IVH and the Preterm Brain

This session on Brain Health in the Preterm Newborn will focus on the topic of Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH). IVH refers to bleeding in or around the ventricles, normal fluid-filled spaces, of the brain, and is a common occurrence in babies born early.  The diagnosis of IVH in the baby often raises several questions for parents: What is it? Why did it happen? What does it mean for my child’s future?  In this session, we will describe what IVH is and why it happens. We will also address how health care providers assess the severity of IVH. To consider IVH in context, we will briefly describe other brain injuries that occur in babies born preterm.  Finally, we will discuss what IVH means and does not mean, for the child.