If a birth injury caused your newborn to suffer bleeding of the brain, you may have a viable medical malpractice claim against the doctor who delivered him or the hospital where he was born. Brain bleeds may require emergency surgery and could cause permanent brain damage.
Call 1-800-222-9529 now to connect with a bleeding of the brain birth injury attorney from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group. We offer no-cost case reviews.
Infant Bleeding of the Brain Lawsuits and Injury Cases
Infant bleeding of the brain, often called a brain bleed or brain hemorrhage, can occur because of a birth injury in two ways:
- Failure to identify a risk factor during labor, such as high blood pressure
- Trauma during birth
If your newborn suffered bleeding of the brain related to a birth injury, a medical malpractice attorney can review your case and, if possible, help you pursue damages and hold the doctor or hospital liable.
Recovering Damages in a Brain Bleed Birth Injury Case
To recover damages in a birth injury case, you will need to show the doctor failed to provide an acceptable standard of care or otherwise acted negligently. This often requires enlisting the help of a medical expert witness who can link the injury to the doctor’s action or inaction.
With the help of a birth injury attorney, you may be able to recover damages to help offset the cost of treating your baby’s birth injury and getting them the therapy and rehabilitation they require for the best possible outcome. You may also be able to recover compensation for your out-of-pocket costs, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.
Types of Infant Bleeding of the Brain
There are three primary types of brain bleeds that occur in infants. The difference between each type is where in the brain the bleed occurs. The three types are:
- Intracranial hemorrhages: Bleeding between the skull and brain or inside the brain.
- Intraventricular hemorrhages: Bleeding inside one of the ventricles of the brain.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhages: Bleeding into the space between the brain and the that surrounds it.
Infant Bleeding of the Brain Causes
A birth injury can cause infant bleeding of the brain through a head injury or traumatic brain injury. This could occur when:
- A member of the team delivering the baby drops the newborn.
- The mother suffered blunt force trauma to the stomach.
- The doctor uses too much force delivering the infant.
- The newborn suffers a head or brain injury in another way.
Infant bleeding of the brain may also occur because of high blood pressure or other medical concerns. Premature babies may also suffer bleeding of the brain without any other causative factors related to a birth injury.
Risk factors for bleeding of the brain related to birth injuries include:
- The use of forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery
- A breech vaginal delivery
- A large baby
- Cephalopelvic disproportion
- The use of Pitocin or other drugs to cause strong contractions and quick delivery
- Prolonged labor and delivery
Infant Bleeding of the Brain Symptoms
Research shows that brain bleeds may be more common in newborns than we realize, but many never show any symptoms. If your child develops symptoms of bleeding of the brain, it is imperative they receive a quick diagnosis and emergency medical care to prevent permanent brain damage. Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty swallowing and feeding
- Lethargy or loss of consciousness
- Vomiting
- Weakness in one limb or on one side of the body
- Unexplained seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Apnea
Infant Bleeding of the Brain Diagnosis and Treatment
If your newborn has symptoms associated with a brain bleed, the doctor will likely want to do imaging scans of their brain, such as a head CT or an MRI. This allows the doctor to see where the bleed occurred, diagnose the type of bleed, and develop a treatment plan.
In some cases, bleeding of the brain may require brain surgery to stop the bleeding and prevent further damage. However, your doctor may be able to provide less invasive or non-invasive options, depending on the specific details of your child’s case.
Infant Bleeding of the Brain Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my baby has infant bleeding of the brain?
In many cases, a newborn will exhibit concerning signs immediately following birth, and the doctor will order imaging scans right away. In other cases, you or a medical care provider may notice symptoms later and bring them to the attention of the doctor.
Can infant bleeding of the brain be fatal?
A serious untreated brain bleed can be fatal. Even with the treatment of brain hemorrhages, the most serious brain bleeds can cause permanent, severe intellectual and physical impairments. Your child may require therapy and rehabilitation, additional support in school, or ongoing care.
Who is liable for infant bleeding of the brain?
You may be able to hold the doctor who delivered your infant or the hospital liable. Your birth injury attorney will work to build a strong case demonstrating what caused your newborn’s birth injury and who is accountable.
What is the statute of limitations for infant bleeding of the brain?
There are deadlines on how long you have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor or hospital liable for your baby’s brain bleed. This varies by state, and there are many factors in play that may alter the time limit set by the statute of limitations.
Many states allow tolling (suspension of the effect of the statute of limitations) for minors, and there is often a statute of repose that sets an overall deadline no matter the victim’s age. When you discuss your case with an attorney from your state, this will be one of the questions they will address.
How Do Doctors Typically Treat A Brain Bleeding Suffered At Birth?
