Birth Injury Resource Center

Brain Injuries

Childbirth is an awesome and somewhat violent wonder of nature. Uterine contractions during labor exert 43 pounds of pressure per square inch to help the small infant emerge from its mother's womb. Although most babies are born without harm, sometimes a difficult delivery can take a tragic turn, resulting in mild to severe injury to the newborn. Among all types of birth injuries, damage to the brain is most likely to cause permanent, disabling affects.

Causes and Risks

Brain injury in newborns is often caused by a decreased flow of blood and oxygen to the baby's brain. Lack or inadequate supply of oxygen leads to brain injury in approximately 2 of every 1,000 full-term births, as well as in a large number of very premature babies. Irregular circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, labor and delivery—including tearing of the placenta or umbilical cord, hemorrhage in the mother or fetus, or circulatory problems—may be factors in the diminished oxygen supply.

Although brain-related birth injuries often happen without warning, certain factors are known to increase the risk. These include:

• prolonged or difficult labor
• premature birth
• breech delivery
• rupture of the uterus
• use of forceps or vacuum extractor during delivery

Types of Brain-Related Birth Injuries

Because the brain is the body's command center, an injury to the baby's brain may affect any body part, function or system. Some of the conditions caused by brain-related birth injuries include:

• cerebral palsy
• epilepsy
• mental retardation
• learning disabilities

A brain injury may be mild, disabling or fatal, based mainly on the location and severity of the trauma. As seen in cerebral palsy, brain injury may lead to physical affects such as muscle weakness, uncontrolled movements, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, or even paralysis.

Brain-related birth injuries often cause mental, emotional or behavioral difficulties as well. Some may not be apparent until years after the birth injury, when the child begins to show problems in school. Examples include lowered IQ, impaired concentration and memory, inability to control impulses, aggressive behavior, and failure to "get along" socially.

Support for Parents of Brain-Injured Children

If your child suffers from a brain injury sustained in the birthing process, you're probably overwhelmed at how much this injury has impacted your child's life—as well as your own. Speaking with others who are in a similar situation may help relieve some of your stress and uncertainty as you cope with your child's birth injury. To talk with other parents of children suffering from birth-related brain injuries and to share your own story, please visit the Birth Injury Resource Center Discussion Board.

Resources

• Birth Injury, Brain Injury, and Behavioral Impairment
• Cool Therapy Reduces Brain Injury And Death From Oxygen Loss In Newborns
• Pomegranate Juice For Moms May Help Babies Resist Brain Injury
• Type of Delivery and Infant Brain Injury, 3/2000
• Dept. of Paediatrics & Child Health, University College Hospital (Ireland)
• The Physics Behind Life's Incredible Journey (Childbirth)