Unfortunately, severe head and brain trauma to newborns can also occur from medical intervention during labor and delivery. If fetal distress occurs and normal methods of delivery are unsuccessful, an emergency C-section is required to minimize the risk of intracranial hemorrhage and other birth injuries.

If risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage are present, medical professionals must closely monitor the baby for signs of fetal distress and discuss the possibility of C-section with the mother. The lack of blood flow results in cell death and causes the blood vessel walls to break down, which leads to bleeding.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): a dangerous neonatal brain injury resulting from decreased oxygen and blood flow to the baby at or near the time of delivery.Blood disorders, such as vitamin K deficiency or hemophilia.Abnormal fetal presentation: a baby that comes out of the birth canal in the breech, face, or brow presentation.Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD): a similar condition to macrosomia, except that it specifically refers to a size mismatch between the fetal head and the mother’s pelvis (the head is unusually big and/or the pelvis is unusually small).Macrosomia : a pregnancy condition in which the fetus is larger than average for the gestational age, which can make vaginal birth dangerous.These ruptures are usually caused by traumatic injuries, like birth trauma.Ĭommon risk factors for and causes of intracranial hemorrhages in babies include: Subdural hemorrhage or subdural hematoma : occurs when one or more blood vessels rupture in the subdural space, which is the area between the surface of the dura and the arachnoid membranes.Oxygen deprivation and birth trauma can also contribute to intraventricular hemorrhage. It is usually seen in premature infants and infants with low birth weight, because the blood vessels in their brains are not fully developed, and are therefore weaker than that of babies born at term. Intraventricular hemorrhage : (IVH) is a serious type of intracranial hemorrhage that occurs when there is bleeding in the brain’s ventricular system, where cerebrospinal fluid is produced.Subarachnoid hemorrhage : characterized by bleeding in the subarachnoid space, which is the area between the innermost of the two membranes that cover the brain.Intracerebral hemorrhage: Also known as cerebral hemorrhage, this type of brain bleed is characterized by bleeding that originates from blood vessels within the brain.There are two main types of hemorrhagic stroke: Hemorrhagic strokes can also cause pressure buildup, irritation, and swelling, and may lead to neonatal brain injury. This can deprive brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding within the brain.

Signs of head trauma in baby