As a parent, your child’s health and well-being are your top priority. During pregnancy, you pay close attention to what you, your partner or your surrogate does – all to protect your baby.
Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, making sure that your baby is safely delivered is not always easy. Sometimes, for example, babies can sustain a brain injury during birth. If this happens to your child as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence, you may file a birth injury claim against them. These are crucial signs of brain injuries that you need to be aware of either in anticipation of a birth or in the aftermath of suffering a traumatic one.
Physical signs of brain injuries
Brain injuries in newborns are most evident when there are physical signs like dark coloration around the eyes or behind the ears, cuts, bumps or bruises on the head, clear fluid flow from the nose or blood that oozes from one or both ears. You can also detect early signs of brain injuries by observing a baby’s physical appearance. These can include a fluctuating state of consciousness, frequent vomiting, pain and nausea, seizures and tremors and developmental abnormalities like an undersized or oversized head.
Behavioral signs of brain damage
When an infant sustains brain damage, they are likely to exhibit behavioral changes. For instance, an erratic shift in emotions could be a sign of brain injury. These symptoms can come in the form of changes in eating, sleeping and nursing habits, increased sensitivity to light and/or sound, loss of balance, loss of newly learned skills and increased irritability.
Brain injuries can have life-long implications for a child. If injuries are attributable to a healthcare provider’s negligence, you can seek legal guidance to pursue justice on behalf of your little one.