Vacuum extractor injuries occur when excessive force, improper technique, or poor decision-making during assisted delivery leads to birth trauma. While vacuum extractors are sometimes necessary in stalled labors or cases of fetal distress, they must be used with great care and clinical precision. When misused, these devices can cause serious and sometimes permanent harm to a newborn.

Injuries from vacuum extractors can include skull fractures, brain bleeds, facial lacerations, and nerve damage—many of which could have been prevented with appropriate medical judgment and intervention. The effects of such trauma can impact a child’s development, mobility, vision, or cognitive function for years to come.

Common preventable causes can include:

• Improper placement of the vacuum device
• Excessive or repeated force during extraction
• Failure to stop when progress stalls
• Attempting vacuum delivery when contraindicated
• Delay in switching to a C-section
• Inadequate training or supervision of medical staff

When a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted standard of care and that negligence leads to a vacuum-related birth injury, you may have grounds for a legal claim. A qualified birth trauma lawyer can help uncover what went wrong, hold the responsible parties accountable, and seek compensation you deserve.