Birth Injury – Hypoxic Brain Injury
Hypoxic brain injury (HIE) can happen in any number of ways. In this article, we will focus on how hypoxic brain injuries happen during the birth process, how it affects the baby, and when an attorney can help with a birth injury lawsuit.
What Is Hypoxic Brain Injury?
A hypoxic brain injury occurs when the brain loses oxygen. When the brain loses oxygen for a prolonged time, brain cells begin to die. For a baby, this can happen before, during, or shortly after the birth process.
HIE During Birth
When a baby loses oxygen for a length of time, the risk of brain injury rapidly increases. Hypoxic brain injury may be diagnosed with different names for babies. While the name of the diagnosis may be different, the injury is still the same. Doctors may diagnose the brain injury as:
- birth asphyxia
- newborn brain injury
- perinatal encephalopathy
- perinatal asphyxia
Babies are especially at risk for hypoxic brain injury at any time during the birthing process. During labor, healthcare professionals monitor the well-being of the mother and the baby. Any negative changes to the baby’s health must be addressed and corrected quickly to avoid harm. Certain factors of the birthing process can trigger problems for the baby. These factors include:
- eclampsia
- high blood pressure
- ruptured uterus
- uterine pressures
- abdominal trauma
- placental abruption
- prolapsed/compressed umbilical cord
- maternal seizures
While the above factors do not cause an infant brain injury, they can create conditions that are dangerous for the baby’s oxygen supply. When healthcare professionals fail to recognize the warning signs, the baby may suffer a hypoxic brain injury. This doesn’t mean every HIE is the result of medical negligence.
Birth Injury Lawyer
Proving a birth injury is the result of medical negligence is difficult. If your child has suffered a hypoxic brain injury, talk to an experienced attorney about your situation. An attorney can review the medical records and provide a consultation to answer any questions you might have.
Kane & Silverman Birth Injury Lawyers
Not every birth injury is the result of medical malpractice. Contact a birth injury lawyer at Kane & Silverman for a free medical malpractice consultation. You don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for your claim.