Our Frequently Asked Questions

Unusual infant head shapes can be caused by a number of factors, including traumatic pressure on the head in utero or during delivery,  regular sleeping position, or rarely, genetic abnormalities. Depending on what type of head deformation an infant has, doctors may recommend allowing it to resolve itself with time, minor non-invasive interventions, or major...

The long-term effects of neonatal brain injury vary by the type, nature, and extent of the baby’s brain damage. Initial birth injuries and neonatal brain injuries that can lead to long-term effects include fetal oxygen deprivation and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhages), fetal strokes, neonatal sepsis (infection in the blood), jaundice and kernicterus (high bilirubin levels), and neonatal...

As soon as a baby is born, the medical team usually draws blood from the baby’s umbilical cord artery.  This blood is analyzed to determine if there was a complication shortly before or during delivery that deprived the baby of oxygen.  Oxygen deprivation (birth asphyxia) can cause brain damage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL –...

Law and medical ethics dictate that medical professionals must obtain informed consent from their patients before beginning a treatment or procedure. Informed consent is based on 1) the patient understanding their treatment options and 2) the patient making a free choice. This requirement is meant to protect patients against unwanted medical interventions and to ensure...

Standard of care can be defined as how a reasonably competent medical professional or hospital would treat a certain type of patient or condition under the same or similar circumstances. Medical professionals receive a great deal of training and should have extensive knowledge regarding various medical conditions and treatments. In caring for patients, they must...

Medical records include all of a patient’s documented medical care and history as collected by a medical facility (1). These include doctor’s notes, test results, billing information, lab reports, and more. Why would a patient want to obtain their medical records? You may want to view and obtain your medical records to see details about...

Upon receiving a birth injury diagnosis, many parents are left wondering what their next step should be. If you suspect that the birth injury was caused by medical malpractice, it may be wise to hire an attorney. A good birth injury attorney can obtain the financial recovery necessary to pay for the numerous expenses associated...

Typically, a birth injury case will take between eighteen months to two years from the time the lawsuit is filed until the case either reaches a settlement or goes to trial. This timeline varies depending on a number of factors, including the state and county where the lawsuit (or “claim”) is filed, the extent of...

Yes, shoulder dystocia can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a permanent brain injury. HIE occurs when babies don’t get enough oxygen for too long during or around the time of labor and delivery. The chance of a severe brain injury increases the longer a baby goes without oxygen. Brain injuries like HIE can cause lifelong disability,...

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) can often cause intraventricular hemorrhaging. When a baby sustains an oxygen deprivation-related injury (whether it is from trauma, misuse of assistive instruments, mismanaged umbilical cord issues or undiagnosed maternal health issues), it can result in brain bleeds. What is Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)? The brain has four ventricles, which are spaces filled with...

An intracranial hemorrhage (brain bleed) is a traumatic or hypoxic birth injury characterized by sudden, rapid bleeding within the baby’s skull or brain. Causes and risk factors for brain bleeds vary depending on the type and location of the brain bleed. Throughout this page, we’ll cover the different types of infant brain bleeds and their...

Certain types of brain bleeds are small and may not have long-term effects. However,  a severe or poorly managed brain bleed can cause permanent damage to the brain. Long-term effects may affect important areas controlling cognition, motor skills, and memory. Long-Term Effects of Brain Bleeds Some brain bleeds in babies have been proven to cause...

Yes. Electronic fetal monitoring is critical not only in labor and vaginal delivery but also during Cesarean sections (C-sections). When performing a C-section, medical professionals must ensure that fetal heart rate monitoring is done as continuously as possible. Sometimes there is an interruption in fetal monitoring from the time when the monitor is removed (which...

Delayed C-section deliveries can cause forms of brain injury, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or cerebral palsy in a baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has established a decision-to-incision time (time within which a cesarean delivery should take place after an emergency sign presents) of 30 minutes or faster (1).  In the...

Can cerebral palsy affect my child’s lifespan? Life expectancy represents the average lifespan of a group of people. Cerebral palsy can impact a person’s lifespan depending on the severity of their diagnosis and their access to high-quality medical care and therapy. For people with milder cases of cerebral palsy, life expectancy may be completely normal...

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) can cause cerebral palsy (CP), though the two do not always appear together. Brain damage from HIE can manifest in several different ways, including cognitive impairments, vision and hearing issues, and motor difficulties. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that is characterized by a lack of motor function. CP is common in children...

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition associated with birth injury. It is a term used to describe a number of disorders affecting brain function and body movement. It specifically affects muscle, motor, and coordination skills. The symptoms can vary depending on the type of CP – from involuntary spasms to lack of muscle tone throughout...

