therapy, this treatment cools the baby’s body temperature to around 91–93°F for several days. This can help protect brain cells from further damage and reduce inflammation. In some cases, this treatment has completely reversed brain damage.
• Stem cell therapy: Stem cell therapy is being researched as a method of repairing brain damage at birth.
• Surgery: Surgery may be necessary in cases involving intracranial hemorrhage or hydrocephalus.

Talk to your health care provider to learn more about the treatments and therapies that may help your child recover from an infant brain injury.

“Patients and families often need lifelong specialized care, and I am happy to play a small part in providing a little piece of that.”

– Kristen Proctor, Registered Nurse and LawFirm.com case manager

Get Legal Help for Infant Brain Damage at Birth

Medical professionals are expected to provide a high standard of care and act quickly during emergencies to protect the health of the mother and newborn. When they fail to do so, their errors can lead to lifelong injuries for a baby and expensive medical bills for families.

If your child’s brain damage at birth was caused by medical negligence, you may be able to pursue compensation for their care from a birth injury lawsuit.

Our legal partners never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees and can help clients in all 50 states. The attorneys we work with handle all aspects of the legal process, so you can focus on caring for your child while they fight for compensation on your behalf.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or fill out our form for a free case review to see if we may be able to help you get everything you deserve.