Do Missed Developmental Milestones Indicate Birth Injury?

 Posted on February 05, 2025 in Birth Injury

If you have a newborn, your pediatrician, family, and friends will soon be asking about whether your baby smiles yet, can hold her or his head up independently, rolls over, or can accomplish many other significant developmental milestones. You probably plan to keep track of the first time these momentous events occur. But what if the anticipated time passes and your baby still cannot sit, stand, walk, or speak? 

Could these missed milestones indicate a birth injury that went unnoticed until now? Can you still seek compensation? A skilled Chicago, IL birth injury attorney can assess your eligibility for damages and help you pursue the full amount you deserve.

What Kinds of Birth Injuries Can Cause Delayed Development?

There are many birth injuries that can lead to missed developmental milestones, such as:

• Brachial plexus injuries

• Brain injuries, including cerebral palsy

• Improper use of delivery tools

• Oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery

• Shoulder dystocia

Maternal infections during pregnancy could also lead to birth injuries.

Not every child who experiences developmental delays suffered a birth injury. Genetic traits, common medical problems like chronic ear infections, low birth weight, and other unpreventable conditions can cause developmental issues. However, if you can rule out these possible causes, your child may have sustained a birth injury.

What Symptoms Should You Look For?

If you notice that your infant is not developing as rapidly as he or she should, consult your pediatrician immediately. Other symptoms that can indicate a birth injury include feeding challenges, breathing issues, muscle stiffness or weakness, abnormal posture or appearance, and minimal or no reaction to sounds or other stimuli.

When Is a Birth Injury Medical Malpractice?

Medical negligence can take many forms during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Medical negligence is the failure to provide both mother and unborn child with appropriate standards of care, leading to preventable maternal or birth injuries. Inadequate monitoring, delayed C-sections, and failure to diagnose and treat maternal infections properly are examples.

Your attorney will investigate the prenatal care you received, along with your labor and delivery. We will also assess your child’s medical records and condition, including any developmental delays. If inadequate medical care caused your baby to sustain birth injuries, we will fight aggressively to help you secure maximum compensation and hold the at-fault party accountable.

Contact a Dedicated Cook County, IL Birth Injury Attorney

A birth injury can affect your child permanently. You can trust a knowledgeable Chicago, IL cerebral palsy lawyer from Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. to advocate for your interests and fight for the highest available amount of compensation. Contact us online or call 312-462-4200 to book your no-cost case review today.