Newborn Babies & Seizures

Recognizing a seizure in a newborn can be difficult. Even some experts have a hard time recognizing a seizure. Seizures are triggered by an abnormality in the brain, and in many cases doctors are unable to pinpoint a specific cause for the seizure.

Metabolic Disorders

• In newborns, seizures can result from metabolic disorders. Also, if the blood supply to the brain has been compromised before or during birth, seizures can occur.

Symptoms

• It can be frightening for parents that have a newborn that is experiencing seizures. When a baby is experiencing a seizure, their whole upper body may jerk and the baby’s heart rate may change.

Considerations

• According to the Epilepsy Foundation, premature babies are more prone to experiencing seizures than full term babies. Also, babies that have seizures soon after delivery are more prone to severe health problems than those who have seizures a bit later.

Genetic Disorders

• Newborns that have frequent and brief seizures during their first few days of life may have a rare genetic disorder. Benign familial neonatal convulsions are the medical name used to describe the disorder. The disorder is caused by a spontaneous mutation in the baby’s DNA.

Treatment

• Newborns that experience seizures are often treated with anticonvulsant medication. Some of the most common medicines administered to newborns include Phenobarbital, phenytoin, lorazepam and diazepam.