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Unusual infant head shapes can be caused by a number of factors, including traumatic pressure on the head in utero or during delivery, regular sleeping position, or rarely, genetic abnormalities. Depending on what type of head deformation an infant has, doctors may recommend allowing it to resolve itself with time, minor non-invasive interventions, or major…
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a type of brain injury caused by the following two factors: Decreased oxygen and blood flow to the periventricular region of the brain Damage to the cells that make up most of the white matter in the brain. Typically, the injury is characterized by an ischemic infarction (inadequate blood circulation) in the…
The treatments for birth injuries can vary widely, depending on the injury’s severity, underlying cause, and how quickly it is diagnosed. Some treatments, like hypothermia therapy, must be administered within 6 hours of the injury, while others, such as physical and occupational therapy, are long-term supportive/remedial treatments. Protocols for Treating Birth Injuries Can Vary Birth…
Preventing Neonatal Brain Injury Neonatal brain damage can be caused by a number of complications, conditions, and medical errors occurring during pregnancy, around the time of delivery, or in the neonatal period. At each step of pregnancy, childbirth, and the neonatal period, medical professionals must prevent neonatal brain injury through proper treatment, diagnosis, and care. Preventing…
The long-term effects of neonatal brain injury vary by the type, nature, and extent of the baby’s brain damage. Initial birth injuries and neonatal brain injuries that can lead to long-term effects include fetal oxygen deprivation and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhages), fetal strokes, neonatal sepsis (infection in the blood), jaundice and kernicterus (high bilirubin levels), and neonatal…
There is a treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) that can help prevent the baby from having long-term problems, but it has to be given within six hours of the brain insult, which usually means the baby has to be diagnosed with HIE and given treatment within six hours of delivery. This treatment is called hypothermia…
A birth injury is any type of harm to a baby that occurs during or near the time of birth. It can be caused by many things, including fetal oxygen deprivation, trauma from impact during delivery, premature birth, medical negligence, and more. These injuries can impair the baby’s internal systems, with impacts ranging from mild…
As soon as a baby is born, the medical team usually draws blood from the baby’s umbilical cord artery. This blood is analyzed to determine if there was a complication shortly before or during delivery that deprived the baby of oxygen. Oxygen deprivation (birth asphyxia) can cause brain damage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL –…
When a newborn is diagnosed with a brain injury, parents are left with dozens of questions about treatments, long-term outcomes, care needs, causes, and more. Learning that your child has brain damage can mean different things for your family and loved one depending on the type of brain injury, the severity of the damage, and…
Birth injuries include any impairment of an infant’s body function or structure due to a harmful event that occurred during or around the time of birth. A birth injury can be very mild, such as a small bruise, or severe, resulting in permanent disabilities. Although many may associate the term “birth injury” with blunt trauma, it…
