Signs of Newborn Brain Damage

When your baby comes home, you watch everything: how they move, how they feed, and how they respond to your voice. It's natural to notice small things and wonder what they mean.

But it may be time to ask harder questions when those things start to add up—stiff limbs, weak feeding, lack of eye contact. Keep reading. This guide will explain the signs of newborn brain damage and what steps you can take if you feel something isn't right.

Your instincts matter. Let's take a closer look at what they may be telling you.

Pierce Skrabanek helps families pursue justice after preventable newborn brain damage. For a free case review, contact us at (832) 690-7000 or online.

What May Cause Brain Damage at Birth

A safe delivery depends on timely decisions and careful monitoring. When doctors miss warning signs or delay treatment, newborns can suffer injuries with lasting effects.

Brain damage in newborns is often linked to one or more of the following:

• Oxygen loss before or during delivery,
• Delayed C-section despite signs of fetal distress,
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum devices,
• Umbilical cord or placenta issues that block blood flow,
• Infections during pregnancy that were not treated, or
• Jaundice that went untreated after birth.

Each of these can limit the brain's access to oxygen, nutrients, or protection when it matters most. Decisions made (or not made) during labor and the early hours of life can have lasting effects on a child's motor function, cognitive development, and overall health.

Parents don't always realize something is wrong right away. As physical and behavioral signs emerge, many parents begin to examine how their labor and delivery were handled. That review can be key to understanding what might have gone wrong and why.

Early Symptoms Parents May Notice

Babies give us signals long before they can speak. Their movements, feeding patterns, and behaviors are often the first ways they communicate that something isn't quite right.

Many parents who later receive a diagnosis of a birth-related brain injury can trace their concerns back to early moments during feeding, sleep, or daily routines.

Here are brain damage in newborns symptoms that parents often notice in the first weeks or months:

Stiff or Floppy Body Movement

A baby's tone should feel balanced. When they consistently seem rigid or too limp to hold their head or limbs with any strength, this may signal reduced control between the brain and the body.

Feeding Struggles

Uneven sucking, resistance to bottles or nursing, coughing, back-arching, and long feedings without steady weight gain can indicate trouble with motor coordination during feeding.

Poor Eye Contact or Visual Engagement

Most babies begin tracking faces and lights by just a few weeks old. If those early visual responses are delayed or missing, it may indicate a neurological concern.

Seizure-Like Movements

Not all seizures are dramatic. Look for small, repetitive motions that don't seem voluntary—lip smacking, eye fluttering, twitching limbs, or long stretches of staring without reaction.

Trouble Waking or Staying Asleep

A baby who is persistently drowsy, quiet, or detached may be showing more than a personal sleep pattern. Excessive wakefulness and inconsolable crying can also signal discomfort tied to early brain injury.

Unusual Reflexes

Built-in reflexes like rooting, grasping, and the Moro response help show how a baby's nervous system is working. If these reflexes are missing, asymmetrical, or unusually strong or weak, bring that to your pediatrician's attention.

Even one of these brain damage in newborns symptoms may be cause for concern, especially when they continue over time. If these patterns feel familiar, trust what you're seeing.

Concern often turns into questions as families ask what happened during labor and whether someone could have prevented it.

At Pierce Skrabanek, we help parents look deeper. If evidence shows that a preventable birth injury caused harm, we pursue legal action aimed at one thing: securing the lifetime care and resources your child will need. Call us at (832) 690-7000 or schedule a free consultation online.

How to Tell if a Newborn Has Brain Damage

As infants begin to roll over, sit up, crawl, and interact with the world around them, delayed or unequal progress can sometimes reveal underlying concerns. Common warning signs of newborn brain damage are:

• Lack of steady head control by 3 to 4 months;
• Clenched fists or curled toes that do not loosen with time;
• Weakness or limited movement on one side of the body;
• No babbling, cooing, or vocal responses by 6 months;
• Eyes that do not follow moving objects or people;
• Trouble grasping toys or bringing hands together in a coordinated way; or
• Delays in rolling over, crawling, or pulling up to stand.

Some children may also show clubbing of the hands or feet, or scissor-like crossing of the legs when lifted. These movements may result from increased muscle tone, often reflecting early injury to the brain's motor regions.

While many of these signs are later found in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy or other developmental disorders, they can also appear before any formal diagnosis has been made, particularly in the first year of life.

How Medical Teams Evaluate Brain Injury in a Newborn

A newborn can appear perfectly healthy at birth but still show signs of brain injury within the first days or weeks. When medical staff miss or dismiss those early signs—such as weak muscle tone, lack of reflexes, or difficulty feeding—they can delay critical treatment and support.

