Birth Injury Claims Solicitors

Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) occurs when a baby is not growing as expected during pregnancy. Negligence may arise where concerns are missed, growth is not appropriately monitored, or referrals for further assessment are delayed, increasing the risk of complications, stillbirth or neonatal injury.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication associated with high blood pressure and organ dysfunction. Negligence can occur when symptoms, test results or warning signs are not recognised, monitored or acted upon promptly, placing both mother and baby at risk of significant harm.

Reduced fetal movements can be an important indicator that a baby is not thriving in the womb. Negligence may arise where concerns raised by the mother are not taken seriously, appropriate investigations are not undertaken, or necessary intervention is delayed, resulting in avoidable injury or loss.

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery for both mother and baby. Negligence may occur where testing is not carried out when indicated, abnormal results are overlooked, or the condition is poorly managed, leading to avoidable birth injuries and neonatal complications.

Some pregnancies require input from specialist obstetric, fetal medicine or maternal medicine teams. Negligence can arise when referrals are delayed, overlooked or not acted upon appropriately, preventing timely investigation, monitoring or treatment of known risks.

Antenatal screening and ultrasound examinations are designed to identify certain abnormalities and conditions during pregnancy. Negligence may occur where abnormalities are missed, scans are misinterpreted, or significant findings are not communicated appropriately, depriving parents of important information, treatment options or birth planning opportunities.

These injuries can occur naturally, but negligence arises when they are missed, misdiagnosed or repaired incorrectly. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, around 6 in 100 first-time mothers experience a severe tear, but proper identification and treatment are essential to prevent long-term complications including incontinence and chronic pain.

Failure to diagnose or monitor pre-eclampsia can lead to life-threatening complications, including eclampsia, stroke and organ failure. Early detection and management are critical, and failures in monitoring can form the basis of a maternity negligence claim.

Negligence may occur when excessive bleeding is not recognised quickly or managed appropriately, leading to emergency surgery, blood transfusion or long-term harm. Delayed response to signs of haemorrhage is a recognised form of maternity negligence.

These can occur during labour or caesarean section and may involve incorrect dosing, failure to manage complications or inadequate monitoring of the patient’s response.

Caesarean sections are common procedures, but mistakes can occur when surgery is delayed, performed incorrectly, or followed by inadequate monitoring. In some cases, an emergency caesarean section is required to prevent harm to the mother or baby, and delays in recognising the need for delivery or carrying out the procedure can lead to avoidable injury. Errors such as organ damage, uncontrolled bleeding, infection, or failure to recognise complications can leave mothers facing long-term physical and emotional consequences.

A retained placenta requires prompt recognition and treatment. When healthcare professionals fail to identify retained tissue or delay necessary intervention, mothers may suffer severe pain, infection, haemorrhage or the need for further surgery.

Postnatal infections can develop when wounds, tears or surgical sites are not properly monitored or treated. Missed symptoms, delayed antibiotics or inadequate follow-up care can allow an infection to worsen, sometimes leading to sepsis or long-term health issues.

A missed ectopic pregnancy can rupture, causing internal bleeding, emergency surgery and long-term fertility issues. Delayed or missed diagnosis is a recognised form of gynaecological and maternity negligence.

Maternal collapse is a rare but serious obstetric emergency that can occur during pregnancy, labour or shortly after birth. Negligence may arise where warning signs are missed, treatment is delayed, or medical staff fail to respond appropriately, leading to avoidable injury, brain damage or loss of life.

Uterine rupture is a rare but serious maternity emergency, often requiring immediate intervention. Negligence may occur where warning signs are missed or treatment is delayed, placing both mother and baby at risk of catastrophic injury.

Following childbirth, surgical repair may be required for severe tears, episiotomies or other birth-related injuries. Negligence can occur where repairs are performed incorrectly, complications are not identified, or symptoms are dismissed, resulting in ongoing pain, incontinence, infection or the need for further surgery.

Bladder injuries can occur during childbirth or caesarean section procedures. Delays in recognising damage, failures to investigate symptoms, or inadequate surgical repair can lead to infection, urinary problems, pain and long-term complications affecting daily life.

Bowel injuries may arise during caesarean sections, complex deliveries or surgical procedures following birth. Negligence may occur where an injury is caused unnecessarily, missed during surgery, or diagnosed too late, leading to infection, sepsis, further operations and significant long-term health consequences.

