Brain Damage at Birth

According to experts at the Gillette Center for Cerebral Palsy, “Two types of brain damage cause cerebral palsy. The first occurs when the brain of a baby develops improperly.” This may be due to genetic problems or poor maternal health. The second type is brain damage at birth and it occurs during labor and delivery. It “takes place when illness or injury damages a brain that was otherwise normal.” This injury can be caused by medical negligence.

Infants may be at higher risk for brain damage at birth if they are born prematurely or if they have medical problems, such as:

  • Bleeding in the brain
  • Illness that caused them to go into shock
  • Infections of the central nervous system
  • Problems with the umbilical cord
  • Problems with the placenta
  • Interruptions in oxygen or blood flow to the brain
  • Physical injuries
  • Reduced blood circulation
  • Reduced passage of oxygen and nutrients through body tissues

There may be more than one cause for your baby to have sustained brain damage at birth.

Statistics show that up to seven of every 1,000 infants born alive will suffer a birth injury. If the injury leads to cerebral palsy, he or she will have difficulty controlling movements because of brain damage at birth. Some causes of brain damage, such as inherited disease, cannot be prevented. However, many incidents of brain damage at birth might have been prevented by proper medical care. If your child suffered brain damage at birth, you deserve to know what really happened during labor and delivery.

Medical Negligence and Brain Damage at Birth

If you have concerns about whether your child suffered brain damage at birth, call us today. You’ll have the opportunity to speak with a nurse case manager who can guide you through the events that occurred in the delivery room. If your child suffered brain damage at birth due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to a financial settlement. This can help pay for the lifetime costs of caring for a child with brain damage at birth.