Although there are many symptoms of birth injury in newborns, the more common signs include: Seizures, Poor or lacking reflexes, Light sensitivity, The child’s muscles feel like they’re excessively stiff or loose (floppy baby syndrome), Lacking facial expressions caused by injury to the facial nerves, Baby’s hand is curled and seems shaped like a claw, The child develops hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy caused by inadequate oxygen levels, Excessive grunting, fussiness, or high-pitched crying, Weak heartbeat or pulse rate, Fractured skull, The child struggles to eat, suckle, or swallow, The child drools a lot.