Questions?
It can be difficult to process what happened after a traumatic birth. Maybe the delivery didn’t go as planned, your baby was injured, or you still don’t understand what caused the trauma. Any of these experiences can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where to begin.
If you felt out of control during delivery, experienced severe pain, or suffered a physical injury, you may have gone through a traumatic birth.
Traumatic births are more common than many people realize. Sometimes they result from unpredictable complications or necessary medical decisions. Other times, they happen because something was missed, delayed, or done incorrectly.
Knowing what to ask after a traumatic birth can help you understand what really happened — and whether it could have been avoided. Below are some of the most important questions to consider.
Top 5 Questions to Ask After a Traumatic Birth
Asking the right questions after a traumatic birth can help guide both physical and emotional healing. As a registered nurse, I want to empower families to speak up and get the answers they deserve.
Here are 5 questions that are important to ask:
- What happened during my birth that led to the traumatic event?
Many parents leave the delivery room with more questions than answers, especially when things unfold quickly. Ask your health care provider for a detailed breakdown of events. You have a right to understand what happened and why. - What signs did the medical team notice that showed my baby was in distress?
Understanding what was seen — and when — can help parents make sense of urgent decisions made during labor. Signs like an abnormal heart rate may have indicated that your baby was in trouble and needed immediate care. - What interventions were done, and were they used safely and at the right time?
Some deliveries involve emergency C-sections or tools like vacuum extractors. It’s fair to ask how and why those decisions were made. Understanding the medical reasoning can help you figure out whether the actions taken were truly in your baby’s best interest. - What signs of distress did my baby show after delivery?
Clues from the first minutes of life — like breathing difficulty, seizures, or low Apgar scores — may help explain what your child experienced. They can paint a clearer picture of your child’s condition and whether they may have suffered a birth injury. - Could the trauma have been prevented?
This question is difficult but important. In some cases, complications are unavoidable. In others, there may have been delays, missed warning signs, or decisions that could have changed the outcome.
At the Birth Injury Justice Center, we know how hard it is to face these questions alone. That’s why we have labor and delivery nurses on staff to help you get the answers you need. If you’re feeling uncertain or overwhelmed, we’re here to support you as you navigate what comes next.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 or Click to Live Chat now to connect with a nurse — it’s always free to talk with our team.
What Is Birth Trauma?
Birth trauma refers to the physical or emotional harm that can occur during labor and delivery — to the baby, the mother, or both. It often results from complications during childbirth, emergency interventions, or a delivery that turns stressful or dangerous without warning.
Some signs of birth trauma in babies might include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Low Apgar scores
- Seizures
- Signs of brain injury
In some cases, birth trauma is no one’s fault. Emergencies can happen even with the best care. In other cases, warning signs may be missed or proper care delayed. That’s when it’s important to ask questions and to keep asking until you understand what truly happened.
Traumatic Birth Effects on a Baby
Some birth injuries resolve over time, while others can lead to permanent disabilities that affect a child’s development, mobility, or long-term care needs.
Common situations linked to traumatic births include:
- Brachial plexus injuries: Nerve damage in the shoulder and arm, often caused by excessive pulling during delivery
- Cerebral palsy (CP): A lifelong motor disorder often linked to a lack of oxygen to the brain during birth
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): Brain damage caused by reduced oxygen and blood flow
- Intraventricular hemorrhage: Brain bleeds can result from difficult deliveries or improper use of forceps or vacuum tools
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL): A white matter brain injury associated with premature birth or poor oxygenation
- Shoulder dystocia injuries: Occurs when the baby’s shoulders get stuck and too much force is used to deliver
If you suspect any of these may apply to your child, you may want to ask whether more could have been done to prevent the injury.
Can You Sue a Hospital for Traumatic Birth?
In some cases, you may be able to file a birth injury lawsuit if medical mistakes during labor or delivery caused harm to your baby or led to a traumatic birth experience.
Minutes of delaying delivery could mean the difference between a healthy infant and low oxygen-related injuries. When panic hits, doctors may react out of urgency and not with correct, safe practices.
Doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff are expected to monitor for signs of distress, make timely decisions, and follow safe delivery practices. If a health care provider fails to act appropriately and that failure results in injury, it may be considered medical malpractice.
Not every traumatic birth is caused by medical negligence, but some are. If you’re unsure whether something went wrong, you’re not alone. Talking with a team that understands both birth injuries and the legal system can help you get the answers you need.
Birth Trauma Compensation: What Families Should Know
When a baby is injured during birth, the financial toll on families can be severe. In many cases, the cost of long-term care may exceed $1.5 million over a child’s lifetime.
Compensation from a birth injury claim can help offset these costs and provide long-term security. Some birth injury settlements pay more than $1 million, depending on the severity of the injury and the circumstances involved.
Families may pursue compensation for reasons including:
- Lifelong care costs: Therapies, surgeries, and medical support over decades
- Out-of-pocket expenses: In-home nursing, mobility devices, or therapies
- Lost income: A parent may need to leave work to provide full-time care
- Home modifications: Ramps, lifts, or renovations for accessibility
- Learning support: Special education, tutors, or assistive technology
- Peace of mind: Financial relief during a long and difficult journey
Health insurance rarely covers everything a child with complex medical needs requires. Families are often left paying for critical services they never planned for. A lawsuit settlement can’t undo the harm, but it can make it easier to move forward and focus on your child.
Connect With a Top Birth Trauma Lawyer Near You
No one expects to go through a traumatic birth, especially one that leaves lasting effects. It can be hard to know what to do, what to ask, or how to begin putting the pieces together. My hope as a nurse is that the information I shared here helps guide you toward the answers you deserve.
If your child was injured during childbirth and you believe mistakes were made, it’s important to speak with a qualified lawyer. A skilled attorney can review your medical records, explain your options, and file your birth trauma claim before your state’s deadline passes.
We can connect you with a trusted local birth trauma attorney in our network if you qualify. Call us now at (800) 914-1562 or get a free case review to take the first step.
