The birth of a child should be one of the happiest moments in a family’s life. However, when labor does not progress as expected, doctors may recommend using forceps or a vacuum to assist with delivery. These instruments can help bring a baby safely into the world when used correctly and at the appropriate time. Unfortunately, the improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction can result in serious birth injuries that affect children and families for a lifetime.
Understanding when these delivery methods are medically necessary and when they pose unnecessary risks can help families recognize whether proper standards of…
Continue Reading When is Forceps or Vacuum Use Necessary During Delivery?

Erb’s palsy is a condition with a lasting physical, emotional, and financial impact. Parents sometimes do not understand how expensive this condition is until they begin paying for therapy, medical visits, surgeries, and adaptive equipment. Unfortunately, Erb’s palsy can be the result of medical malpractice.
When a medical professional does not follow safe delivery procedures, you have the right to hold them accountable for any harm they cause. First, speak to a Chicago, IL birth injury lawyer at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. to learn more about your legal options. There is nothing anyone can do to right the wrong…
Continue Reading The Lifetime Cost of Erb’s Palsy

When a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the first question parents ask is how they will afford the care their child needs. Occupational therapy is one of the most important parts of treatment. It helps children improve coordination, learn daily living skills, and gain independence.
But the therapy is long-term, continuing throughout childhood, and the costs can be very high. Families in Illinois who suspect that medical negligence caused their child’s cerebral palsy may be entitled to compensation to cover those expenses. This can make a major difference in how families plan for the future and support…
Continue Reading Who Pays for Occupational Therapy for Cerebral Palsy?

Epidurals are one of the most common forms of pain management during childbirth. For many families in Cook County, they are seen as a routine way to make delivery more manageable and less traumatic. But while most epidurals are given safely, there are cases where things go wrong. 
Nerve damage from an epidural can be devastating, leading to lasting pain, mobility issues, or even permanent disability for a mother. Recognizing the signs of nerve injury early is critical, both for your medical care and for protecting your legal rights if the damage was caused by medical negligence.
Attorney Allen Schwartz…
Continue Reading Signs of Nerve Damage from an Epidural

When a mother delivers a baby, the intense focus on labor and delivery can give the impression that the hard part is over. But serious medical complications can still happen in the hours, days, and weeks after a baby is born. If a hospital or healthcare provider does not monitor and treat those complications appropriately, the consequences can be life-altering and even fatal for the mother, the newborn, or both.
Families affected by negligent postnatal care may have grounds to bring a malpractice claim. These cases are complicated, and the emotional difficulty is often immense, but taking legal…
Continue Reading Is Poor Postnatal Care Considered Malpractice?

When a mother goes to the hospital to give birth, she puts her trust in the medical team to care for her and her baby. If there are not enough nurses or doctors available, that trust can be shattered when something goes seriously wrong. Many mothers describe the heartbreak and rage of knowing something was wrong and being powerless to do anything about it. 
In some cases, it is a lack of staffing that leads to serious harm. If your child suffered a birth injury due to delays or missed warning signs because there were not enough doctors or nurses…
Continue Reading Who Is Liable for a Birth Injury Caused by Hospital Understaffing?

Timing is critical during labor and delivery, especially when there are complications. Neonatologists are doctors who specialize in newborn care, and they are often needed immediately after delivery for high-risk births. When a hospital delays calling this specialist, a baby can suffer serious and lifelong harm. If your child was injured and you suspect a delay in care contributed to or caused this injury, you might have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Illinois law protects families harmed by medical negligence. If your baby suffered a birth injury due to a delay in involving a neonatologist, speak with a qualified…
Continue Reading Can Not Having a Neonatologist Cause a Birth Injury?

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that can affect a child’s movement, posture, and muscle coordination. While some cases are unpreventable, others result from medical negligence during labor and delivery. One common cause of preventable cerebral palsy is the failure to properly monitor the baby’s heart rate during childbirth.
Fetal heart monitoring provides critical information about a baby’s well-being during labor. When doctors or nurses fail to respond to signs of fetal distress, serious brain injuries, including those that lead to cerebral palsy, can result. As of July 2025, Illinois law continues to allow families to pursue compensation when medical…
Continue Reading Can Failure to Monitor Fetal Heart Rate Cause Cerebral Palsy?

Whether you are someone who experiences pregnancy as a magical, miraculous time or a time of swollen ankles, strange cravings, and seemingly endless aches and pains, all pregnancies have one thing in common: they require careful monitoring and medical oversight. With strict schedules of tests and scans that need to be done, many people feel like they spend more time at their clinic than at their job. However, some women still do not receive the thorough medical care they deserve. 
When doctors fail to recognize or respond to signs of distress or complications during pregnancy, it can result in devastating…
Continue Reading What if Delayed Diagnosis Caused a Birth Injury?

When a birth injury changes the course of your child’s life, the emotional and financial burden can be overwhelming. In many cases, these injuries could have been prevented with proper medical care. If medical negligence played a role in your child’s birth injury, you may be able to pursue compensation through a birth injury claim. However, these cases can be challenging. Making a mistake can be costly. The assistance of a competent lawyer is invaluable.
Our compassionate Chicago, IL birth injuries attorneys understand how these injuries can affect your child’s and your family’s long-term well-being. We will pursue maximum compensation…
Continue Reading What Compensation Can I Collect in a Birth Injury Claim?

When a vaginal birth would be too risky for the mother or child, a C-section delivery may be necessary. In 2023, 32.3 percent of babies born in the U.S. were delivered by C-section. While C-sections can save lives, the timing of the procedure is important. If an obstetrician delays or fails to perform a necessary C-section, the consequences can be devastating. In some cases, this failure may be considered a form of medical malpractice.
Doctors are expected to monitor labor carefully and recognize signs that a C-section is the safest option. If warning signs are present and no action is…
Continue Reading If My OB Did Not Perform a Necessary C-Section, Can I Sue?

It takes 40 weeks of pregnancy for a human baby to fully develop. A birth occurring before 37 weeks is considered premature. Babies born too early are likely to suffer various birth injuries that can lead to lifelong serious conditions. Some preterm births happen spontaneously with no clear cause. Sadly, others can happen due to medical negligence.
If negligent medical care contributed to your child’s premature birth and he or she has birth injuries as a result, you could be entitled to compensation. This type of case can be extremely complex, but our knowledgeable Cook County, IL birth injuries attorneys…
Continue Reading Can I Sue If My Baby’s Preterm Birth Led to Birth Injuries?

Many people are aware that an Apgar score is an assessment of a baby’s condition shortly after birth, but they may not understand what this method entails or exactly what an Apgar score means. Created by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952, the Apgar assessment is performed at one minute and five minutes after a child is born. Although this test does not diagnose specific issues, it can tell medical providers that a baby needs immediate attention.
Receiving the prompt and correct treatment can reduce the adverse effects of some birth injuries. If your doctor or midwife ignored low Apgar…
Continue Reading Does a Low Apgar Score Indicate a Birth Injury?