Understanding the Difference between Brain Injuries and Birth Defects

If a newborn is not considered to be “normal,” one of the first tasks for the medical team will be diagnosing the problem. Sometimes, the issue is not identified until days or weeks after the baby’s birth. The cause of the medical condition is generally either a birth defect or a brain injury. If you have a baby with a medical problem, you should understand the difference between the two.

Defining Birth Defects

A birth defect is something that happens naturally. There may be issues with the mother’s health or biology, or it may be another medical condition that develops in the baby while it is still in the womb. It may be caused by a genetic problem or because of the mother’s actions. For instance, drinking alcohol or smoking has been shown to cause birth defects. Even prescription medications can lead to birth defects.

Some common birth defects include the following:

There are many others as well, some of them rare. Many times, birth defects can be detected before the child is born through special testing. Some of these defects can be corrected while others will be dealt with throughout the child’s life.

Defining Birth Injuries

A birth injury usually occurs during the delivery. It usually happens because of a medical error, which could have been prevented. Some of them occur from negligence on the part of the medical staff while others happen due to an action the doctor takes.

Two of the most common causes of birth injuries include the following:

Some of the most common birth injuries include: