These blood vessels are especially fragile in premature infants.
Most intraventricular hemorrhages occur in the first week of life.
They seldom occur after the first week. The scan is done at the bedside and does not bother the baby. Ultrasounds are done every few days for the first week and then as needed. Some very fragile blood vessels surround the ventricles of the brain. The blood vessels are very underdeveloped in the very young infant.