A Warning Sign Families Can’t Afford to Ignore
Seizures in a newborn baby are one of the most urgent red flags a parent can face. They are often subtle—more like a flutter or twitch than the dramatic convulsions we associate with older children or adults. Yet behind these quiet episodes, there may be something far more serious unfolding: a birth injury affecting your baby’s developing brain.
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we’ve walked with countless families whose lives were turned upside down by medical negligence during labor and delivery. When a seizure occurs, we don’t just ask “what happened?”—we ask “could this have been prevented?”
Understanding Neonatal Seizures
Neonatal seizures typically occur within the first 28 days of life—most commonly in the first week. Unlike adult seizures, they can appear as repetitive eye movements, lip-smacking, leg pedaling, stiffening of limbs, or even subtle pauses in breathing. These symptoms are often missed or misinterpreted by both caregivers and clinicians.
What’s crucial to understand is that seizures in newborns are usually not a standalone condition. They are almost always a sign that something is affecting the brain—commonly hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), traumatic injury from delivery, stroke, or infection. These underlying causes may stem from avoidable complications during the birthing process.
When Seizures Point to a Birth Injury
The most common reason a newborn has seizures is lack of oxygen during or immediately after birth. This can happen for many reasons—cord compression, uterine rupture, placental abruption, or the failure to perform a timely C-section when fetal distress is evident. The longer a baby's brain is deprived of oxygen, the greater the risk of long-term neurological harm.
In Oklahoma City and across the U.S., hospitals are required to follow standard monitoring protocols during labor. Fetal heart monitors, for example, should alert healthcare providers when oxygen levels drop. When medical teams fail to recognize or respond to warning signs, irreversible harm can follow—and newborn seizures are often the first signal of that damage.
Diagnosis and Treatment
When a baby displays signs of seizure activity, medical professionals should immediately order diagnostic imaging—typically an MRI or EEG—to evaluate brain function and structure. Quick intervention is critical. For cases involving oxygen deprivation, therapeutic hypothermia (a cooling treatment) can sometimes reduce the extent of brain injury if applied within six hours of birth.
Anticonvulsant medications may be used to manage the seizures, but they do not address the underlying cause. If HIE, stroke, or trauma is involved, the child may need long-term therapies, including physical therapy, speech support, and specialized education.
These treatments are not just costly—they’re lifelong. And if the root cause traces back to a preventable error, your child is entitled to more than medical intervention. They deserve justice.
How Medical Negligence May Be Involved
We have seen cases where vital signs were ignored, C-sections were delayed, or critical care protocols were breached—all resulting in permanent harm. In some instances, a lack of communication among the delivery team can lead to confusion during emergencies, with no one taking decisive action. These are not just mistakes. They are failures of responsibility.
As a law firm devoted exclusively to birth injury and medical malpractice cases, we work with top medical experts to uncover what went wrong—and why. Our investigations are thorough, and our goal is always the same: to hold healthcare providers accountable for errors that never should have happened.
Your Baby’s Future Matters—So Does Your Right to Answers
A seizure in your newborn is not just a medical event—it’s a moment that alters the course of your family’s life. The road ahead may involve uncertainty, intensive therapies, and advocacy in every form. At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we don’t just handle the legal side—we walk with you through every layer of the struggle.
We bring decades of experience to the courtroom and deep compassion to every consultation. Our mission is to help Oklahoma City families not only recover compensation for ongoing care, but also push for changes that prevent future harm to other children.
What You Can Expect from Us
We begin with a careful review of medical records, labor and delivery notes, fetal monitoring strips, and all related imaging. Our legal team coordinates with pediatric neurologists and neonatologists to assess what truly caused your baby’s seizures.
If there is evidence that negligence played a role, we build a case designed to secure compensation for your child’s past and future medical needs—including therapy, mobility aids, adaptive learning tools, and at-home care.
We know that no amount of money can erase the trauma, but we also know that financial stability and accountability bring power back to parents who’ve had so much taken from them.
Speak With Us—Confidentially, Compassionately, and Without Cost
If your newborn has experienced seizures, and you have even a shadow of doubt about how your delivery was handled, we invite you to reach out. There is no charge for a case evaluation, and every conversation is held in the strictest confidence.
You deserve answers. Your baby deserves the best future possible. And Oklahoma City deserves a healthcare system where this kind of harm is no longer swept under the rug.
