Understanding Birth Injuries
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 17
Up to 80% of moderate-to-severe birth injuries are preventable.
Sit with that for a moment.
It means that the overwhelming majority of birth injury cases aren't the result of fate or genetics—they are the result of human error. Not unavoidable tragedies; but breakdowns in care. In many of these moments, the warning signs were there—clear, documented, and urgent—but the response came too late or not at all.
If you believe something may have gone wrong during your baby’s birth, trust that instinct and ask questions. You may have options to help cover the cost of their care and long-term support.
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To understand what may have happened at birth, it helps to know one important distinction: not all birth conditions are caused the same way.
To understand what may have happened at birth, it helps to know one important distinction: not all birth conditions are caused the same way.
Some conditions are birth defects, which develop during pregnancy and are typically related to how a baby forms in the womb. These may be linked to genetics, environmental exposures (like alcohol or certain medications), or maternal health conditions and infections that form before the labor ever begins.
Birth injuries are different. They happen just before, during, or shortly after delivery—and are connected to how labor and delivery were managed. In many cases, birth injuries happen because warning signs were missed, critical decisions came too late, or known risks were not properly monitored or treated.
Common Medical Failures Linked to Preventable Birth Injuries
Lack of Oxygen (Birth Asphyxia)
When a baby doesn’t get enough oxygen—even briefly—it can lead to serious, lifelong harm, including a type of brain injury known as HIE (Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy).
Brain Injuries Damage to a baby’s brain can affect movement, learning, and development. In some cases, this leads to lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy (CP).
Physical Trauma During Delivery
Birth should be carefully managed. Injuries can occur during difficult deliveries—especially when a baby becomes stuck (such as in shoulder dystocia) or when delivery tools like forceps or vacuum devices are used improperly. These situations can lead to nerve damage (including brachial plexus injuries, or Erb’s palsy), fractures, or internal bleeding.
Failure to Treat Known Conditions
Some risks during pregnancy and delivery are well understood and require careful monitoring and timely treatment. This includes things like infections, high maternal blood sugar (gestational diabetes), or rising bilirubin levels after birth (jaundice). When these conditions aren’t properly managed, they can lead to serious—and often preventable—complications.
What to Do If Something Doesn’t Feel Right
If you’re reading this and starting to connect the dots, trust that instinct.
Birth injuries aren’t always obvious in the moment. In many cases, it takes time—new diagnoses, missed milestones, or unanswered questions—before families begin to wonder if something could have been handled differently.
You don’t need to have all the answers to take the next step.
Birth injury cases are complex. They often involve detailed medical records, timelines, and decisions made over the course of a pregnancy or in a matter of minutes during delivery. Understanding what happened requires a careful, experienced review—not just a quick opinion.
That’s why many families start with a case review—to get clarity on what actually happened.
A case review can help determine whether what happened was unavoidable—or whether there were missed opportunities to prevent harm. It can also help you understand what support may be available to help cover your child’s long-term care.
At Mama Bear Law, we offer free, no-obligation case reviews designed specifically for families navigating these questions.
No pressure. Just a chance to understand what happened.
Cases Families Like Yours Are Facing
These are stories from families who were once in the same place you might be now—trying to understand what really happened.
Delayed Intervention:
Noah, a newborn from Macon, Georgia, was delivered at 40 weeks after fetal distress and a declining heart rate were not addressed in time. The delay caused oxygen deprivation and resulted in a hypoxic brain injury.
Excessive Physical Force:
Ava, an 8-month-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was injured during a 39-week delivery when excessive traction was used after shoulder dystocia occurred. She suffered a fractured clavicle and brachial plexus injury.
Ignored Warning Signs:
Micah, a newborn from Richmond, Virginia, was born after signs of preterm labor were not properly evaluated or treated. He was delivered prematurely and required NICU care for complications related to the early birth.
Failure to Act Quickly:
Lila, a 2-year-old from Knoxville, Tennessee, was delivered at full term after abnormal fetal heart rate changes were not treated as an obstetric emergency. The delay resulted in oxygen deprivation and permanent neurologic injury.
Traumatic Delivery:
Ethan, a 6-week-old from Little Rock, Arkansas, was injured during a full-term delivery when excessive force was used during a complicated vaginal birth. He suffered a brachial plexus injury and arm fracture that required ongoing treatment.
*Names, locations, and certain identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
If you have even the smallest lingering thought that a mistake caused your child’s injury, trust that instinct. You deserve to ask questions—and a team that is as fiercely protective of your child’s future as you are.
When you’re ready, we’re here to help you understand what happened.
Ian pray for the baby every day Amen
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