When the flow of blood to a baby’s brain is interrupted, or there’s bleeding in the brain that damages tissue, it’s known as neonatal stroke. Because babies are unable to express how they feel, the symptoms of neonatal stroke are often mistaken for signs of other newborn complications.
This can cause the stroke to be misdiagnosed or treated incorrectly, costing valuable time needed to treat the actual stroke. Early detection of neonatal stroke is one of the most important ways medical staff can prevent serious injuries caused by neonatal stroke.
Symptoms
- Abnormal muscle tone, weakness, or decreased use of one side
- Lethargy or poor responsiveness
- Poor feeding
- Breathing problems
- Irritability, including a high-pitched cry
What causes neonatal stroke?
Babies are especially sensitive to changes in blood flow throughout the pregnancy and during delivery. Neonatal stroke occurs when the baby’s brain does not receive enough blood or oxygen, or when there is bleeding inside the brain.
Difficult deliveries, a reduction in oxygen, blood clots, and problems with the placenta can all cause issues with blood flow, which can trigger neonatal stroke. Even though the baby may seem stable at first, those issues can injure the baby’s brain tissue, triggering a stroke.
Blood clots are often linked to neonatal stroke because the clots can travel to the brain, blocking blood flow. They can also rupture blood vessels, leading to bleeding around the brain. Blood clots are more likely to form if the baby experiences dehydration, infection, or other serious illness before or after birth.
What serious injuries can be caused by neonatal stroke?
Neonatal stroke causes a range of injuries that can be mild in some cases, but in others, it can be life-altering. The long-term outcome largely depends on where the stroke occurred, the size of the stroke, how quickly it was diagnosed, and how the baby was treated.
Major injuries may include cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, motor delays, speech and language delays, behavioral problems, and attention issues. Because the brain controls movement, speech, and many basic functions, even a minor injury can cause lifelong problems.
Permanent movement issues have been linked to neonatal stroke, as damage to the areas of the brain that control muscles can cause weakness or stiffness on one side of the body. This is often associated with cerebral palsy.
Seizure disorders and epilepsy can also be caused by neonatal stroke, which may require a lifetime of treatment and monitoring.
As the baby grows, parents may notice the child having problems with communication, thinking, or their behavior. These issues may not present until the child is school-age. These children may have problems with speech and language, or find it hard to pay attention for longer periods. In some cases, children may have issues with fine motor skills, walking, balance, or emotion regulation.
How can medical malpractice contribute to neonatal stroke?
While there isn’t always an exact cause for neonatal stroke, medical staff play a critical role in making sure the signs and symptoms are caught early and treated promptly. Mistakes made by the staff can actually cause neonatal stroke to occur or worsen a stroke that was unpreventable. Because stroke impacts the brain, even the slightest delay in treatment can have long-term consequences.
Staff may fail to monitor or respond during labor and delivery for issues like fetal distress. In urgent situations, it’s important that healthcare teams do not delay or fail to provide an emergency C-section. In cases of prolonged labor, maternal instability, or complications with the placenta, mismanagement of the situation by staff often makes the situation worse.
After the baby is born, it’s crucial that staff monitor the baby and do not dismiss signs of stroke as “normal” behavior in a newborn. Seizures, abnormal tone, apnea, and feeding issues should be treated seriously by the team.
If your baby suffered a stroke, you may not know right away what you’re dealing with. The complications could last a lifetime, and the range of issues could take years to uncover. Medical records are complicated, and evidence can disappear quickly.
That’s why contacting Weisser Law is the first step you should take if you suspect medical negligence played a role in your baby’s stroke. Our experienced team will discuss with you what happened, how the standard of care may have been violated, your options moving forward, and how we can help secure you and your child’s futures.
With over 50 years of combined experience in Florida courtrooms, Weisser Law is uniquely positioned to put pressure on insurance companies to offer fair, realistic settlements. We have the strength and knowledge necessary to take down the big companies when they’ve wronged you or your family. Contact Weisser Law today, where compassion guides our work, but results define us.