Thankfully many births happen without any issues, however, there are sadly some instances where brain injury can occur. These may be as a result of medical malpractice but can also happen during complicated births and may be unavoidable.

This is not to suggest that pregnant women need to be overly cautious of this. Hospitals are prepared for a whole host of different births and medical professionals such as midwives and doctors are well-trained to deliver babies as safely as possible.

What can cause brain damage during birth?

Brain damage refers to when cells within the brain are destroyed or harmed. This can happen to newborns before, during, or shortly after birth. Unfortunately, there are various types of brain damage and causes for them.

Common causes include complications that result in a lack of oxygen during birth, infections during pregnancy, and preeclampsia. While brain damage is often unavoidable during an emergency or complicated birth, if they occur due to the fault of the hospital, brain injury claims can be made.

What are the signs of brain damage in newborns?

There are a range of different signs that a newborn may have suffered brain damage. These include excessive drooling, seizures or tremors, visible scalp injuries, and unusual eye movements. There is also a range of signs that may not show visibly but will become apparent once tests have been undertaken, or will become more obvious later in the child’s life as they begin to develop and reach certain life milestones.

While some of the signs may appear evident, it is always important to get the opinion of a medical professional rather than jumping to conclusions about what any of these signs could mean. Many formal diagnoses cannot take place until the child is aged one or above.

What are the effects of infant brain damage?

Fortunately, for mild cases, there are instances where children are able to fully recover from brain damage. Thankfully, this is the case for many instances of brain injury that occur during birth.

However, in more severe cases, the impact of this brain damage can cause long-term conditions such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or autism. While there is now a range of treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms of these conditions, there is currently no way to completely reverse damage entirely.

How common are brain injuries during birth?

Although there has been little recent research, a study from 2017 revealed that approximately 5 in every 1,000 babies born in England suffer from signs that are linked to brain injury. As a result of this study, the Department of Health set a target to halve this number by 2030.