Do Babies With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Sleep a Lot?

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a birth injury that occurs when a baby’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and blood flow. HIE can cause a range of symptoms, including excessive sleepiness.
Babies often sleep a lot when they have mild HIE, according to the Child Neurology Foundation. In some cases, babies with moderate to severe HIE may be difficult to wake or show reduced responsiveness.
What Is HIE Birth Trauma?
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can occur before, during, or after childbirth. If a baby goes just 5 minutes without oxygen, it can cause permanent developmental delays.
HIE can range from mild, with subtle symptoms, to severe, causing life-altering complications. Depending on the severity of the birth injury, symptoms may include excessive sleepiness, seizures, or cerebral palsy (CP). In the most severe cases, HIE can be fatal.
The causes of HIE also vary greatly. Some causes involve risk factors related to the mother, like drug use or high blood pressure. Medical negligence can also play a role, like if the doctor fails to notice signs of fetal distress.
HIE is more common in premature babies, affecting up to 60% of pre-term births. In many cases, an HIE diagnosis can lead to developmental delays.
Other terms for HIE include birth asphyxia, perinatal asphyxia, and neonatal encephalopathy.
How Does HIE Affect a Baby’s Sleep?
Excessive sleep is among the many symptoms of HIE. This is particularly true in mild cases of HIE.
Due to their differing brain patterns, babies with HIE experience disrupted sleep and other sleep issues.
Since both the brain and muscle tone can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to sleep, damage or changes to these areas has a substantial effect on sleeping ability.
In one study, researchers surveyed parents of children with HIE and found that 89% were worried that their child had a sleep problem.
Sleep quality is known to affect other significant parts of a baby’s behavior and development. For example, in patients who suffer from seizures, they typically occur less frequently when sleep is well managed.
Similarly, poor sleep can negatively impact a baby’s health, worsening symptoms and delaying recovery.
Families play a key role in recognizing sleep problems and establishing healthy sleep habits. A child’s circadian rhythm (the internal body clock that regulates sleep and wake cycles) helps with sleep, but caregivers must maintain a consistent schedule to support proper rest.
“Consistency is king in the sleep world,” said Dr. Chris Carosella, a pediatric neurologist. “A regular wake up is the anchor which controls the whole day.”
Other Symptoms Common in Babies With HIE
While a baby with unpredictable sleep patterns can be challenging for any parent or caregiver, it’s mild compared to many other symptoms of HIE. Symptoms of HIE vary greatly depending on the severity of the birth injury and may not appear immediately after birth.
Mild symptoms include feeding problems, irregular sleep patterns, and hypertonia, which is stiff muscle tone. Moderate symptoms may include seizures and labored or abnormal breathing.
Between 25-75% of babies with moderate HIE will develop long-term disabilities.
Severe HIE can lead to life-threatening complications, including cardiovascular failure, respiratory distress, and an inability to respond to outside stimuli.
Cerebral Palsy and HIE
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that impacts movement, muscle control, and balance. Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood physical disability, and birth injuries like HIE can increase the risk of developing it.
HIE can cause brain damage due to a lack of oxygen, which may lead to cerebral palsy. Some HIE symptoms, like breathing difficulties, weak muscle tone, and seizures, may appear immediately.
However, cerebral palsy symptoms can show up later as a child misses developmental milestones. These may include muscle stiffness or floppiness, poor coordination, and difficulty with movement.
The severity of both conditions depends on the extent of brain damage. Early diagnosis and treatment can help manage symptoms and improve a child’s quality of life.
Understanding Birth Injury Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can be a factor in HIE and other birth injuries. This occurs when a doctor or health care provider makes a preventable mistake that causes harm.
Birth injury medical malpractice may involve:
- Delaying a necessary cesarean section (C-section)
- Failing to monitor fetal distress, like changes in heart rate
- Misusing delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors
Babies with HIE often need lifelong care, and the costs can be overwhelming. Many families pursue birth injury lawsuits to seek compensation for medical expenses, therapy, and long-term support.
Get Support From a Team of Experienced Nurses Today
If you’re a parent or caregiver of a child who suffered a birth injury, it’s important to know that help is available.
Even without an HIE diagnosis, our labor and delivery nurses can guide you through what may have happened and what to do next. Families of children with HIE may be able to seek compensation for their child’s care.
Get support by calling us at (855) 220-1101 or filling out our form today.