Are Seizures a Warning Sign of Birth Injury?
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we know that nothing is more terrifying for a parent than seeing their newborn experience seizures. Often, seizures are the first and most critical sign that a baby has suffered a birth-related brain injury. When medical professionals fail to follow the proper standards of care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, these injuries can occur—sometimes with devastating, lifelong consequences.
If your baby has experienced seizures shortly after birth, it’s important to understand what they mean, why they happen, and whether medical negligence played a role in causing them.
What Are Newborn Seizures?
Seizures occur when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In newborns, seizures may not always look like the full-body convulsions we commonly associate with the condition. Instead, they can be subtle and mistaken for normal infant movements.
Common signs of neonatal seizures include:
- Rapid eye movements, blinking, or staring spells
- Sucking, smacking, or chewing motions
- Bicycling or pedaling movements of the legs
- Thrashing or jerking movements
- Long pauses in breathing (apnea)
- Sudden stiffening or limpness in the body
Seizures aren’t just symptoms of an existing brain injury—they can cause further brain damage if not quickly identified and treated. That’s why immediate medical intervention is critical.
What Causes Seizures in Newborns?
The most common cause of neonatal seizures is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)—a serious brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow during labor and delivery. Other causes include:
- Undiagnosed maternal health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure or infections)
- Umbilical cord complications (such as cord prolapse or nuchal cord)
- Placental issues (abruption or insufficiency)
- Delayed or improperly managed delivery (including failure to perform a C-section when needed)
- Prolonged labor, fetal distress, or oxygen deprivation
- Birth trauma leading to brain bleeds
- Infections affecting the central nervous system
When doctors fail to monitor, diagnose, or intervene appropriately in these situations, the baby can suffer irreversible harm.
Medical Negligence and Birth-Related Seizures
Many cases of newborn seizures could have been prevented if medical professionals had followed proper safety protocols. Some of the most common medical errors that can lead to birth-related seizures include:
- Failure to recognize and treat pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension
- Mismanagement of fetal distress and abnormal heart rate patterns
- Delayed or improper use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or emergency C-sections
- Failure to diagnose or treat infections in the mother or baby
- Inadequate resuscitation or failure to provide therapeutic hypothermia when needed
If medical negligence contributed to your baby’s seizures, you may have legal options to hold the responsible providers accountable.
Types of Seizures in Newborns
Doctors classify neonatal seizures based on how they affect the body and what part of the brain is involved. The most common types include:
✔️ Subtle Seizures
Often hard to recognize, these involve small movements such as sucking motions, lip-smacking, or brief eye fixation. They make up 50% of all newborn seizures.
✔️ Clonic Seizures
Characterized by rhythmic jerking movements, usually affecting one side of the body. These account for about 25% of neonatal seizures.
✔️ Myoclonic Seizures
Involve quick, involuntary muscle jerks, often mistaken for normal newborn reflexes. These seizures are associated with severe brain injuries.
✔️ Tonic Seizures
Cause sudden muscle stiffness and may affect the baby’s ability to breathe. These are less common but can be very dangerous.
How Are Seizures Diagnosed?
Doctors use electroencephalograms (EEGs) to diagnose seizures in newborns. EEGs monitor electrical activity in the brain and can determine the location and severity of the issue. Other tests—such as MRIs, CT scans, and bloodwork—may also be used to assess underlying brain damage or metabolic conditions.
Early and accurate diagnosis is key to preventing further injury.
Failure to Prevent and Treat Seizures Is Medical Malpractice
When hospitals fail to monitor a baby properly, recognize signs of distress, or provide immediate medical intervention, they violate the standard of care—and families pay the price. A doctor’s failure to act can mean a lifetime of challenges for a child.
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we know that parents deserve answers when medical professionals fail them. If your child was diagnosed with seizures after birth, our team will thoroughly investigate whether medical mistakes played a role in their condition.
Your Child Deserves Justice—We Can Help
If your baby suffered seizures due to a birth injury, you are not alone. At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we fight for families facing catastrophic medical negligence. Our attorneys understand the emotional and financial toll of these injuries—and we are committed to securing the compensation your child needs for lifelong care.
- No upfront costs—We win, or you pay nothing.
- Trusted birth injury attorneys with a proven track record.
- A dedicated legal team that treats your family like our own.
Reach out to our dedicated legal team to learn more about your legal options.
