When you’re in the delivery room, you expect the hospital staff to be focused, prepared, and fully available. It’s a moment filled with anticipation and vulnerability, where every decision and action can make a difference. But what if the nurses are juggling too many patients, or the doctor is stretched thin between deliveries?

The reality is that staffing shortages are a growing concern in many Pennsylvania hospitals, and they may be contributing to preventable birth injuries. These situations are not just unfortunate, they can have lifelong consequences for both the child and the family.

If your child experienced a birth injury and you believe that limited hospital staffing may have played a part, it is important to seek answers. You do not have to figure this out alone. Reach out to Latona Law to learn more about your options and how we may be able to help.

What Are Birth Injuries?

A birth injury happens when a baby is physically harmed during labor or delivery. These injuries can range from minor issues that clear up on their own to more serious conditions that may lead to long-term complications. They are not the same as birth defects, which usually develop during pregnancy. Birth injuries, by contrast, occur because of something that goes wrong during the birthing process itself.

According to Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, some common causes include a baby’s position in the womb, their size, or complications during a difficult delivery. You can read more about their breakdown of birth injuries here.

Some examples include brachial plexus injuries, which affect the nerves in the arm and shoulder and often happen when there is trouble delivering the baby’s shoulder. There are also head-related injuries like cephalohematomas and caput succedaneum, which involve swelling or bleeding under the scalp. In more difficult cases, a baby might even suffer a broken clavicle or other fractures during birth.

While not every birth injury is preventable, many are linked to how care is delivered during labor. That is why understanding what happened and why is so important, especially if something feels off after delivery.

The Role of Hospital Staffing in Labor and Delivery

Labor and delivery is a time when every second matters. Mothers and newborns rely on medical teams to respond quickly, monitor closely, and step in when something is not right. That kind of care depends heavily on having the right number of trained professionals available at the right time.

In a well-staffed hospital, nurses can closely monitor each patient, track fetal heart rates, and notice small changes that could signal a problem. Doctors are more likely to catch complications early and act fast when something unexpected happens. But when staffing is stretched thin, those safeguards start to break down. One nurse may be juggling too many patients. A doctor might be covering multiple deliveries at once. And that can lead to slower responses, missed warning signs, or delays in treatment.

These are not just small lapses. In labor and delivery, even a short delay can have serious consequences. It is not only about having staff on the floor. It is about having enough experienced people to provide the level of care mothers and babies need and deserve. When that level drops, the risk of preventable birth injuries starts to rise.

Pennsylvania’s Staffing Challenges

Across Pennsylvania, hospitals are feeling the strain of staffing shortages, and this is especially true in labor and delivery units. Nurses and doctors are being asked to do more with less, often caring for multiple patients at once without enough support. These shortages are not always easy to fix. Burnout, retirements, and difficulty attracting qualified staff all contribute to the problem.

When there are not enough hands on deck, the quality of care can suffer. A nurse might not be able to monitor a laboring mother as closely. A doctor could be delayed in responding to signs of distress. These moments matter. In childbirth, even a short delay can change the outcome.

While hospitals work hard to manage these challenges, the reality is that short staffing can create real risks. For families who experience a birth injury, understanding whether limited staff played a role is often an important step in seeking accountability and answers.

Speak With a Pennsylvania Birth Injury Lawyer About Your Options

If your child experienced a birth injury and you believe that hospital care or staffing may have contributed, you may have legal options. In Pennsylvania, families have the right to pursue action when preventable mistakes cause harm during childbirth.

At Latona Law, we have years of experience handling these cases and understand how overwhelming this situation can feel. We offer a free consultation to help you understand your rights and determine whether you may have a case.

If you are looking for answers, we are here to listen and help you take the next step.