If brain injury is suspected, doctors may use several tools to help make a diagnosis:

• MRI or CT scans. These imaging tests can reveal physical injuries to the brain, such as bleeding, swelling, or areas affected by a lack of oxygen.
• Apgar score reviews. Low Apgar scores right after birth may indicate problems with breathing, muscle tone, heart rate, or responsiveness—potential early indicators of injury.
• Neurological exams. Physicians assess reflexes, muscle tone, and how the baby responds to light, sound, or touch. Asymmetry or absence of response may raise concerns.
• Developmental evaluations. Infant specialists track motor skills, speech development, and emotional engagement over time to detect patterns of delay.

Why Your Observations Matter

As a parent, you see things no one else can. You're there for every feeding, every movement, every response. If your child doesn't seem to be reaching milestones or you notice changes, speak with your pediatrician right away. The sooner parents raise these concerns, the more proactive the medical team can be by ordering evaluations, referring a specialist, or starting early intervention.

Checklist: Early Signs of Possible Brain Injury in Infants

If you're tracking your baby's development, this list can help you recognize signs that may deserve a closer look. Some symptoms of brain injury or developmental delay can present gradually, often before a formal diagnosis is made.

In the First 2 Months

• Shows floppy or stiff arms and legs, which may signal muscle tone or movement issues.
• Has difficulty sucking, feeding, or swallowing—potential signs of poor coordination or weak reflexes.
• Seems unusually quiet, sluggish, or hard to wake; low responsiveness could indicate a medical concern.
• Displays of jerky, repeated movements or unusual eye fluttering may resemble early seizures.
• Lacks a startle (Moro) or rooting reflex, suggesting possible neurological involvement.
• Doesn't react to sounds or turn toward familiar voices, which may point to hearing or sensory delays.

From 3 to 12 Months

• Misses milestones like rolling over, sitting, crawling, or pulling up—potential signs of developmental delays.
• Fails to visually track people or objects, hinting at possible vision or brain processing issues.
• Holds muscles tightly or maintains odd postures, such as clenched fists, scissoring legs, or arching the back.
• Favors one side of the body by reaching, turning, or scooting in only one direction.
• Doesn't smile, babble, or engage socially during play or daily interaction.
• Struggles to grasp toys or bring hands together due to possible coordination problems.

When to Share Your Concerns

Not every delay means something is wrong, but if you notice one or more of these signs, discuss them with your child's doctor. You don't need a diagnosis to ask questions. Trust your instincts, and don't wait to speak up.

You know your child's rhythms and behaviors better than anyone else. If something feels off, you're not overreacting by asking for answers.

What May Have Happened During Delivery

When early signs of a brain injury begin to appear, or a diagnosis is made, many parents naturally start to revisit what happened during labor and delivery. It's common to wonder whether something went wrong and why no one mentioned it at the time.

Some families discover much later that their care team failed to perform critical monitoring.

In other cases, medical records show signs of fetal distress, but providers didn't take timely action. These situations raise valid questions—ones every parent deserves answers to.

Sometimes, a safer delivery was possible. Sometimes, the care team failed to intervene when it mattered most.

Signs That Medical Care May Have Fallen Short

Medical teams must follow established standards when caring for mothers and babies. When they fail to meet those standards, a newborn may face serious health challenges that last a lifetime.

Our legal team investigates whether doctors and nurses acted appropriately. That includes reviewing medical records, delivery notes, fetal heart rate strips, and communication among providers. When avoidable errors are found, we step in to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Support a Birth Injury Claim May Provide

Parents often ask what they're allowed to pursue through a legal case. In birth injury matters involving brain damage or oxygen deprivation during delivery, a case may help cover the following:

• Medical bills for neonatal intensive care, testing, and hospital stays;
• Long-term therapies such as physical, speech, or occupational therapy;
• Home accessibility adjustments, including ramps or mobility-friendly spaces;
• Reliable transportation for medical appointments or out-of-state specialists;
• The emotional toll of medical negligence; and
• Future care needs for education, equipment, or in-home support.

No family prepares for the unexpected reality of caring for a child with complex needs. This type of injury can affect every part of life. A legal claim can relieve financial strain and allow families to focus on what truly matters: supporting their child's progress and well-being.

If you're questioning what happened during delivery, you're not being paranoid or overly cautious. You're being a parent. And we're here to listen.

Turn to Pierce Skrabanek for Legal Help After a Birth-Related Brain Injury

It's never easy to go from trusting your medical team to wondering if something went wrong during your child's birth. But if you've recently learned that your newborn has signs of brain damage or you've noticed developmental delays and started asking questions, you are not alone.

At Pierce Skrabanek, we have spent over 30 years helping families uncover the truth behind their child's injury. Many of the parents we represent didn't get clear answers at the hospital. Some parents were told everything went as expected. Only later did they learn that providers missed clear signs of newborn brain damage—or waited too long to act.

If you believe your child's brain injury may have been the result of medical negligence during labor or delivery, we're here to help. Our team works with leading medical experts to investigate what happened and we fight for the answers and support your family deserves.

There is no cost to speak with us. Call (832) 690-7000 for a confidential case review today.