Brain Damage in Newborns not Caused by Mismanaged Deliveries: Study

Majority of cases that cause brain damage in newborns is not due to mismanaged deliveries, according to a study.

Researchers from Loyola University Medical Center and Loyola University Chicago found new evidence that most brain-damaged newborns are not caused by botched birth deliveries. In a study published in the Journal of Perinatology, they found that babies with severe brain damage including mental retardation and cerebral palsy only occured after they were born.

Dr. Jonathan Muraskas, lead author of the study, and his colleagues looked at the records of 32 babies with cerebral palsy and mental retardation. They found that the babies did not suffer any brain damage while in the womb because the umbilical cord blood were in normal levels and the tiny injuries in the brain was not significant enough, according to the release posted on EurekAlert. 

"Out of every 1,000 full-term newborns, between one and three infants experience encephalopathy (disease in the brain), marked by impaired level of consciousness, seizures, difficulty breathing and depressed reflexes," the release stated. "While studies have found that only 8 percent to 14.5 percent of such cases are due to inadequate blood supply to the brain during delivery, the syndrome remains a leading cause of allegations of mismanagement by obstetricians."

According to Healthline, people with encephalopathy will have several mental and neurological changes. Some symptoms include memory loss, difficulty focusing, personality changes, lethargy, seizures, involuntary twitching, muscle wakness and trembling. Hereditary encephalopathy is not preventable, however, other types may be. A healthy lifestyle is always a way to prevent adverse health conditions and staying away from bad habits like excess alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and drugs.

However, 18 babies had chorioamnionitis and 14 had very severe anemia. Chorioamnionitis als known as intra-amniotic infection (IAI) occurs when there is pregnancy complications. It is caused by bacteria from the vagina that goes into the uterus, according to Medscape. As for anemia, it is condition that is caused by lack of enough health red blood cells. These conditions are hard to detect before birth.

The press release stated that when these conditions are present, it can spell disaster for the newborn. According to Dr. Muraskas, babies with chorioamnionitis developed sepsis which in turn triggers organ failure and tissue damage. Those with severe cases of the two can promote brain damage even with resuscitation and pediatric-neonatal management.