Maternal sepsis is a serious complication that can develop from untreated infections during pregnancy or after childbirth. Negligence may occur when symptoms are not recognised, concerns are not properly investigated, or antibiotics and emergency treatment are delayed, allowing the condition to progress and cause life-changing injury or death.

Some mothers experience severe psychological harm following a traumatic pregnancy, labour or birth. Negligence may contribute where complications are poorly managed, concerns are dismissed, communication is inadequate, or avoidable injuries occur. The consequences can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, fear of future pregnancy and difficulties bonding with a baby. Psychological injuries are real, serious and increasingly recognised in maternity negligence claims, whether they occur alongside physical injury or as a result of the birth experience itself.

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurological condition affecting movement, coordination and muscle control. While not all cases are caused by medical negligence, some arise from avoidable brain injuries sustained during pregnancy, labour or delivery, particularly where a baby experiences prolonged oxygen deprivation. Birth injury claims involving cerebral palsy are among the most complex and highest-value medical negligence cases, often reflecting the significant care, therapy, equipment and accommodation needs that may arise throughout a child’s life.

Damage to the brachial plexus nerves can occur when excessive force or incorrect technique is used during delivery, particularly in shoulder dystocia. This can lead to weakness, loss of movement or paralysis in one arm.

Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a form of brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to a baby’s brain before, during or shortly after birth. In severe cases, HIE can lead to cerebral palsy, epilepsy, developmental delay, learning difficulties and lifelong care needs. Negligence may occur where signs of foetal distress are missed, delivery is delayed, CTG monitoring is misinterpreted, or concerns are not escalated appropriately.

Failure to monitor a baby’s heart rate during labour is one of the most common causes of birth injury claims. Abnormal CTG traces can indicate that a baby is in distress and may require urgent intervention. Where warning signs are missed or not acted upon promptly, avoidable brain injury can occur.

Meconium aspiration syndrome

Where a baby inhales meconium before or during birth, breathing difficulties and oxygen deprivation can occur. Negligence may arise where signs of foetal distress are missed, labour is not appropriately monitored, or delivery is delayed despite indicators that urgent intervention is required.

Umbilical cord prolapse

Umbilical cord prolapse is an obstetric emergency that can significantly reduce a baby’s oxygen supply. Delays in recognising the condition or carrying out emergency delivery can result in serious brain injury, HIE or, in the most severe cases, stillbirth.

Some babies require therapeutic cooling treatment shortly after birth to reduce the severity of brain injury. If your baby’s case has been referred to the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations Special Health Authority (MNSI) or NHS Resolution’s Early Notification Scheme (ENS), it is advisable to seek independent specialist advice, as these referrals are often associated with concerns about the care provided.

These can occur during assisted deliveries (forceps or ventouse) when instruments are used incorrectly or with excessive force.

Intracranial haemorrhage occurs when bleeding develops inside a newborn’s skull, often due to trauma or avoidable complications during labour. This can place significant pressure on a baby’s brain, leading to long-term developmental, cognitive or physical challenges. In many cases it is linked to delays in responding to foetal distress, improper use of forceps or ventouse, or failures to manage high-risk pregnancies appropriately.

Avoidable brain injury at birth can lead to long-term developmental, cognitive or behavioural difficulties that may not become apparent until months or years later. If your child has been diagnosed with a condition you suspect may be connected to their birth or early care, our team can help you understand whether those concerns may amount to medical negligence.

Some conditions may only become apparent as a child develops, while others arise from infections or complications that were not recognised and treated appropriately during the neonatal period. These include:

• Meningitis: when fever, poor feeding or unusual drowsiness are missed or dismissed, the infection can progress rapidly, leading to brain injury, hearing loss or developmental difficulties.
• Kernicterus: a preventable form of brain damage caused by untreated or poorly managed jaundice.
• Group B Strep (GBS) infections: rapid-onset infections in newborns that can lead to sepsis, meningitis and serious long-term complications if risk factors are not identified and treated promptly.
• Neonatal sepsis: a serious infection which can develop rapidly when signs of illness are not recognised or acted upon. Delays in diagnosis or treatment may result in organ damage, brain injury or death.
• Neonatal stroke: often unnoticed during the newborn period and only identified later when a child develops movement, coordination or developmental difficulties.

Negligent monitoring, delayed intervention, or missed signs of infection or foetal distress can tragically lead to stillbirth or the death of a newborn. If you believe inadequate care contributed to the loss of your baby, our team can help you understand whether you may have grounds for a claim.