There is no precise definition of what constitutes a birth injury but many of the cases that we have handled over the years fall into the following categories of injuries that have been caused right around the time of birth:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Fetal Distress Due to Lack of Oxygen at Birth (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy)
• Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injuries (Neuroma, Rupture, Avulsion)
• Shoulder Dystocia
• Brain injury caused by improper use of Vacuum Extractors or Forceps
• Seizures
• Meconium Aspiration
• Excessive Bleeding

Please note that while many times these injuries are caused by something that occurred at birth, it may not be until many months or even years later that the child is diagnosed as suffering from one of these injuries. Oftentimes, parents come to us because their child is diagnosed as suffering from Cerebral Palsy and the parents never even knew that the child was deprived of oxygen at birth. It is not until we get the birth records and carefully examine them that we learn about the oxygen deprivation that occurred because of a delay in delivery.