HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

WARNING: Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby)

Abusive head trauma is a head or neck injury caused by physical abuse. It happens when someone shakes a baby or hits a baby against something hard. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of abusive head trauma that occurs when someone loses control and shakes the baby back and forth. The back-and-forth movement of the baby’s head when shaken can cause bleeding and increased pressure on the brain. This happens because a baby’s neck muscles are not strong enough and their brain is too fragile to handle this type of “whiplash” motion. In fact, many shaken babies will die or have irreversible brain damage.

No matter how tired, upset, or angry you are when they cry: NEVER SHAKE YOUR BABY!

IF YOU GET FRUSTRATED If you feel like you can’t deal with your baby’s crying and you have met their basic needs (clean diaper, fed, proper clothes, gently rocked, held, etc.) then you need to stop, think, and reach out for help. There may be times when nothing you can do will stop the crying. This is normal. What you need to do • Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and count to 10 • Put the baby in their crib and leave the room • Ask a close friend, neighbor, or family member to take over for a while • Don’t pick the baby up again until you feel calm and in control • If you think your baby is sick, call their provider or take them to the hospital • DO NOT THROW OR SHAKE YOUR BABY NO MATTER WHAT

SIGNS THAT A BABY HAS BEEN SHAKEN • Irregular, difficult, or stopped breathing • Very fussy • Seizures or vomiting • Hard to feed • Hard to stay awake • No smiling or vocalization • Can’t focus or track movement with their eyes If anyone has violently shaken your baby out of frustration or anger, you must SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY! Don’t let fear, shame, or embarrassment keep you from doing the right thing and trying to save your baby’s life.

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88 Your Guide to Labor and Birth