Get Help Today from Our Chicago Birth Injury Attorneys

An estimated five out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States will suffer some type of injury during birth. Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality show that almost 157,700 injuries to babies and mothers in a recent year could possibly have been prevented.

When birth injuries occur, they range from mild to life-threatening. A doctor can easily treat some, while others could lead to lifelong medical conditions.

The most common injuries a baby sustains during birth include:
- Collarbone or clavicle fracture
- Brain damage from the restriction or disruption of oxygen
- Injury to the nerves in the neck and shoulder area, resulting in Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy
- Spinal cord injuries
- Injury to the facial nerve
- Cerebral palsy
- Perinatal asphyxia
- Bleeding under cranial bones
- Bruising or swelling of the head

Some injuries are unavoidable, but there are times when you may suspect that the injury could have been avoided if, for example, there was the improper use of forceps, failure to deliver the baby in a timely manner, or order a C-section at the appropriate time.

Possible physical and emotional damage during birth includes:
- Ruptured uterus
- Post-partum hemorrhaging
- Vaginal or anal tears
- Prolapsed uterus
- PND (post-natal depression) or PTSD (post-natal traumatic stress disorder)


When a woman gives birth, she puts her body through extreme trauma. Mothers are very resilient, however, and with today’s medical advances, serious injuries are rare. However, when an injury does occur, it’s natural to want to understand why this injury happened to you and whether it could have been prevented.

Parents often worry about the possibility of a birth injury leading to brain damage. Cerebral palsy could develop from an injury to the brain while the baby is still in the womb, during delivery, or shortly after birth. A lack of oxygen to the brain could also cause cerebral palsy.

Around 20 percent of children who suffered a brain injury during birth are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. It’s less common than most injuries that could happen. However, when it does occur, a parent is left with questions. Unfortunately, there are times when medical malpractice was the cause.