When your newborn is the victim of a birth injury that results in a brain hemorrhage, he is very likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for monitoring, supportive care, and other stabilizing treatments. Often, infants with bleeding in the brain may not exhibit symptoms right away, which makes monitoring them for changes critically important.
Others will show symptoms like sluggishness, lethargy, poor feeding habits, and seizures. As doctors treat the brain hemorrhage your son or daughter suffered at birth, the initial focus will be on stabilizing your baby, treating their symptoms, and ensuring their comfort.
Infant Bleeding of the Brain Glossary Terms
- What is intraventricular hemorrhage? Intraventricular hemorrhage is a type of bleeding of the brain that occurs inside the brain’s ventricles. Intraventricular hemorrhage is most common in premature babies, especially those with very low birth weights.
- What is hydrocephalus? Hydrocephalus is a condition when cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain and creates pressure, causing brain damage. It can occur because of a birth injury.
- What is apnea? Apnea is a condition where the infant repeatedly stops breathing during sleep. Apnea is a symptom of a brain bleed in infants.
Talk to a Bleeding of the Brain Birth Injury Lawyer in Your State
If your child sustained brain damage following bleeding of the brain, you may want to discuss your case with a birth injury attorney. Birth injuries can cause brain bleeds in a number of ways, and you may be eligible to hold the doctor or hospital liable for your child’s injuries. Reach out to the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today by calling 1-800-222-9529. You can connect to a brain bleed birth injury lawyer in your state.
Infant Brain Bleeding News
Father Sentence To Two Years For Abusing His 18-Day-Old Son
A father from Crimora has been sentenced to two years in prison and five years of supervised probation for injuring his son just 18 days after his birth. Newsleader.com reported on the tragic incident.
The injuries to the baby happened back in January 2019. It was the first night the father was put in charge of the baby while the mother slept. According to the court report, the man woke up the mother at 3 a.m. to say the baby wouldn’t eat or stop crying. At 8 a.m., the child was taken to a doctor then transferred to the emergency room and then a hospital in Charlottesville.
The doctors discovered a skull fracture and brain bleeding on the back of the baby’s head. The baby’s ear was also bruised. When questioned, the father said he went to sit down holding the baby when the child’s head hit against a large cup on a table.
However, the emergency room pediatrician said that the force of the impact was far more than what the man was suggesting according to his testimony at the trial.
The mother has since separated from the man and has taken the baby with her. The father has not contested custody of the child. There was no word in the report about how the baby’s recovery went or if the abuse caused lasting damage.
Daycare Shut Down After Child Experienced Brain Bleeding After Attack
Internal bleeding is a serious sign, especially when it happens around the head. Infants are at an increased risk of brain bleeding due to their soft skulls. It’s just one reason why it’s so important to hold infants right and stop them from bumping their heads.
It’s also why this next story is so egregious. The International Business Times reported on a daycare center in Shawnee, Kansas where a worker may have slapped a six-month-old hard enough to cause her brain to bleed.
When the parents dropped the child off he was fine, but when they picked him up he started to vomit according to the father. After getting a checkup, the medical staff said there were signs of abuse and a CT scan was done that showed the brain bleed.
The mother saw what looked like a handprint mark on the infant’s head. The daycare said that he might have been injured by another child. However, that wasn’t enough to save the daycare. The state has issued an emergency shutdown of the facility and the owners have refused to speak with the press.
It is too soon to know if charges will be pressed, but we hope that the incident is investigated fully. No further information has been released on the child’s condition. The parents are dumbfounded that this could happen and said they did their research before choosing that daycare, including interviewing the owner.
Brain bleeds can cause long-term cognitive and behavioral effects, as well as motor defects like cerebral palsy. The consequences depend on where the brain bleed happens, its severity, and the amount of time before it is detected.
Mother Arrested For Causing Her Child’s Brain To Bleed In Argument
We have a tragic story today from Florida about a mother who injured her five-month-old boy in an argument. Fox 10 reported on the matter.
The mother is facing felony child abuse charges after the boy was diagnosed with a severe brain bleed. He is currently in critical condition. The 30-year-old told the police that she got mad talking with the child’s father on the phone.
During the call, she jerked the baby upward from the ground twice, causing the baby’s head to snap backward. Then she put the child under her arm and ran up and down stairs without supporting his head.
The next morning, the baby started to have seizures, but the mother failed to take him to the hospital. That afternoon, the seizures worsened after a car trip and she took him to the local hospital.
The child was airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital and medical staff told the police what had happened. The mother admitted to being too rough with the baby. Witnesses were questioned and it was proved that the mother was the only caretaker for the baby during the time of the incident.
She is now currently held on a $550,000 bond. There has been no update on the condition of the child.
Teen Father Accused Of Abusing Second Child
A father and mother from Pennsylvania are facing new charges of child abuse after already being accused of abusing their infant. WPXI reported on the incidents.
