Questions?
Deb Grant, RN, is a registered nurse with 25 years of experience dedicated to pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care.
Throughout her career, Deb has frequently served as a charge nurse in labor and delivery, coordinating patient care and helping lead medical teams through obstetric emergencies.
Her experience gives her firsthand knowledge of how quickly complications can cause birth injuries. She also understands the parent’s perspective because her first child was delivered by an unplanned C-section.
Today, Deb works with the birth injury team at Sokolove Law, a leading national law firm that’s helped families recover over $1.1 billion for preventable harm during childbirth.
We sat down with Deb to get answers to common questions about brain damage at birth, including what can cause it, signs parents may notice, and how families can begin finding answers after a difficult delivery.
Q: Why are babies born with brain damage?
A: Babies may be born with brain damage when something disrupts normal development or causes an injury before or around the time of birth. During labor and delivery, one of the biggest concerns is a loss of oxygen and blood flow to the brain.
As a labor and delivery nurse, one of the most important things we watch for is any sign that a baby may not be tolerating the stress of labor well. We look closely at the fetal heart rate for changes that could indicate the baby is not getting enough oxygen.
Recognizing those changes and responding quickly can be critical.
Q: Would I know if something was wrong in my pregnancy?
A: Not necessarily. Some pregnancy complications cause noticeable symptoms, but others can develop without a mother knowing anything is wrong.
It isn’t a mother’s job to recognize every medical warning sign. Doctors are trained to look for signs that you or your baby could be at risk, and if they miss a problem or don’t address it appropriately, medical negligence may be involved.
Q: What are the early warning signs of brain damage in a newborn?
A: Brain injuries can look different from one baby to another. Common signs of brain damage in newborn babies can include seizures, breathing problems, unusual muscle stiffness or limpness, or a baby who is unusually sleepy or hard to wake.
Some signs of brain damage are noticeable soon after birth, while others become clearer as a child grows and begins missing developmental milestones.
Q: Can problems with the umbilical cord or placenta cut off oxygen to the brain?
A: Yes. The placenta and umbilical cord are how a baby gets oxygen before birth. If the cord gets squeezed or the placenta stops working as it should, the baby may not get enough oxygen.
If that loss of oxygen is severe or lasts too long, it can injure the brain. In labor and delivery, we take problems seriously because a baby’s delicate brain depends on a steady oxygen supply.
Q: Can shoulder dystocia cause brain damage?
A: Yes. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency because the baby’s head has been delivered, but the shoulders are stuck, and the rest of the body can’t be born.
The longer the baby remains stuck, the greater the concern about oxygen loss and brain injury. Shoulder dystocia requires the delivery team to act quickly and use specific maneuvers to safely free the baby.
Q: Can brain damage at birth cause cerebral palsy or developmental delays?
A: Yes. Brain damage that happens before, during, or shortly after birth can cause cerebral palsy, especially when it affects the parts of the brain that control movement.
Infant brain damage can also affect a child’s speech, learning, coordination, or ability to reach developmental milestones.
The long-term outcome of newborn brain injury depends on which part of the brain was damaged and how severe the injury was.
Q: Why did my baby need to be resuscitated after birth?
A: Babies may need resuscitation if they aren’t breathing on their own or their heart rate is too low after birth. Sometimes, a baby who needs resuscitation may have experienced distress during labor or delivery.
If warning signs were missed or the delivery team waited too long to respond to breathing problems, a preventable medical mistake may have played a role.
Q: How long can a baby go without enough oxygen before the brain is affected?
A: There isn’t one exact amount of time that applies to every baby. The risk of brain injury depends on how much oxygen and blood flow are reduced, how long the problem lasts, and how quickly the baby recovers.
When a baby isn’t getting enough oxygen, every second counts. In some cases, a loss of oxygen and blood flow around birth can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a serious condition that can lead to cerebral palsy.
Medical teams need to take signs that a baby may be struggling during labor very seriously and respond quickly to prevent harm.
Q: If my baby’s MRI is normal, could problems still show up later?
A: Yes. A normal MRI can be reassuring, but it cannot always predict how a child will develop. Some problems with movement, learning, or development may not become clear until months or years later.
If you have concerns about your child, take them seriously and ask for answers. If a medical mistake may have caused harm, finding out sooner can protect your right to seek compensation for the care your child may need.
It’s very important to understand that these cases have strict deadlines, so reach out to us as quickly as possible.
Q: How do I tell if a newborn has brain damage?
A: If you’re wondering how to tell if a newborn has brain damage, there usually isn’t one symptom that can confirm it. As a registered nurse, I would look at the baby’s overall neurologic condition, how the baby behaved after birth, and if there were complications during labor and delivery.
Signs of possible brain injury can include seizures, unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking, poor muscle tone, abnormal movements or posture, weak or absent sucking or Moro reflexes, difficulty breathing, or problems feeding.
Some newborns with brain injury may initially appear relatively normal, while others show concerning signs right away. A low Apgar score, the need for prolonged resuscitation, or a serious event during labor can raise concern.
Doctors may use a neurologic examination, blood tests, EEG or other brain monitoring, and brain imaging such as an MRI to determine whether a newborn has suffered an injury and how severe it may be.
Q: How can I find out what actually happened during my delivery?
A: Medical records can provide important answers. However, new parents should focus on their child, not try to investigate a complicated delivery on their own.
Skilled infant brain damage lawyers can request a child’s birth records, review them carefully, and walk the family through what may have happened in plain language.
Medical records can tell a much clearer story than a parent may have been given at the hospital. They can show when concerns started, what the medical team did, and whether a preventable mistake may have caused the child’s injury.
Talk to a Nurse About Your Child’s Symptoms
At the Birth Injury Justice Center, we’re grateful to work with nurses like Deb Grant. Her deep experience is invaluable for families trying to understand why their child developed brain damage.
Deb and the other experienced nurses we work with know what medical teams should watch for and when a complication may raise questions about the care provided. If they feel negligence may be involved, they’ll connect you directly with a trusted attorney near you.
So far, our legal partners have recovered more than $1.1 billion for children harmed by preventable medical mistakes.
And we can help families in all 50 states. If you believe your child’s condition may have been caused by medical malpractice, we’re here 24/7 to help you understand your options.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now or fill out this simple form for a free, no-obligation case review.
