The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the most joyful and life-changing experiences a family can have. It marks the beginning of new possibilities, new dreams, and the deep bond between parents and their child. But when something goes wrong during delivery and your baby suffers a serious injury, that joyful moment can quickly turn into confusion, anger, and heartbreak.
One of the most dangerous moments in a complicated delivery can happen when a doctor uses forceps to assist with the birth. These tools are intended to help, but if they are used improperly, the results can be catastrophic. A baby’s skull is soft and still forming. It only takes a small mistake or a moment of pressure applied in the wrong place to cause long term damage.
If your child was injured during delivery and you suspect forceps may have played a role, it is important to understand your legal options under Pennsylvania law. Contact Latona Law for a free legal consultation. We are here to listen, guide you, and help you take action if your child was harmed by medical negligence.
What Are Forceps and Why Do Doctors Use Them
Forceps are medical instruments that look similar to large spoons or salad tongs. During delivery, a doctor might use them to gently grasp the baby’s head and help guide it out of the birth canal. They are typically used when labor is not progressing well, the baby is in distress, or the mother is too exhausted to continue pushing.
In some cases, when used correctly, forceps can help avoid an emergency cesarean. But these tools require skill and caution. When used carelessly or by someone with insufficient experience, they can cause injuries. Too much pressure or improper positioning can lead to a cracked skull or worse, damage to the baby’s brain.
The risk of injury increases when doctors rush or fail to recognize that forceps should not be used in that particular delivery. In many cases, these decisions happen quickly and under stress. But that does not excuse a preventable injury.
What Injuries Can Improper Forceps Use Cause
The skull of a newborn is incredibly fragile. The bones have not yet fused and the brain is still developing. When forceps are misused, even by a small margin, they can cause trauma that leads to lifelong complications.
Common injuries include skull fractures, bleeding inside the brain, facial nerve damage, and in severe cases, oxygen loss leading to brain damage. Some babies may appear fine at first but begin showing signs of problems days or weeks later.
Parents may notice their child is not feeding properly, seems overly sleepy, has a weak cry, or does not respond to touch the way other infants do. As the child grows, delays in movement, learning, or communication may become more obvious.
These signs are serious and should not be dismissed. Early evaluation by a neurologist is important not only for treatment but also to begin documenting what happened and why.
What Pennsylvania Law Says About Birth Injuries
In Pennsylvania, if a doctor or hospital makes a mistake that harms a patient, that may be considered medical malpractice. Birth injury cases fall under this law. When a child suffers a brain or skull injury because a doctor misused forceps, the family has the right to seek justice.
To file a case, your legal team must show that the medical provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care. That means a trained professional in the same situation would have done things differently. You also need to prove that this mistake caused the injury and that the injury resulted in real and lasting harm.
These cases are complex. They often require expert reviews of medical records, delivery room notes, and testimony from specialists who understand both the legal and medical details. But they are also incredibly important. Families may recover money to cover medical bills, therapy, equipment, and loss of future earnings. These resources can make a huge difference in your child’s future.
In terms of timing, Pennsylvania law gives families two years from when they discover the injury to take legal action. If the forceps birth injury claim is for the child alone, that timeline can extend into early adulthood. Still, it is best not to wait. The earlier you start, the more evidence your legal team can gather to build your case.
Why Latona Law Is the Right Choice for Birth Injury Cases
At Latona Law, we focus exclusively on birth injury cases in Pennsylvania. We have worked with many families going through this same experience, and we know how painful and confusing this process can be. You are looking for answers. You want to know why this happened. And you want to make sure your child is cared for, both now and in the future.
Our team will help you understand your rights, investigate the care your child received, and fight to hold the right people accountable. We work closely with medical experts to build strong cases. We also treat each family with the respect and attention they deserve.
We never charge upfront fees. In fact, you only pay if we win your case. And our consultations are always free. That means you can speak with a legal professional, get real answers, and decide what to do next with no pressure.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Birth Injury Lawyer Today
If your child was injured during delivery and you believe improper use of forceps was involved, now is the time to act. You do not have to face this alone. The path ahead may feel uncertain, but with the right legal guidance, you can take control and start moving forward.Call Latona Law for a free legal consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your rights, and help you decide what to do next. You deserve the truth. And your child deserves a chance at the best possible future.