The birth of a child is one of the most exciting moments for parents.  But this excitement can be coupled with confusion and sadness if the baby suffers a birth injury, which is an injury that occurs during or near the time of delivery.  When a birth injury occurs, a baby may sustain brain damage...

Jaundice, the yellowing of the skin caused by a buildup of bilirubin (the product of red blood cell breakdown) in a baby’s blood and tissues, is often harmless when treated properly. However, when the level of bilirubin in a baby’s blood rises to a dangerous level, bilirubin can enter brain tissue. Bilirubin is toxic to...

Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury or abnormality in the parts of a baby’s brain that control movement. While some cases of cerebral palsy are congenital (present at birth or are inherited by genetics), many cases are caused by preventable birth injuries. In these cases, the doctor or hospital makes a mistake that causes...

How can I tell if my child has cerebral palsy? Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy can be severe or mild depending on each individual child. Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder, meaning it affects a child’s ability to move normally.  Common signs of cerebral palsy in newborn babies include:  muscle stiffness limp body difficulty...

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a type of motor disorder that can result from brain damage or abnormalities. In many cases, it is caused by a birth injury; that is, a complication or medical error shortly before, during, or after birth. Cerebral palsy is typically diagnosed in babies and toddlers between 18 and 24 months of...

Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that causes problems with movement and balance due to a brain injury that occurs during or near the time of labor and delivery.  Sometimes cerebral palsy is noticed soon after birth, but in other children, the disorder won’t be noticed until a few years later.  Babies with cerebral palsy...

Children should attend well visits with their pediatrician, where their development will be monitored. This monitoring is important for all children, but especially those who are at risk for developmental issues (i.e. if they were born prematurely or at a low birth weight (1). If the doctor is concerned, developmental screenings should be done. Developmental screenings...

Assistive technology describes any item, program, or system used to improve or maintain function for people with disabilities. People with cerebral palsy (CP), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cognitive impairments, and various birth injuries may require assistive technology to complete daily tasks. The term covers a broad range of items, from low-tech tools like weighted pens, to...

Occupational therapy is a critical part of any cerebral palsy treatment program. The goal of occupational therapy is to promote a patient’s ability to perform daily activities in a way that will enhance quality of life and increase independent living skills. During an occupational therapy session, the therapist will guide the patient in adapting, compensating for their limitations,...

Physical therapy is aimed at promoting the motor and developmental skills of a child with cerebral palsy. The child’s parent or caregiver should be taught the exercises or activities that are necessary to help the child reach his or her full potential and improve function. Physical Therapy for Cerebral Palsy: Techniques and Effects Daily range-of-motion...

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive, neurological condition that often causes physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, epilepsy, and other complex health issues. While there’s no cure for cerebral palsy, medication can help alleviate many of the side effects. Medicines are commonly prescribed in order to control seizures, spasticity, and pain; however, because each case of cerebral...

A femoral osteotomy is a surgical correction done on many children with subluxation or dislocation of the hips due to cerebral palsy. Subluxation is when the ball of the hip slowly pulls out of its position in the socket. Dislocation is when the ball completely comes out of the socket. This procedure may also be called...

Children with cerebral palsy may develop a problem called hip subluxation, in which the hip becomes partially dislocated. To alleviate pain, improve function, and prevent full dislocation, physicians may recommend a procedure in which muscles and tendons in the leg are “released,” or lengthened. What Is Hip Subluxation? When a hip is subluxed, that means...

There are numerous treatments and therapies for spastic cerebral palsy. These include therapeutic treatments, supportive treatments, surgical interventions, and medical interventions. These therapies are usually combined for maximal effect as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. What forms of spastic cerebral palsy do treatments address? Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral...

A child’s development can be impacted in numerous ways depending on the severity, location, and extent of the brain damage that caused the cerebral palsy. Generally, the developmental categories that can be impacted by cerebral palsy include gross motor movement and fine motor coordination. Birth injuries that cause cerebral palsy can also cause problems with...

Yes, shoulder dystocia can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a permanent brain injury. HIE occurs when babies don’t get enough oxygen for too long during or around the time of labor and delivery. The chance of a severe brain injury increases the longer a baby goes without oxygen. Brain injuries like HIE can cause lifelong disability,...

Forceps, an instrument that looks a bit like a pair of tongs and is used to facilitate vaginal delivery, can cause birth injuries when incorrectly used. Physicians must be very careful to properly apply forceps and to not excessively press or pull on the baby’s head. As each contraction occurs, the obstetrician is supposed to...

