Traumatic Brain Injury in Pregnant Women May Affect Development of Baby:
When you’re expecting a baby, one of your top priorities is typically the safety of your unborn child. If you’re pregnant and involved in a bad fall, a car accident, or even intimate partner violence, it can sometimes lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Sixty to 90 percent of intimate partner violence attacks directed at someone’s head, neck, or face, also result in a TBI.Now, new research from the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, in collaboration with Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, shows that a TBI in a pregnant woman can sometimes harm the development of her unborn child.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A TBI is an injury affecting how the brain works caused by a blow, bump, jolt to the head, or a penetrating injury like a gunshot. A TBI can range from a mild concussion to a severe TBI that can lead to long-term health problems affecting almost every aspect of life. TBIs are most often caused by falls, motor vehicle crashes, assaults, and firearm injuries.
TBI in Pregnant Women
Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, in collaboration with Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, found evidence that a mother’s TBI during pregnancy can change the baby’s brain development. These children later show higher rates of depression, anxiety, and an altered immune response, with more of these effects appearing in male offspring.Lead researcher, Jonathan Lifshitz, Ph.D., professor of Child Health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, reported,We’re really concerned that the effects of brain injury in a pregnant individual can travel through the blood stream and disrupt the development of the unborn child. This study shows that gravida TBI in mothers can have transgenerational effects on children, where more research can determine how the trimester of pregnancy, genetics and environmental conditions affect risk.Future research will focus on discovering the extent TBI affects babies and children to aid medical professionals in treating and supporting these children.If you or someone you love suffered a TBI while pregnant, and your doctor believes they may suffer long-term effects, give the Madeksho Law Firm a call at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us through our online form. Your initial consultation is free, and you won’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
