After birth, it can be challenging to determine if your newborn has a brain injury. A newborn’s head is easily moldable to pass through the birth canal during childbirth. Although the shape of a newborn’s head may seem unusual, it rarely indicates that your child suffers from brain damage from a birth-related injury.
The best way to determine if your baby has brain damage is to watch for physical symptoms that may appear as your child grows older. Early signs of brain damage can be identified in newborns through physical abnormalities or developmental milestones your child does not meet at the appropriate age. Has your child suffered from brain damage during childbirth?
If so, top-rated lawyers at The Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help determine if your child’s birth injury resulted from medical negligence before, during, or after birth. We can investigate medical providers and collect solid evidence to show how medical negligence has affected your child and the long-term damages to their mental and physical health it has caused as a result.
For a free legal consultation, call 1-800-222-9529
How does Brain Damage Occur in Newborns and Infants?
The human brain is necessary for survival, but it is also very fragile — especially for newborns and infants. During childbirth, your newborn’s brain is susceptible to injury that may occur if doctors or medical professionals fail to diagnose fetal distress. If the highest standard of care is not offered to mothers and their newborns during birth, doctors may be liable for resulting birth injuries and the subsequent damages that a birth injury may cause.
Many factors can contribute to newborn or infant brain damage before, during, or after childbirth. Of the top influencing factors, blunt force trauma and birth asphyxia are the most common. These types of birth injuries can damage a newborn’s brain due to a lack of oxygen or intense pressure from an outside force, such as the birthing tools or the umbilical cord.
Pregnancy complications or long and difficult labor can also cause brain damage if doctors fail to diagnose or treat the symptoms of the mother or unborn child. Many types of brain damage-related birth injuries are preventable, and methods such as C-sections or offering laboring mother Pitocin can help avoid brain damage in newborns and infants.
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What Symptoms May Indicate My Child Is Suffering from Brain Damage?
Since brain damage can be challenging to identify in newborns and infants, the best way to determine if your baby may have suffered brain damage is to watch for signs and symptoms. Many times brain damage is not detectable in newborns. However, you may notice signs of brain damage in some severe cases.
- A large forehead
- A small head or skull
- Seizures
- Consistent or excessive crying
- Trouble eating or sleeping
- Abnormal eye movements
- Severe stiffness in the neck
- Extreme fussiness
- Awkward or distorted facial features
If you notice the following signs after birth, speak to your doctor and hire a lawyer for newborn or infant brain damage. Your birth injury lawyer will document the beginning symptoms of brain damage and help you determine if you could have a claim for medical negligence after a traumatic childbirth experience leading to a brain damage-related birth injury.
Delayed Signs and Symptoms of Newborn or Infant Brain Damage
The brain is a complex organ. Every brain injury is different; some brain damage will not show up immediately after birth. The symptoms of brain damage can range from mild to severe or life-threatening, and they could be delayed to many contributing factors.
As children get older, they may develop certain sensitivities or miss certain milestones within their age group. When parents start to notice their child may be struggling more than others their age, common signs and symptoms of brain damage may accompany your newborn’s difficulties, including but not limited to the following:
- Extreme fatigue
- Sensitivity to light
- Sleeping disorders
- Unable to feed without help
- Unable to roll over
- They cannot sit up on their own
- Involuntary movements
- Difficulty bringing hands to face
- Unable to bring hands together
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How Is Brain Damage in Newborns and Infants Diagnosed?
The symptoms of brain damage vary and may not show up immediately. Diagnosing brain damage may be difficult because some symptoms can take months or even years after birth to become noticeable. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your brain damage-related birth injury, your doctor may recommend various courses of treatment or diagnosis.
Your doctor may use various methods to determine if brain damage is present, including CT scans and MRIs. You may use these imaging tests to determine if brain damage is present. Doctors recommend you continue monitoring your child’s symptoms if a CT scan or MRI cannot detect damage.
If an imaging test can detect brain damage, a lawyer for newborn brain damage can help you file a claim for medical negligence. You may be eligible for fair compensation to recover out-of-pocket damages resulting from your child’s injury, including medical bills, hospital stays, ambulance rides, mental anguish, depression or anxiety, and pain and suffering.
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Talk to an Attorney for Newborn Brain Damage
The day your child is born should be a happy occasion. However, mistakes can happen when doctors fail to offer the highest level of patient care. Has this happened to you?
You have options if your birth experience has been tainted by fear, anger, or frustration because of a doctor’s negligent behavior. Lawyers for newborn brain damage can help you file a claim to hold responsible parties accountable for their actions.
Don’t wait to get help if your child has been injured before, during, or after birth. Our top-rated lawyers at The Birth Injury Lawyers Group are here for you and ready to take on your claim, no matter how complex!
Call or text 1-800-222-9529
or complete a Free Case Evaluation form