Bringing a baby into the world should be filled with hope and love, not fear or worry about your newborn’s health. But sometimes, complications during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can result in a birth injury.
Some injuries are immediately obvious, while others only become clear weeks, months, or even years later. Recognizing signs early is crucial, since prompt care can help your child reach their full potential.
Here are five signs that you should watch for that may indicate a birth injury, and what steps you can take to protect your baby’s health and your family’s future.
1. Unusual Muscle Stiffness or Limpness
Newborns should move freely. If your baby feels stiff or unusually floppy when held, it’s a red flag worth noting. Muscle stiffness (hypertonia) or limpness (hypotonia) can signal underlying nerve damage, brain injury, or conditions like cerebral palsy.
What to do: Document your baby’s movements and share your concerns with your pediatrician. Ask if a referral to a neurologist or developmental specialist is appropriate. Early physical therapy may help improve muscle tone and mobility.
2. Seizures or Abnormal Movements
Not all seizures look like dramatic shaking. Newborns may show subtle movements that parents can easily miss, such as repetitive facial movements, unusual eye blinking, or sudden jerks of the arms or legs.
Seizures often indicate disrupted brain function, possibly due to oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), head trauma, or another type of birth injury.
What to do: If you suspect seizures, seek immediate medical attention. Your doctor may recommend an EEG (a test that measures brain activity) or imaging studies to determine the cause.
3. Trouble Breathing or Feeding
Feeding and breathing are two of a newborn’s most basic functions. Difficulty latching, choking, frequent coughing, or irregular breathing may indicate neurological or muscular problems.
Some infants with birth injuries have weak sucking reflexes or experience episodes of apnea, where breathing briefly stops.
What to do: Keep track of feeding times, durations, and breathing issues. Share this information with your pediatrician and request further evaluation. A specialist may recommend feeding therapy or respiratory support to help your baby thrive.
4. Lack of Responsiveness or Alertness
Newborns sleep a lot, but they should still respond to touch, sound, or light. If your baby seems unusually lethargic, struggles to stay awake for feedings, or shows little interest in their surroundings, it could signal brain or nerve damage.
What to do: Note how your baby reacts to stimuli and how often they remain unresponsive. Bring these observations to your pediatrician, and don’t hesitate to push for additional testing if concerns persist.
5. Delayed Developmental Milestones
While every baby develops at their own pace, significant delays may indicate a problem. For example, if your child isn’t rolling over by around 4–6 months, holding their head up, or making eye contact, it could suggest a developmental disorder linked to a birth injury.
What to do: Keep a log of your child’s progress. Pediatricians use developmental milestone charts to track growth; your notes can provide valuable context. Early intervention programs can offer therapy to support your baby’s development if delays are confirmed.
Why Early Detection Matters
The sooner you act, the better your baby’s chances for long-term health and recovery. Early treatment, whether therapy, medication, or specialized care, can make a lasting difference in your child’s future.
As a parent, you play a vital role. Document symptoms carefully, seek prompt evaluations, and request specialist referrals when necessary. If doctors dismiss your concerns, don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion.
When to Call a Chicago Birth Injury Attorney
Sometimes, congenital conditions result from unpredictable or unavoidable causes. But in other cases, they may be linked to medical negligence, such as failure to monitor distress during labor, improper use of delivery tools, or delayed C-sections.
If you suspect your baby’s condition could have been prevented, you have the right to ask questions and seek accountability. An experienced Chicago birth injury attorney at Beam Legal Team can investigate what happened, review your child’s medical records, and help determine whether medical negligence played a role.
Financial compensation from a birth injury claim can help cover:
- Ongoing medical treatment and therapy
- Specialized equipment or in-home care
- Lost income if a parent must leave work to provide care
- Future educational or developmental support
Your Family Deserves Answers and Justice
No parents want to think about their baby suffering from a birth injury but being proactive is the best way to protect your child. Watch for warning signs, trust your instincts, and advocate for your baby’s care.
With decades of experience and over a billion dollars recovered for families nationwide, our Chicago birth injury attorneys have the resources and team-based approach to take on even the most complex cases.
We proudly represent families across all 50 states, providing the compassionate and professional legal representation they need in the fight for justice. Contact our law firm for a free consultation and let us apply our knowledge, experience, and tenacity to your situation.