Birth Brain Injury
Did you know that traumatic brain injuries at birth are one of the leading causes of permanent disabilities or death in infants and children? There are various causes to birth brain injury and can lead to numerous conditions including the inability to grow and develop normally.
Causes of Brain Injury
Brain injuries affect approximately 3 in 1,000 babies born each year. There are several causes to brain damage in a child at birth. These causes include, but are not limited to:
- Lack of oxygen – During the delivery process, the baby may experience a decrease in oxygen, which in turn will cause a decrease in blood flow to the brain. About half of the brain injury cases involve the lack of oxygen during delivery.
- Long Labor – At times, when a baby is in the birth canal for too long, they may experience a compressed brain.
- Trauma – A blunt force trauma will affect the baby’s developing brain. This cause is often less common.
Symptoms of Brain Injury
If your child is experiencing any symptoms of a birth brain injury, it is important that you speak with a physician immediately. There are many symptoms that can be detected on your child. However, these symptoms are not always present in infants.
- Appearance – abnormally large forehead, distorted facial features, difficulty focusing their eyes
- Seizures
- Excessive crying
- Problems with feeding
- Overly fussy for no reason
These symptoms may show right away. However, there are other symptoms that you may not recognize until your child is older. For example, various developmental delays may occur such as problems with communication and controlling their impulses. They may also experience learning disabilities once they begin school.
Physical symptoms that a child may experience include sleeping disorders, trouble walking and running, and performing tasks on their own, such as tying their shoes, getting dressed and even sitting up.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Birth-Caused Brain Injuries
If you believe your child is experiencing any symptoms related to a brain injury, it is important that they experience a thorough examination and any necessary tests to determine if there is brain damage and how to treat it.
A doctor may perform an MRI or CT scan to determine if there is any visible damage, such as a brain hemorrhage or skull fracture. Depending on the results of the tests performed by the child’s physician, he or she will recommend the necessary treatment. There are many different treatment options based on the child’s condition.
Such treatment options include medication, surgery, and physical therapy. If a child has severe brain damage that involves swelling, the doctor may recommend surgery to help reduce the swelling and increase blood flow to the brain.
Even though swelling can be reduced through surgery, the child may still experience developmental delays. However, it is important that you speak with your physician about the treatments and their effects.
Medical Negligence Leading to Brain Injuries
During birth, brain injuries can happen. However, if they do occur, parents might want to know if the doctor or hospital was responsible, and if the injury could have been prevented. If it did occur during birth and could have been avoided, you may be able to file a claim to recover medical and hospital expenses for your child. If this is the case for your child, you should speak with an experienced law firm to learn more.
By determining if your child did experience a brain injury at birth, and learning more about the treatment process, you can help prevent this ongoing problem in the future.
Sources:
“Brain Injuries in Newborns Can Have Many Causes.” Jane Brody. Health.HeraldTribune.com. HT Health. Web. 13 May 2014. <https://health.heraldtribune.com/2014/05/13/brain-injury-newborns-many-causes/>
“Brain Injury from Birth.” TraumaticBrainInjury.com. TraumaticBrainInjury.com, Web. <https://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/birth-trauma/brain-injury-from-birth/>
“Symptoms of Infant Brain Damage.” Birth Injury Guide Web. <https://www.birthinjuryguide.org/brain-damage/symptoms/>
