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This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.

Last Modified: July 2, 2025

Types of Birth Injuries

The range of birth injuries is very large and includes both mild and severe injuries and complications.

A list of some types of birth injuries is below.

Some of these birth injuries, such as brachial plexus injuries or a fractured clavicle, are often correctable or heal on their own within a newborn’s first few months of life. Other injuries, such as a spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or brain damage, can cause permanent and severe impairments for a child through the course of his or her life. In very serious cases, a birth injury may result in death.

Causes of Birth Injuries

As mentioned above, some birth injuries are avoidable and can be prevented with diligent prenatal care and a physician’s safe practices during childbirth. A complicated delivery may increase the risk of birth injury. For example, risk of a birth injury may be higher when the baby is of a large birth weight, when the labor is prolonged, when an epidural is used or when medications to induce labor are given.

In other cases, a birth injury may be caused by a physician’s failure to diagnose and treat dangerous health conditions properly in a mother, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Low oxygen levels can be indicative of fetal hypoxia, a dangerous condition characterized by the fetus’s oxygen supply being cut off, which then can lead to brain damage.

Often, a birth injury is sustained during the actual birthing process. The use of forceps and vacuum extractors to remove a baby from the birthing canal have been linked to birth injuries. If shoulder dystocia occurs (the shoulder of the baby is caught in the birthing canal), a birth injury to the baby may occur, such as a brachial plexus injury, as a result of the physician tugging or twisting on the baby’s arm or head.

Who’s liable for my baby’s birth injury?

Keep in mind that not all birth injuries are the result of negligence. Use of forceps or other techniques to deliver a child may be necessary to avoid more serious harm. If you suspect that a doctor or other healthcare professional was negligent and caused your child’s injuries, work with birth injury attorneys in Pennsylvania to collect evidence. This might include medical records and other documentation, as well as medical expert testimony regarding the care provided by the physician. You must establish that the doctor did not follow an acceptable standard of care, negligence caused the injury, and you and the child suffered damages.

A lawsuit can help recover the compensation you need to ensure that your newborn gets the medical care and treatment he deserves. Each case is unique, so set up a consultation with an attorney to review the specifics of your case.

Cordisco & Saile LLC's Birth Injury Lawyers in Pennsylvania Can Help

At Cordisco & Saile LLC, our attorneys can help your family recover the compensation you need to provide any necessary care for a young child injured during the birthing process. To speak with one of our birth injury attorneys in Pennsylvania, call our offices today at 215-642-2335 or use our online contact form.

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