Cerebral palsy can turn a joyful beginning into a lifetime of uncertainty. For many parents, the diagnosis brings a wave of questions. Did something go wrong during labor? Was help delayed? Could it have been prevented?
Sometimes, the truth lies in what happened during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. A doctor’s mistake, like missing a warning sign or delaying care, may have caused harm that should never have happened.
Understanding how and why this occurs can help you make sense of the diagnosis and protect your child’s future. At Beam Legal Team, our experienced Chicago cerebral palsy lawyers can investigate what went wrong and pursue financial support for your family.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong condition caused by an injury to a baby’s brain, usually before, during, or just after birth. It affects how the brain controls movement and muscle function.
Some children are diagnosed shortly after birth. For others, the signs appear more gradually, often by age two, sometimes later. The condition affects each child differently, depending on the type and severity of the brain injury.
Cerebral palsy can lead to:
- Trouble with walking or coordination
- Muscle stiffness or floppiness
- Delays with sitting, crawling, or speaking
- Seizures (epilepsy) or feeding issues
- The need for lifelong care or therapy
The CDC estimates that about one in 345 children in the U.S. lives with this condition. Sometimes, it results from a preventable injury during labor or delivery. The damage can be permanent when a baby loses oxygen or a medical provider delays action.
How Preventable Medical Mistakes Cause Cerebral Palsy
The connection between cerebral palsy and medical negligence often involves delayed action or the wrong response during critical moments in labor and delivery.
Here are some of the medical errors that can result in CP:
Failure To Monitor Fetal Distress
Doctors and nurses rely on fetal heart rate monitors to track babies’ health during labor. Certain patterns can signal a baby is in distress and may need to be delivered quickly.
Warning signs of fetal complications may include:
- Abnormal heart rate patterns
- Reduced fetal movement
- Meconium in the amniotic fluid
- Signs of placental problems
When these indicators are missed or dismissed, oxygen deprivation (known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE) can occur. Studies show that CP is diagnosed more often in children with mild HIE, at a rate over 21 times higher than in children without it.
Improper Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extraction
In some deliveries, forceps or vacuum extractors may help guide the baby through the birth canal. However, these tools come with serious risks when not used carefully.
Mistakes can include:
- Applying too much pressure to the baby’s head
- Using the tools when the baby is in the wrong position
- Failing to discontinue use when complications arise
Misuse can result in skull fractures, brain bleeds, or nerve damage, each of which increases the likelihood of permanent and irreversible brain injury and the development of CP.
One study found that children delivered with vacuum assistance were 2.2 times more likely to have motor skill delays and were more often diagnosed with developmental conditions.
Delayed Decision to Perform a Cesarean Section
When complications occur during childbirth, an emergency cesarean section is often the safest course of action. Prolonged labor, a breech baby, or signs of fetal distress usually require a quick decision and immediate delivery.
Delays in ordering or performing a C-section may occur due to:
- Misjudging the seriousness of fetal distress
- Waiting too long to see if labor progresses naturally
- Poor communication between staff
Even a brief delay can have devastating consequences. When a baby is deprived of oxygen, every minute matters. A 2024 study found that delays occurred in 94.5% of emergency C-sections, putting newborns at seven times greater risk of death and nearly ten times more likely to require intensive medical care.
The longer doctors wait to deliver a baby in distress, the greater the risk of lasting harm.
When Negligence Breaches the Standard of Care
Doctors, nurses, and hospitals are expected to follow well-established medical standards during pregnancy and delivery. When those expectations aren’t met, and a baby is harmed as a result, it may be considered a breach of the standard of care.
This means the provider didn’t act as a reasonably careful medical professional would have in the same situation.
In birth injury cases, medical malpractice can include situations like:
- Ignoring clear signs of fetal distress or failing to monitor the baby
- Choosing improper tools or using them incorrectly
- Waiting too long to perform a C-section despite clinical indicators
If a doctor’s actions or failure to act fall outside of what is considered reasonable and safe, and that decision results in injury, families have the right to pursue legal action.
When to Seek Legal Advice
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you’re left wondering what went wrong during their birth, your questions are valid, and they deserve answers.
Trust your instincts if something didn’t feel right during labor or delivery. Speaking with a qualified attorney can help you understand what happened and whether it could have been prevented.
Beam Legal Team helps families take action when medical negligence results in preventable harm. Our experienced Chicago cerebral palsy lawyers can:
- Review medical records to identify possible errors or delays
- Consult with medical experts to assess the standard of care
- Advise whether a birth injury claim has legal grounds
- Pursue compensation for support therapy, home care, and lifelong needs
Pursuing legal action is more than holding someone accountable; it’s about fighting for your child’s future. Our compassionate birth injury team offers the experience, support, and dedication families need to secure the resources that make quality, lifelong care possible.
Struggling With a CP Diagnosis After Birth? Let Beam Legal Team Help You Find Answers
If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a difficult or delayed delivery, you may still be trying to make sense of it all. You deserve clear answers, and you don’t have to search alone.
A birth injury attorney at Beam Legal Team can help you understand your rights and find out if medical negligence contributed to your child’s condition.
With decades of experience handling complex cases involving preventable birth injuries, we know what signs to look for, how to gather strong evidence, and how to fight for the compensation your family deserves. Our team thoroughly reviews medical records, partners with respected experts, and builds winning cases for families like yours.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We’re here to listen, support you, and pursue the financial compensation you need to care for your child now and in the future.