Brain Injury

A brain injury can often be blamed for the developmental challenges that some children face. If you have a child who is blind, deaf and/or insensate the chances are that condition is due to a profound injury to the brain. There are thousands of ways in which a brain can be injured postnatally.  However for a child to be born with brain damage, the causes of those pre-natal brain injuries are not quite so numerous.

An incompatible Rh factor between mother and child can result in brain damage.  A mother who contracts German measles during the first trimester may deliver a baby who has an injured brain. If the pregnant mother experiences a period or periods of oxygen deprivation during the pregnancy, the lack of oxygen will often result in a brain injury to the growing fetus.

A premature birth can result in a brain injury, simply for the fact that the brain may not have developed completely. Premature birth may, in fact, be one of the most common factors associated with brain injury.  However, a premature birth does not necessarily mean that the baby will have brain damage, either.

Avoid X-rays if Any Possibility of Being Pregnant 

Large amounts of X-ray during the gestation period, particularly during the early days, may contribute to brain injury. This type of injury is most likely to occur when the mother is unaware that she is pregnant when she has the X-rays.

The actual time of the labor and delivery can also be a factor.  A precipitous labor of less than two hours, or a protracted labor of more than 18 hours, also appears to be associated with brain injury.  Whether either factor is directly responsible for the injury or is an effect of an existing injury has not yet been determined.

There also appears to be a higher ratio of babies delivered by Cesarean section who are found to have brain injury.  But whether the injury is caused by the Cesarean section or is what makes the Cesarean necessary is not known.

Brain Injured by Delaying the Birth Process

A deliberate delay in the birth perhaps caused because the mother cannot get to the doctor in time, by having the mother sit up or cross her legs, also may be a factor in the baby suffering a brain injury.  A significantly delayed birth does not necessarily mean that the baby will sustain brain damage just that it has occurred in a number of cases.

Of course, any obstetrical problems during the birth process may cause brain injury. Difficulties such as placenta previa, placenta abruption and other “technical” problems during the birthing process are often factors in infant brain damage.

Of course the brain can suffer brain injury after birth, such as a fall, where the head suffers a subdural hematoma.  Environmental factors such as poisons or lead ingestion can cause a brain injury, as can an illness such as meningitis.  However, it is the prenatal brain injuries that can be so devastating to hopes and dreams of new parents.

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