Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury occurring when the brain is not getting the oxygen or blood flow needed to function correctly. HIE may happen between pregnancy, labor, delivery, or once the baby is born. Being starved of oxygen or blood flow can have a detrimental impact on the baby’s brain.
It is possible that children who experience HIE may avoid long-term consequences. Others are mildly affected, while others suffer more moderately. Some experience far more serious outcomes that end in long-term disabilities.
Brain injuries due to HIE can result in cognitive impairments such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy. The full extent of the effects of HIE becomes more evident as the baby grows and changes. It is possible to miss the signs of brain damage due to HIE until the children are five or six years old.