Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in fetal brain damage. Diabetes causes overly large fetuses which the causes complications during delivery. Blood should be tested for elevated glucose around 24-28 weeks of gestation. A difficult delivery due to a large fetus in the birth canal can result in cerebral palsy or other anoxic injury to the baby's brain, brachial plexus syndrome, and other nerve damage such as Erb's Palsy among other problems. Vaginal bleeding during the pregnancy may be a sign of premature labor or a problem with the placenta.
Placental problems interrupt blood and oxygen supply to the fetus that can result in brain damage.
These latter situations are associated with cerebral palsy and mental retardation among other developmental problems. There are other problems during labor that can affect your baby. The use of Pitocin, a drug frequently used to stimulate labor by causing the uterus to contract, can deprive the fetus of oxygen. If this cannot be controlled medically by the doctor, the baby is born premature. Prematurity is a leading cause of brain and developmental impairment.