One of the worst and sometimes subtlest birth injury is Infant Brain Damage. Brain damage, although rare, can result to some degree from improper care during the entire delivery process. The child being deprived of oxygen during birth, called asphyxiation or hypoxia, is a leading cause of infant brain damage, although there are many other causes. It is also one that you may not be told about, as it is not always diagnosed right away. If your child develops problems with oxygen while still in the womb, it is a medical emergency, which may lead to the need for immediate and emergency delivery. Time is very important in this case, as permanent brain damage begins after only 4 minutes without oxygen, and death can occur as soon as 4 to 6 minutes later. Brain damage is a serious health concern, and even when mild, and can lead to consequences that last throughout your child’s life. This is why the child’s oxygen and heart rate should be continually monitored while you are in labor.
While it may seem that it would be obvious if your child suffered any degree of brain damage, it is not. Brain damage can occur from a lack of proper oxygen even for a short time, and can occur in varying degrees, some of which are not immediately recognizable. Because your newborn cannot talk and walk when he goes home, it is important to make sure your child meets the developmental milestones of a child his age at monthly intervals. 
