Your baby may exhibit symptoms of shivering throughout the upper-body after a difficult birth. Symptoms of shivering may be a sign of infant shudder syndrome, a condition that may be a precursor to more serious conditions like seizures and cerebral palsy.
Shuddering attacks caused by infant shudder syndrome may occur multiple times, even more than 100 times a day for certain infants. This condition may be distressing for parents who are wary of life-changing birth defects happening to their child.
The main cause of infant shudder syndrome may be a mishandled birth from your doctor. If you suspect that medical malpractice caused the birth injury of your child, do not hesitate to find legal representation.
LegalASAP has partnered with 500+ law firms across the United States who have handled cases like these in the past. Our network is dedicated to finding you a local birth injury attorney who can represent you against the hospitals that hurt your child.
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Warning Signs of Infant Shudder Syndrome
Doctors have not yet discovered the cause of infant shudder syndrome. Shuddering attacks have been known to reduce over time as the baby ages, so some doctors think shuddering is a natural part of infancy that does not require medical attention.
If your baby suffers from seizures, they will require immediate medical attention. Shuddering and seizures may be a sign of mental trauma like cerebral palsy caused by a birth injury.
Make sure to record instances of infant shudder syndrome so your doctor can accurately assess your baby’s condition. Shaking does not leave the infant silent and can socialize after shuddering for a certain amount of time. Seizures will leave the baby tired and unresponsive, shaking for a minute or more in time.
How to Respond to Infant Shudder Syndrome
When your infant is shuddering, it may be a sign that they have low blood sugar or they are stressed. Feeding them may quell their shivers. Calm your baby to reduce adrenaline levels in your child.
Eating or drinking foods with caffeine may influence your child’s heart rate as slight traces have been found inside breast milk after consuming caffeinated foods.
Causes of Seizures in Infants
If your baby suffered seizures after a difficult birth, make sure to contact a trusted doctor and check for any traumatic brain injuries. Several brain conditions can cause seizures in your baby, up to and including:
- Infection
- Brain injury
- Fever
- Head injury
- Epilepsy
- Neurological disease
Seizures after a difficult birth may be a sign that your baby suffered head trauma caused by negligence from medical staff. Nurses may have dropped your baby after delivery. Doctors may have incorrectly used assisted delivery tools like forceps and caused a head injury.
Epilepsy and traumatic brain injury are strongly linked as head trauma strongly affects how a child’s brain grows later in life. If you suspect negligence has caused seizures in your child, find legal protection with a birth injury attorney to compensate for your damages.
Long-Term Effects of Infant Shudder Syndrome
The long-term effects of infant shudder syndrome diminish over time as less shivering incidents occur. Seizures are a more worrying issue as children are susceptible to neurological conditions like autism as they grow up. Early treatment can reduce risk of these conditions in the future, so see a pediatrician for further medical support.
Sue For Damages With a Local Birth Injury Attorney
If you suspect that your child’s infant shudder syndrome was caused by a birth injury during delivery, you may have a case for medical malpractice. If you need legal representation, LegalASAP has 500+ law firms in our network ready to assist you with your claim.
Our network of attorneys spread throughout every state in the US, so you have no trouble finding a lawyer who knows your state’s laws. Our attorneys typically work under contingency fees, so you pay nothing out-of-pocket until you win your case and get your settlement in the mail. Make sure to submit your claim before the statute of limitations ends so your claim will be valid.
To see if you qualify for a birth injury claim, complete the evaluation below or call 888-927-3080 for further assistance:
Jan Reburiano is a content writer and SEO specialist for law firms focusing on personal injury, disability, employment law, among other practices. He has written and edited numerous articles and created commercial spots for broadcasters that you can find in his LinkedIn. Jan currently lives in Los Angeles, California while writing for clients from around the United States.
