Questions?Understanding Infant Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a type of birth injury that happens when a baby’s brain doesn’t get enough blood (ischemia) or oxygen (hypoxia).
If enough brain cells are damaged, a child may face lifelong impairment, like cerebral palsy (CP). Oxygen deprivation can also affect other organs, including the kidneys, liver, and heart. The longer the brain is deprived of oxygen, the greater the risk of lasting injury.
When HIE could have been prevented, families may be able to take legal action. An HIE lawyer can help determine what went wrong during delivery and whether medical negligence played a role.
“When questions surface months or years later, some families may still be eligible to file an HIE lawsuit to help pay for lifelong medical care, therapy, and other resources their child may need to live their best possible life.”
– Beth Carter, RN, On-Staff Legal Nurse Consultant Certified
Taking legal action won’t change the diagnosis, but it may provide financial support for long-term care and hold negligent health care providers accountable.
The Birth Injury Justice Center works with top lawyers in all 50 states. As of 2026, they’ve secured over $1 billion for families affected by birth injuries. Find out if we can help you — get a free case review now.
Early Signs of HIE in Newborns
Some newborns show symptoms of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy right after birth, while others may not show signs until after a few hours of life or even days later.
Early signs of HIE often require emergency treatment and should never be ignored. If you suspect something is wrong, seek medical attention immediately.
- Abnormal movement or difficulty controlling limbs
- Blue or pale skin tone
- Decreased or absent breathing at birth
- Difficulty feeding
- Floppy or stiff muscle tone with poor reflexes
- Meconium (first feces) in the amniotic fluid, which may signal fetal distress
- Seizures, especially within the first 24 hours
- Unusual response to sights or sounds
- Vital organ problems, such as heart, lung, or kidney issues
- Weak cry
- White matter brain lesions, visible on imaging scans
Infants with mild HIE may not have seizures, while babies with moderate HIE often have seizures that start in the first few hours and fade within a day. In more severe cases, seizures may be delayed and last longer.
Developmental delays or missed milestones may become apparent as a child grows.
What Causes Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in Infants?
Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is often caused by complications that occur before, during, or shortly after birth. HIE begins when blood flow to the brain is reduced, limiting the supply of oxygen and glucose. This can trigger damage inside brain cells and lead to cell death.
When a baby is deprived of oxygen, even briefly, the result can be a serious brain injury with lifelong effects. Many cases of HIE occur in otherwise healthy full-term infants, making proper monitoring during delivery critical.
- Extended labor or delivery complications
- Impaired lung function at or after birth
- Medical malpractice, such as failing to respond to signs of fetal distress
- Placental abruption, when the placenta detaches from the uterus too early
- Prolonged umbilical cord compression or a true knot that blocks oxygen flow
- Uterine rupture, a rare but severe delivery emergency
If you’re not sure what caused your baby’s condition, our experienced labor and delivery nurses are here to help. They can talk with you about what happened and whether medical negligence may have played a role in your child’s HIE.
Connect with one of our registered nurses right now.
Beth has more than 18 years of specialized experience in labor and delivery. She’s available to hear your story and help you figure out the cause of your child’s injury — and what you can do next.
Talk to A Nurse Now
Call or chat with a caring, experienced nurse right now — we’re standing by to get you help and answers.
Medical Negligence and Infant HIE
Although hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can occur unexpectedly, some cases are caused by medical negligence during labor or delivery.
- Delaying a cesarean (C-section) delivery after signs of fetal distress
- Failing to monitor or treat a maternal infection
- Ignoring changes in the baby’s heart rate during labor
- Mismanaging complications with the umbilical cord or placenta
- Misusing forceps or vacuum extractors
- Missing early warning signs, like a low Apgar score
- Neglecting to begin resuscitation quickly after birth
- Overlooking signs of oxygen deprivation during or after delivery
In many cases, health care providers do not test umbilical cord blood for signs of acidosis, which can indicate severe oxygen deprivation.
“Conditions like cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and other forms of brain damage are often tied to mistakes during childbirth.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, Birth Injury Attorney at Sokolove Law
If a baby is diagnosed with HIE after receiving poor medical care, families may have legal options. Compensation from an HIE lawsuit may help cover the cost of lifelong medical care and more.
Watch our short video to learn more about HIE.
Learn about hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a serious condition affecting newborns during childbirth, and what to do if your baby was harmed.
