Brain Injury in Newborns Caused by a Birth Injury

By Thomas Greer | September 28, 2016

Brain Injury in Newborns Caused by a Birth InjuryThere are many factors that can contribute to brain injury in a newborn, but there are two broad categories for the causes of newborn brain injuries: one is physical trauma to the infant’s head and the other is oxygen deprivation during the birth process.

Brain injury in a newborn can have long lasting, negative implications for the child’s life. A brain injury will have an impact on how the child grows and develops and interacts with the world around them. Although birth injury from brain trauma during delivery is a fairly rare occurrence, it is most often caused by a preventable medical error. Hearing the news that your precious child’s injury might have been caused by their doctor’s negligence is a devastating thing to hear. If this is indeed the case, you have legal options to consider.

Causes of newborn brain injury

There are many possible causes for brain injury in a newborn, some of which include:

  • Birth asphyxia or Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). This is a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.
  • Vacuum extraction. When a vacuum extractor is used to help pull the baby out of the birth canal, the pressure on the baby’s skull from the extractor’s cup can cause a brain bleed called a subgaleal hemorrhage which can lead to severe oxygen deprivation.
  • Infection. Maternal infections must be diagnosed and treated immediately during pregnancy, otherwise the untreated infection can lead to brain neonatal damage.
  • Placenta previa. This occurs when the placenta partially or completely blocks the cervix or birth canal. Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding in the mother and the baby and cause the baby to be deprived of oxygen and blood and lead to HIE, and require an emergency C-Section.
  • Jaundice. This condition is caused by an excessive amount if bilirubin, which is a yellow pigment in the red blood cells. If Jaundice is not treated right away it can cause acute bilirubin encephalopathy, which is a form of brain damage.
  • Problems with the umbilical cord. Given that the umbilical cord supplies blood and oxygen from the mother to the baby, when there is a problem with the cord it can cause the baby to be without oxygen, which damages the brain.

When you discover that your newborn’s brain injuries could have been prevented, you might have a lot of questions about what caused your child’s injuries and how you might be able to get compensation for your losses, for the medical expenses and for the long-term costs that you might face in raising a child with a brain injury.

Are you dealing with the heart break that comes from dealing with a birth injury? The compassionate Memphis birth injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC, are here to discuss your case and offer sound, legal advice. We help our clients to get the compensation they deserve for their losses. Contact us at 901-680-9777 today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Posted in Birth Injuries