Birth injuries are heartbreaking and life-altering for families. What should be one of the happiest times—welcoming a child into the world—can quickly turn into a traumatic, stressful situation when improper or negligent medical care causes harm. Birth injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are often preventable, and they can leave families grappling with the emotional and...

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), also known as ‘birth asphyxia,’ is a dangerous neonatal brain injury. HIE occurs due to oxygen deprivation and/or compromised blood flow to the brain. When this happens, brain cells die off in a cascade reaction, causing widespread brain damage. If the issue is addressed very quickly after birth, however, the damage can be...

Babies do not exactly “breathe” in the womb; at least not by inhaling air they way they do after delivery. Instead, oxygen travels through the mother’s lungs, heart, vasculature, uterus, and placenta, finally making its way through the umbilical cord and into the fetus. Interruptions in the Oxygen Pathway: Birth Injuries During labor and delivery,...

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a neonatal brain injury. A lack of oxygen or blood flow to the baby’s brain causes HIE. While the baby is in the womb, they get oxygen from the flow of nutrient-rich blood. HIE is a type of birth injury that occurs when a baby does not get enough oxygen before birth....

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a brain injury that is diagnosed when a baby does not get enough oxygen, usually during labor and delivery. The diagnosis is made using a combination of tests, including physical and neurological exams, lab results, and brain imaging. These tests are used to measure the timing and severity of the baby’s brain...

When untreated or improperly treated, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) can both be very dangerous to an unborn baby. UTIs and BV can cause several types of obstetrical complications and birth injuries, including preterm delivery, sepsis, meningitis, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and cerebral palsy (CP). Note: for more detailed information about UTIs and...

Birth injuries are heartbreaking and life-altering for families. What should be one of the happiest times—welcoming a child into the world—can quickly turn into a traumatic, stressful situation when improper or negligent medical care causes harm. Birth injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are often preventable, and they can leave families grappling with the emotional and...

A: Yes. It is common for physicians to use medications to induce or speed up labor. Pitocin and Cytotec are the most common labor induction medications. However, if misused, these drugs can cause birth injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain bleeds, which can lead to cerebral palsy. Utilization of medications to start and...

A. Yes, seizures in newborn babies can often indicate birth injuries. Also called neonatal seizures, they can occur shortly after birth or during the following hours and days. In fact, seizures may be the first (and perhaps only) clinical sign of a brain injury in a newborn baby. Seizures frequently develop in babies who experienced...

A: Ultrasound testing for amniotic fluid volume is the best way to test for oligohydramnios. This test is conducted along with tests for the baby’s general well-being, such as the biophysical profile (BPP) and nonstress tests (NST). While ultrasound testing is the only clinically practical way to measure amniotic fluid volume, a test called the...

The placenta is the baby’s lifeline and supplies oxygen and nutrients from mother to baby. Under normal circumstances, the placenta remains attached to the uterus until after the baby is delivered.  A placental abruption is when the placenta separates too early, while the baby is not yet delivered. A placental abruption is an obstetrical emergency...

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a subtype of Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM). PROM is a condition in which a mother’s ‘water breaks’ (the amniotic sac and chorion rupture) more than an hour before the onset of labor. PPROM refers to when this happens before 37 weeks gestation – that is, before the...

Premature Rupture of the Membranes (PROM) is a complication occurring during pregnancy in which the mother’s membranes rupture (this is commonly referred to as the “water breaking”) more than an hour before labor begins. PROM puts unborn babies at risk of not getting enough oxygen because their umbilical cord becomes compressed, as well as becoming...

Fetal distress is an emergency pregnancy, labor, and delivery complication in which a baby may experience oxygen deprivation (birth asphyxia). Signs of fetal distress may include: Abnormal changes in the baby’s heart rate (as seen on a fetal heart rate monitor) Decreased fetal movement Meconium in the amniotic fluid (increasing risk for meconium aspiration) Medical...

When a woman first becomes pregnant, the amount of information given to her about prenatal care may be overwhelming. Throughout this page, our birth injury team will explain the prenatal tests (also known as antenatal tests) that physicians perform to ensure the health and proper development of a newborn baby. The main goal of these...

Choosing an obstetrician is an exciting, personal, and important start to a pregnancy. While most pregnancies result in healthy babies, dangerous complications can arise that can cause permanent, devastating injuries to the mother and/or baby. Given the extreme consequences of mishandled complications, it is important for parents to play a proactive role in selecting an...

Yes, shoulder dystocia can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a permanent brain injury. HIE occurs when babies don’t get enough oxygen for too long during or around the time of labor and delivery. The chance of a severe brain injury increases the longer a baby goes without oxygen. Brain injuries like HIE can cause lifelong disability,...