Duration: 1 min 03 sec
Infant hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is a life-threatening condition that can affect unborn children and newborn babies.
It occurs when a baby doesn’t receive enough oxygen or blood flow during the birthing process causing brain cells to die.
Without immediate treatment, severe HIE can result in permanent disabilities like cerebral palsy, brain damage — and even death.
According to the American Medical Association, HIE is estimated to cause more than 1 million deaths each year across the world.
The important thing to know is that some cases of HIE are preventable, which means they could have been caused by a doctor or health care professional’s medical mistakes.
You may have legal options if your baby’s HIE was caused by medical malpractice. Connect with the team at the Birth Injury Justice Center today to learn more. Our trained labor and delivery nurses are standing by to talk with you.
HIE Birth Injury Lawsuit Compensation
If your child has been harmed by this life-threatening condition, you may be able to file an HIE claim for compensation. A settlement can provide financial relief and help ensure your child gets the care they need now and in the future.
HIE compensation can help your family afford:
- Assistive equipment and home modifications, like wheelchairs, braces, and ramps
- Medical treatments, including surgery, medications, and specialist visits
- Therapy services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Some HIE settlements help cover access to treatment options that aren’t always covered by insurance, such as alternative therapies or private care.
Unfortunately, most parents are never told that HIE could be tied to a preventable medical mistake. If something felt wrong during labor, or if your baby went to the NICU or needed oxygen right after birth, medical negligence may have occurred.
However, families only have a limited time to take legal action. Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now or Click to Live Chat to see if we can help you file your HIE claim.
Risk Factors of Infant Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Certain conditions during pregnancy or delivery may increase the risk of hypoxia-ischemia and lead to long-term complications.
Research suggests that babies born prematurely face a higher risk of hypoxic encephalopathy and may experience more severe outcomes. Because the preterm brain is especially fragile, any oxygen-related injury is more likely to result in lasting effects.
- Drug or alcohol use during pregnancy
- Maternal infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease
- Pre-eclampsia, or dangerously high blood pressure
- Very low maternal blood pressure (hypotension) during pregnancy or labor
Many of these risks can be managed with attentive prenatal care. When health care providers fail to monitor or address known risk factors, it may be considered medical negligence.
How Is HIE Diagnosed in Babies?
Getting a definitive HIE diagnosis in a newborn involves a combination of clinical exams, imaging studies, and laboratory tests. Doctors look for signs of oxygen deprivation and assess the extent of any brain injury.
- Blood tests: Check oxygen levels and look at things like electrolytes, enzymes, and calcium to help guide diagnosis
- Umbilical cord or placenta testing: May help doctors understand what caused the lack of oxygen
- Lumbar puncture: A small sample of fluid from the lower back is tested to check for infection
- Head ultrasound: Looks for bleeding or fluid buildup in the brain
- EEG (electroencephalogram): Measures brain activity and can help detect seizures, often within the first day
- Brain MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging shows areas of brain injury and is usually done a few days after birth
Hearing tests are often used to detect sensorineural hearing loss, which may result from brain injury. Ophthalmic exams can also assess vision problems linked to HIE.
Together, these tests help determine the severity of the injury and guide infant hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treatment.
Infant Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Stages
Doctors often describe stages of HIE using a system called Sarnat staging, which groups HIE into mild, moderate, or severe based on how the brain and body are functioning after oxygen loss.
After the initial oxygen deprivation, a second wave of injury can occur when blood flow returns to the brain, known as reperfusion. This process can cause additional damage over the next several hours or days. Learn more about HIE stages below.
Mild HIE
Symptoms may include irritability, jitteriness, feeding difficulties, or slightly abnormal muscle tone. Some newborns improve with close monitoring and supportive care.
Moderate HIE
Signs can include low muscle tone, poor reflexes, sleepiness, feeding problems, seizures within the first day of life, and changes in breathing or heart rate. Ongoing monitoring and NICU care are often needed.
Severe HIE
Serious symptoms may include difficulty breathing, little response to stimulation, repeated seizures, and signs of organ dysfunction. This level carries the highest risk of long-term complications.
“My child suffered a severe brain injury during birth and had to spend time in the NICU. The injury has been diagnosed as HIE, and the doctors have confirmed it’s permanent. We’re managing a lot right now and wouldn’t know where to start without our attorney’s support.”
– Family Our Missouri Birth Injury Lawyers Helped
Long-Term Effects of HIE Brain Injury in Babies
Infant hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can result in a number of secondary diagnoses, ranging from mild to severe.
