Can I Sue If My Baby’s Preterm Birth Led to Birth Injuries?

 Posted on June 11, 2025 in Birth Injury

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 can handle yours skillfully.

What Is Medical Negligence?

When a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care expected in their profession, that is medical negligence. If that failure causes harm to a patient, it may be considered malpractice. Subpar medical care can sometimes lead to premature birth. In turn, that early birth can directly harm the newborn.

Medical negligence that could contribute to a premature birth includes:

• Failure to manage and treat existing conditions, such as high blood pressure and kidney disease
• Failing to diagnose and treat infections correctly
• Prescribing harmful medications or those that cause adverse drug interactions
• Failing to detect or misinterpreting signs of early labor, such as cervical insufficiency
• Not managing high-risk conditions like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes
• Delaying the appropriate response to complications such as placental abruption
• Failing to monitor maternal conditions

Taking the wrong action or not acting at all sometimes leads to a premature birth and birth injuries. When it does, we can help.

What Birth Injuries Can Result From a Premature Birth?

Because a preterm baby’s body is more fragile and his or her organs may not have fully developed, there is an increased risk of birth injuries. When medical negligence is the root cause of those birth injuries, we can help you pursue the highest available amount of compensation.

Premature babies often have difficulty breathing because their lungs are underdeveloped. That can result in the newborn not getting enough oxygen, which can lead to birth injuries that include cerebral palsy and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Because a preterm infant’s blood vessels are so fragile, brain bleeds and resulting brain damage are possible. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious intestinal condition that often affects babies born too early.

Retinopathy of prematurity, which is a condition that affects blood vessel growth in the retina, can lead to vision loss or blindness. Preterm children can also experience developmental delays.

These and other birth injuries can lead to lifelong disabilities. Affected children may need medical care, therapy, and support for the rest of their lives.

Why Are These Cases Complex?

You need extra evidence in this type of birth injury case. You must first prove that medical negligence led to your child’s premature birth. Then, you must establish that the birth injuries were caused by the premature birth. A successful claim could provide damages for various expenses, as well as compensation for emotional and mental anguish.

Yes, these cases are complicated. However, we have extensive experience handling and winning birth injury cases. You can trust us to do all we can to help you hold the negligent provider accountable.

Discuss Your Case With Our Determined Cook County, IL Birth Injuries Lawyers

When your child suffered a birth injury because of a medical provider’s negligence, the competent advocacy of our Chicago, IL cerebral palsy attorneys at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. is invaluable. Contact us at 312-462-4200 or online to request your free case review today.