How Do Birth Injuries Happen?

The likelihood of an injury happening during or after birth increases under the following circumstances:

• If the baby is too large for the mother’s pelvis
• If the baby’s positioning toward the birth canal is incorrect, such as feet first
• If the doctor uses forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery
• If the baby is born prematurely (before 37 weeks)
• If the doctor induces labor with certain drugs, such as Cytotec or Pitocin
• If cesarean section delivery is necessary, but gets delayed or not performed at all
• If the doctor fails to diagnose medical conditions in the baby or mother
• If the doctor doesn’t identify and respond to any fetal distress during labor

While there are many possible things that can go wrong during birth, standard procedures and quality care will usually prevent any injuries. When injuries do occur, it’s important to understand what went wrong and why.