A birth injury is something many new Pennsylvania parents fear, especially because some types of birth injuries can cause serious or permanent damage to your newborn. Symptoms of birth injuries in newborns sometimes do not appear until days, weeks or even months after birth, including brain injuries.
One of the problems with brain injuries in newborns is that they are often difficult to diagnose immediately after birth. If you experienced complications during your labor or delivery, you and the doctor’s might worry about birth defects such as a brain injury, it may simply be too soon to tell.
Although you may have no way of knowing at the outset if your newborn has a brain injury, your doctor should be able to tell you their chances of having one. However, getting an answer to this question can be challenging. Your doctor might give you incomplete or incorrect information and could simply want to avoid the topic altogether.
Signs and symptoms of a brain injury in your newborn
Brain injuries in newborns are extremely serious because they can lead to permanent conditions such as cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, motor disorders or other physical conditions. Common causes of brain injuries in newborns are head trauma or oxygen deprivation during the childbirth process.
This is why if you suspect your baby has suffered a brain injury it is important to know the early signs of a brain injury.
Some physical signs of a brain injury in a newborn include:
- Abnormally large forehead
- Inability to move and focus eyes
- Neck stiffness
- Undersized head
Newborns with a brain injury may also experience delays in development or have behavior problems. They might cry more with an arched back, have trouble feeding and be unable to sleep while lying down.
Even if your newborn does not experience any of these symptoms initially, they can sometimes appear later. In these cases, they usually become apparent when your baby reaches ages where they should be doing certain things, and they are not. These can include sitting up, rolling over or making basic movements.
Brain injuries must usually be treated immediately
Treating brain injuries is challenging because most of them must be treated almost immediately after the injury. Many times, permanent brain damage can be minimized or avoided if the medical staff acts quickly to trat the underlying problems and provides supportive care.
If you suspect or learn your baby has a brain injury, you are likely worried about how this will impact the rest of their life. Some babies with brain injuries need lifelong treatment and therapy, all of which will cost money. Additionally, a brain injury may hinder their opportunities and quality of life.
When the birth injury was caused by the negligence of a doctor or hospital staff, you could receive compensation for these and other costs through a personal injury action. Your baby deserves a secure and safe future and compensation could help provide with them with by giving them the resources they need to manage their injury.