A new study suggests that night births are linked to increased risk of brain disorders such as encephalopathy, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The times of delivery of about two million neonates in California in a span of 14 years were recorded by the researchers. They associated the time of day with the occurrence of the said brain abnormalities, considering all other factors. The authors discovered that those born between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. were 22 percent more likely to develop cerebral palsy or other brain conditions than those born during the rest of the day.
The findings give support to past studies linking night births and adverse outcomes. Some of those studies identified medical staff errors in neonatal care as one of the major factors that ups the risk of brain dysfunction. But the new study looks at how neonatal encephalopathy develops and how it becomes a precursor to epilepsy or cerebral palsy. In cerebral palsy, brain damage occurs if the baby is not given enough oxygen before, during or after delivery. The baby experiences developmental delays and problems, notably the loss of motor functions. Children with cerebral palsy are also prone to seizures and cognitive impairment.