Back in September, the father was arrested for aggravated assault and child endangerment. He called 911 to say the baby was vomiting and choking. When doctors examined the child, they called the police saying the injuries were caused from shaking. The father tried to say that the injuries were caused by attempting CPR, but he was charged.
Now he and the mother are facing charges for abusing the older sister, who is three. Doctors found a burn on her buttock, a missing front tooth, and bruising on her thigh. They also had evidence of a slap injury.
The mother was charged with endangering the welfare of children and making false reports. She told police that the child sat down on a space heater and lost the tooth by falling in the bathtub. However, the child told investigators that the father abused her.
The toddler was examined at the time of the first incident when the injuries were found. They have added to the charges to the father, who has been held in prison without bail since his arrest.
Man Sentenced For Killing Four-Month-Old Son By Shaking
A no-contest plea was entered by a father who killed his four-month-old son back in 2017 in Maryland. Reading Eagle reported on the matter.
The man called police about his unconscious infant in June of 2017 after his mother had left work for the morning. He told police that he heard his baby making a strange sound while vomiting and going rigid. When he picked up the baby, he stopped breathing.
The child was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with brain bleeding, but child abuse investigators were told also there were possible old bruises on the back and that the brian bleed may have been caused by trauma.
When questioned about the bruising, he claimed they were from a car seat and that the child bruised easily according to his physician. However, there was no evidence from the physician that this was the case.
The baby later died and an autopsy revealed that there was a traumatic head injury caused by shaking and impact. There was also evidence of prior rib and leg fractures.
By agreeing to plead no-contest, charges of first-degree murder were changed to third-degree murder. He still faces 9 to 40 years in prison for the death. The man has been in prison since September of 2017.
Infant brain damage can be caused by a lot of things, but a common one is when a baby’s head is jostled too much. Shaking a baby can cause a syndrome that can lead to permanent infant brain damage or death. Sadly, some new parents cannot handle the stress of a baby and do things they regret.
One tragic case in Louisiana has led to the arrest of a man accused of killing his girlfriend’s baby. WLTV has the story.
The five-month-old baby was discovered after a 911 call was made. The infant was unresponsive. First responders performed CPR on the way to the hospital. After stabilizing the child, he was moved to a specialist hospital where they diagnosed the injuries as shaken baby syndrome, which can cause bleeding in a child’s brain as well as permanent nerve damage.
Sadly, two days after the call the baby passed. An autopsy was performed and the injuries were ruled as a homicide. Someone deliberately shook the baby. Interviews with family members lead to the arrest of the boyfriend. Investigators believe that the mother had no role in the incident.
Shaken baby syndrome is hard to detect because the damage is all internal. There is often no external sign of injury, but later analysis can show hemorrhaging, soft tissue swelling, nerve damage, and other signs that the baby was abused.
Babies are delicate and must be handled with care. Not every parent is able to do this and it can cause life-long consequences to the child. A woman in Evansville, Indiana has been arrested after doctors concluded she harmed her baby. The Courier Press reports.
Monica Jo Arnold told officers that she had dropped her baby because the baby had a seizure and vomited while being fed. The baby was taken via helicopter to a hospital in Indianapolis for examination. The baby had a skull fracture, brain bleeding, a retinal hemorrhage, and broken ribs.
Doctors at the hospital said that the baby’s injuries were not consistent with the woman’s story. They told police that shaking or a car accident was more likely. They also found no evidence of seizures and the rib fractures were several weeks old.
According to police, this isn’t the first time this has happened to the baby. Later, Arnold admitted that she shook the baby because she wouldn’t stop crying, then lied to doctors about the injuries.
She was arrested and taken to jail for battery with serious bodily injury and child neglect. It is unknown if the baby’s vision or mental functioning will be permanently damaged by the abuse.
Father Charged With Child Abuse After Dropping And Squeezing Infant
We have another case of a young parent unable to handle the pressures of parenthood and causing grievous harm to their child. The Indianapolis Star reported on the incident.
The 18-year-old father was charged after police told prosecutors he injured his infant daughter. She suffered from broken bones and a brain hemorrhage. He’s been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury and domestic battery.
The police found out about the incident after doctors examined the two-month-old baby. She was said to be “covered in bruises” at the time. Later examination found two broken bones in her back and bleeding in the lining of her brain.
The father said at first that he dropped his daughter, but a later interview he said he “gripped her hard” when she wouldn’t stop crying. Later, the child slipped from his hands and fell into her crib onto metal poles.
Then he said he had a blackout episode due to his rage, spanked the child, and squeezed her face.
The man, Justin Dickey, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been appointed a public defender.
No information has been released about the mother of the child or her reaction to the incident. There have also been no further updates about the condition of the child.