The birth of a baby is an exciting and daunting time for families. When a baby has suffered a birth injury, it is an extremely emotional and often a confusing time.
This page lists different types of birth injuries that babies can suffer with and directs you to the most appropriate support organisation that can help.
It also shows other support services that my be relevant such as maternal birth injuries, maternal mental health and support for partners and families.
We have created a directory of birth injuries. Each have information and links to appropriate advice and support services.
There are a few different types of bone fractures that are more common fractures from a birth injury.
The Brachial Plexus is a collection of nerves located between the neck and shoulders, chest, arms, hands and feeling in the upper limbs.
Brain damage can be caused by a birth injury to the baby’s head during labour, an infection, lack of oxygen to the foetus and jaundice.
Cerebral palsy is a term used to refer to a set of neurological conditions (conditions that affect the brain and nervous system).
Erbs palsy is a result of an injury at ‘Erb’s point’ which is where the fifth and sixth cranial nerves merge.
The term facial palsy generally refers to weakness of the facial muscles, mainly resulting from temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerve.
Forceps or a ventouse birth is also called an assisted vaginal birth. An assisted delivery might be used if there are concerns for the baby’s health if they are not moving out of the birth canal like it should be.
Although not confirmed, hip dysplasia is thought to happen around birth. Hip dysplasia in babies is when the hips have moved in the socket because of loose ligaments.
Hypoxic-ischaemia is a lack of oxygen or blood flow getting to your baby from the placenta during the birthing process. Sometimes this is also referred to as asphyxia or birth asphyxia.
Jaundice is a condition which is quite common in new-borns and is a build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that yellows the skin and eyes.
Neonatal death refers to a baby who has died in the first 28 days of life. This could be due to a premature birth, low birth weight or birth defects.
If your baby is currently in NICU, there are a number of organisations who may be able to provide practical support to you and your family.
This could be caused by inadequate oxygen levels to the baby before, during or after delivery.
Shoulder dystocia is unusual. It happens in about one out of every 150 births.
A spinal cord birth injury can occur when doctors strain a child’s neck by pulling, twisting or using tools to remove the baby from the birth canal.
A still birth is when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks. When the baby dies in the womb, mostly, the person who is pregnant goes into labour.
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