Hammill 1

Alyson Hammill
E. Caruso
UWRT 1103
1 October 2015
Effects of Oxygen Deprivation Before/During Birth
Many people are aware that oxygen deprivation can cause injury. Studies have shown that
oxygen deprivation especially during or before birth can cause major damage to infants that last
their entire lives. Severe problems can occur and sometimes even death when not taken care of
properly.
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a phrase used to refer to when a babys
oxygen to the brain is cut off around the time they are born. HIE can result in death if the case is
severe, but ones who survive are at risk of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and developmental delays,
but the biggest risk is cerebral palsy (Even Mild Oxygen Deprivation at Birth Can Cause Birth
Injury). HIE is usually characterized by seizures and problems with consciousness. Acidemia in
the umbilical artery, organ failure, and an MRI showing patterns of cerebral injury are what are
used to determine if there is a low supply of oxygen or blood supply during birth (Brody). An
Magnetic resonance imaging is used to take pictures of organs and other things inside of the
body (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Babies who suffered from mild HIE showed
problems such as ADD and speech delays around 5 years old. Babies who suffered from mild to
moderate HIE proved to be at higher risk for bad memory, slow processing skills, and lower IQs
(Even Mild Oxygen Deprivation at Birth Can Cause Birth Injury).

Hammill 2
Babies who are born prematurely are more likely to be impaired by lack of oxygen. HIE
only occurs in about four of every one thousand full term births. Even being deprived of oxygen
within the first few minutes after birth can lead to long term problems. The Seattle Childrens
Hospital says that injury can happen in two stages; brain cell damage and reperfusion injury.
Brain cell damage happens in the first couple of minutes and is due to lack of blood flow and
oxygen. Reperfusion injury happens after blood flow and oxygen are restored and could last
between a range of a few days and a few weeks (Infant Brain Damage). Doctors use
therapeutic hypothermia to treat babies who suffer from moderate HIE. This entails cooling the
babys body down to about 32 to 34 degrees Celsius immediately after the baby is born. This
temperature is maintained for about 72 hours in attempt to reduce brain damage (Even Mild
Oxygen Deprivation at Birth Can Cause Birth Injury).
Cerebral palsy is used to describe a group of disabilities that affects a persons movement.
It is permanent and lasts throughout all of ones lifetime but it does not get worse over time. It
cannot be cured, but medical treatment can help the symptoms. Cerebral palsy affects ones
muscle tone, bodily movement, muscle control, reflexes, and balance. It can also cause vision
problems, hearing problems, speech impediments and epilepsy (What is Cerebral Palsy?).
Cerebral palsy causes ones muscles to involuntarily tighten up and relax which is called
spasticity. When the muscles tighten, they squeeze the bones which can cause them to bend and
hinder the growth of the bones. Spasticity can also cause joint deformities and dislocations which
can lead to early arthritis and other problems (Effects, Signs, & Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy).
There are eight signs to look for when trying to detect cerebral palsy. These signs are
muscle tone, movement coordination and control, reflexes, posture, balance, gross motor
function, fine motor function, and oral motor function (Signs and Symptoms). These signs are

Hammill 3
the key things to look for that are not just specific to cerebral palsy, but they are indicators that
one could be suffering from this condition. Muscle tone is how muscles work together to perform
movements of bones muscles. When the central nervous system in the brain is damaged, it
becomes difficult for the muscles to work like they are supposed to. Movement control and
coordination problems are displayed by jerking movements or trouble walking and performing
fluid movements. Reflexes are involuntary movements of the due to stimuli. Hyperreflexia is
when someone has overactive reflexes and twitches or spastically moves and this is present when
one has cerebral palsy. Abnormal posture such as one leg bending in and one leg bending out is
an indicator that one might have cerebral palsy. If a baby cannot sit up without using one or both
hands to balance, this is an effect of impaired gross motor function. Grasping small objects and
moving objects about is a sign of delayed fine motor function. Problems with swallowing,
breathing, or talking are signs of impaired oral motor function. Cerebral palsy causes involuntary
contractions of the throat as well as the rest of the body (Signs and Symptoms). Its very
important to be aware of these eight signs, especially for those whose child suffered from HIE
(Even Mild Oxygen Deprivation at Birth Can Cause Birth Injury).
All in all, there is no cure for cerebral palsy, but there are a number of things that can be
done to treat the symptoms. To start with, there is a team of medical professionals put together to
aid in the treatment of cerebral palsy. They include a pediatrician, a neurologist, a mental health
practitioner, an orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and an occupational
therapist (Cerebral Palsy Symptoms, Causes, Treatment How Is Cerebral Palsy Treated?).
They all work independently to help treat the patient. A physical therapist helps the child with
motor skills and the speech therapist helps the child with their speech and their verbal abilities.
The occupational therapist helps with the childs ability to do everyday tasks for themselves. The

Hammill 4
mental health practitioner is put in place to assist the child and his or her family through the
mental distress that one can go through when dealing with a disability like this.

Hammill 5
Works Cited
Brody, Jane. Brain Injury in Newborns Could Have Many Causes. HT Health. N.p., n.d. Web.
23 Sept. 2015.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms, Causes, Treatment How Is Cerebral Palsy Treated?
MedicineNet. MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
Effects, Signs, & Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. Ascent Childrens Health Services Effects Signs
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy Comments. N.p.,n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
Even Mild Oxygen Deprivation at Birth May Cause Birth Injury Morrow Kidman Tinker
Macey-Cushman, PLLC. Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC. N.p., n.d. 03
Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
Infant Brain Damage | Birth Injury Guide. Birth Injury Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
"Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
Signs and Symptoms. Cerebral Palsy.org N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015. What is Cerebral
Palsy? Cerebral Palsy Alliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.