Can I Sue If My Baby’s Breech Position Was Mishandled?

 Posted on March 31, 2025 in Birth Injury

When babies are ready to be born, their heads are usually the first through the birth canal. However, some babies do not make it into the correct position. A breech position places the baby’s buttocks, feet, or knees at the entrance to the birth canal rather than the head. The risk of complications is high, so doctors and midwives must follow specific procedures.  

If healthcare providers did not follow those procedures and you or your child was harmed, one of our experienced Chicago, IL birth injury lawyers can hold them accountable and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Can a Doctor Tell If a Baby Is Breech?

A baby’s position tends to change during pregnancy. Ultrasounds, physical exams, and feeling the mother’s abdomen should help medical professionals determine the baby’s position as it grows. If the fetus does not turn by itself into the proper birth position as the due date nears, your obstetrician should monitor you and the baby closely. He or she should explain the possible treatment options to keep you from experiencing undue complications and injuries.

Sometimes, it is possible to turn the baby around inside the womb. Your doctor may perform a procedure called external cephalic version (ECV), using hands on your abdomen to put pressure on your uterus. However, that procedure is not always effective, and other factors may make it an unsuitable option for you.

Many times, a C-section is performed when a baby is breech. A vaginal delivery can harm both the mother and child.

How Can a Breech Birth Hurt Me and My Baby?

Mothers who deliver a breech baby vaginally can experience perineal, labial, and vaginal tearing. The uterus could rupture, and she may also hemorrhage after the baby is born. These conditions can cause significant pain and make for a longer recovery period. If the uterus ruptures, a hysterectomy might be necessary.

A vaginal breech delivery can harm babies in several ways, including:

• Head trauma, which could lead to brain bleeds and skull fractures

• Brachial plexus injuries that might cause Erb’s Palsy

• Fractures, particularly in the collarbone

• Asphyxia, possibly causing brain injuries or death

• Soft tissue and muscle damage

• Spinal cord damage

• Hip dysplasia

The long-term effects of these injuries vary, but they could be long-lasting or permanent. The medical treatment costs for you and your baby are probably very high. The emotional impact can be devastating. If medical negligence led to the harm you or your newborn suffered, you may be entitled to compensation.

What Is Medical Negligence for a Breech Birth?

Medical negligence when a baby is in a breech position can take many forms. If your doctor failed to explain the risks and possible options to you, this would make you unable to make informed decisions. Failing to monitor you and your baby properly may mean the doctor does not realize the baby is breech until it is too late. Performing an ECV when you are not a suitable candidate or making careless errors while performing that procedure can harm both of you. Failing to perform a C-section when necessary could also hurt either or both of you.

These and similar errors are negligent, meaning that another medical professional would not make them in the same situation. If you or your infant are harmed because of those mistakes, we will fight to maximize your compensation.

Call Our Trusted Chicago, IL Breech Birth Injury Lawyers

If you or your child were injured by a breech birth, one of the dedicated Cook County, IL birth injury attorneys at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. can explain your legal options and handle every aspect of your claim. To schedule your free case evaluation, contact us online or call 312-462-4200 today.