An HIE baby may face lifelong health challenges, including:
- Cerebral palsy
- Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
- Hearing or vision loss
- Learning disabilities or developmental delays
These diagnoses may be apparent at birth. But in many cases, they won’t emerge until the child is older and starts missing certain brain development milestones.
For example, some behavioral challenges may not occur until age 10, when the frontal lobe begins to develop. It can take years to determine how a child will be affected by HIE.
Get a free case review now to find out if we can connect you with a top HIE infant attorney near you.
Life Expectancy of an HIE Infant
Globally, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is one of the leading causes of newborn death. Estimates suggest that HIE contributes to hundreds of thousands of infant deaths each year, particularly in areas with limited access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
The long-term outcome for babies with HIE often depends on how severe the brain damage is and how quickly treatment begins.
Among those with moderate HIE, up to 50% may experience long-term complications. For severe HIE, as many as 80% of survivors are affected by permanent disabilities.
In most cases, HIE does not directly shorten life expectancy. However, related conditions, like a severe type of cerebral palsy or uncontrolled epilepsy, can increase the risk of secondary complications later in life and may require lifelong medical care.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Treatment
Babies diagnosed with HIE need urgent, specialized care. The most widely used treatment is therapeutic hypothermia, also known as brain or body cooling. This process can reduce the risk of long-term brain damage when started within 6 hours of birth.
Since HIE can affect other organs, additional treatment may be needed, including:
- Cardiac care to support heart function
- Mechanical ventilation for babies who cannot breathe on their own
- Medications to control seizures or prevent them
- Monitoring and support for kidney and liver function
As the baby stabilizes, early intervention becomes essential. Many children with HIE benefit from physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help manage developmental delays and support long-term growth.
Unfortunately, these treatments can be complex and expensive. Compensation from an HIE lawsuit settlement may help families afford top-level medical care, therapy, and equipment, giving their child the best possible chance at recovery and a high quality of life.
Get Legal Help for Infant Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
If your child’s HIE may have been preventable, legal action may be an option. Caring for a child with HIE can place a heavy burden on families. When medical negligence is involved, compensation may help cover the cost of lifelong care.
“After a C-section, our child was born with cerebral palsy, HIE, and epilepsy. Our lawyer’s support has been crucial in navigating this complex situation and securing the compensation we need to help our child.”
– Family Our Ohio Birth Injury Lawyers Helped
Our legal partners have secured more than $1 billion for families affected by preventable birth injuries like HIE, and they may be able to help your family, too.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now or fill out our case review form to see if we may be able to help you seek the justice and compensation your family deserves.
Infant Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy FAQs
Infant hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain injury that happens when a baby’s brain does not get enough oxygen and blood before, during, or shortly after birth.
This lack of oxygen can damage brain cells and lead to serious problems like developmental delays, seizures, or cerebral palsy.
If your child’s HIE could have been avoided, we may be able to help your family get financial support. Call us at (800) 914-1562 or Click to Live Chat for immediate assistance.
HIE happens when a baby’s brain does not get enough oxygen (birth asphyxia) and blood, usually during labor or right after birth. This can occur if there are problems with the placenta, umbilical cord, or the baby’s breathing.
Sometimes it cannot be prevented, but in some cases, it may be linked to delays or missed warning signs during delivery.
Symptoms of HIE in newborns may include weak or absent breathing, pale or bluish skin, and reduced response to sound or touch. Some signs may not appear until days or weeks after birth.
If your child’s HIE was caused by medical negligence, you may be able to file a birth injury lawsuit. This can mean accessing financial compensation to help cover the cost of care and give your child the best possible chance at a healthy future.
Get a free case review right now to find out if our team can help you get started.
Yes, many babies with HIE are cared for in the NICU right after birth. This is because they may need close monitoring, breathing support, or treatments like cooling therapy to help protect the brain.
Some babies with mild HIE may recover fully, especially with early treatment. Others may experience long-term challenges, depending on the severity of the brain injury.
Therapeutic hypothermia, if started within 6 hours of birth, can help reduce the risk of permanent damage.
Many babies with HIE live well into adulthood, especially if the injury is mild or moderate. In severe cases, life expectancy may be shorter due to complications like uncontrolled seizures, feeding difficulties, or respiratory issues. Each case is unique and depends on the extent of brain injury.
