Birth Injuries in Connecticut: What New Parents Need to Know About Medical Malpractice Claims

The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion, but when a preventable birth injury occurs, it can leave families facing uncertainty, emotional distress, and significant medical expenses. While some birth injuries are unavoidable, others result from medical negligence, such as a failure to monitor fetal distress, improper use of delivery tools, or delayed emergency interventions.

In Connecticut, parents may have legal options if a healthcare provider’s actions—or inaction—lead to harm during labor, delivery, or postnatal care. Understanding the legal framework for medical malpractice claims can help families seek the compensation they need for their child’s medical treatment, ongoing care, and future well-being.

Common Types of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries vary in severity, but many are the result of medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Below are some of the most common birth injuries that may lead to a medical malpractice claim.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition affecting movement and muscle coordination. It can be caused by oxygen deprivation during labor, improper use of forceps, or failure to perform a timely C-section.

Erb’s Palsy (Brachial Plexus Injury)

This condition occurs when the brachial plexus nerves are damaged, often due to excessive force during delivery. It can lead to weakness or paralysis in the affected arm.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

HIE is a type of brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the baby’s brain, often due to delayed C-sections or failure to monitor fetal distress.

Fractures and Physical Trauma

Improper delivery techniques, including the misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors, can lead to broken clavicles, skull fractures, or soft tissue injuries, causing pain and long-term complications.

Causes of Birth Injuries Due to Medical Negligence

Birth injuries can occur when medical professionals fail to follow proper procedures during pregnancy, labor, or postnatal care. While some complications are unavoidable, many injuries result from preventable medical errors.

Prenatal Negligence

Negligence during pregnancy can lead to complications that put both the baby and mother at risk. Failure to diagnose or manage maternal conditions such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or infections can contribute to serious birth injuries. Inadequate monitoring of fetal development may also result in undetected growth restrictions, improper positioning, or other complications that require medical intervention.

Labor and Delivery Errors

Mistakes during labor and delivery can have devastating consequences. A delayed or unnecessary refusal to perform a C-section can lead to prolonged oxygen deprivation, increasing the risk of brain damage or cerebral palsy. The improper use of delivery tools, such as forceps or vacuum extractors, may cause fractures, nerve injuries, or skull trauma. Additionally, failure to monitor fetal distress signals can delay crucial interventions, leading to serious birth complications.

Postnatal Care Failures

Newborns require careful monitoring in the hours and days after birth. When medical providers fail to recognize and treat jaundice, respiratory distress, or infections, a baby’s condition can worsen, sometimes resulting in long-term disabilities. Brain damage caused by untreated severe jaundice is an example of a preventable birth injury caused by negligent postnatal care.

Discuss Your Malpractice Claim with Slager Madry, LLC

When these medical mistakes result in harm, families may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek justice and financial compensation. Contact Slager Madry, LLC, to discuss your options.