When a baby is born with facial paralysis, the shock and fear families experience is immediate and profound. Facial nerve palsy in newborns occurs when the seventh cranial nerve is damaged during labor or delivery, resulting in weakness or complete paralysis on one side of the infant’s face. The condition often becomes visible when the baby cries, blinks, or tries to feed. For families in Indianapolis, understanding the cause of the injury and whether negligence played a role is often the first and most important step toward pursuing justice.

The birth of a child should be a moment of joy, and when medical errors cause lasting harm, families deserve real answers and real accountability. Wagner Reese LLP has represented Indiana families in complex Indianapolis personal injury cases for years, including those involving serious birth trauma. With founding partners who have both been recognized as Trial Lawyer of the Year and a firm that holds a Tier-One Best Law Firm ranking, Wagner Reese LLP brings more than 150 combined years of experience to each case. The firm handles every case on a contingency fee basis, so there is nothing to pay unless compensation is recovered.

How Facial Paralysis Happens During Birth

Facial nerve palsy caused by birth trauma results from pressure applied to the seventh cranial nerve just before or during delivery. This nerve controls the muscles responsible for facial expressions, blinking, and the coordination needed for feeding. When the nerve fibers are compressed or stretched during a difficult labor, they can be damaged, causing effects ranging from temporary weakness to lasting paralysis.

According to MedlinePlus, difficult deliveries, including those involving the improper use of forceps, are among the most common contributing factors to neonatal facial nerve palsy. Several delivery-related scenarios may cause or contribute to this injury, including prolonged labor that increases pressure on the infant’s head, forceps applied with incorrect placement or excessive force, unusual fetal positioning in the womb, or a baby’s size that was not adequately accounted for during delivery planning.

Causes Linked to Medical Negligence

While some cases of facial nerve palsy resolve on their own within weeks, others reflect failures in medical care that caused harm that could have been prevented. Medical providers are expected to monitor fetal positioning, anticipate complications, and use delivery tools only with proper technique. When those standards are not met, the consequences for the child can be lasting.

Some of the most common medical failures associated with facial paralysis at birth include the following:

  • Forceps misuse: Improper placement or excessive pressure from forceps directly compresses the facial nerve and causes trauma to surrounding tissue.
  • Failure to identify risk factors: Large fetal size, abnormal positioning, or prolonged labor each signals increased risk that should prompt adjusted delivery planning.
  • Delayed C-section decision: When vaginal delivery poses clear risks to the infant, a timely decision to perform a cesarean section can prevent injury.
  • Inadequate monitoring: Failure to track fetal distress or labor progress may allow a high-risk delivery to continue without appropriate intervention.

These failures may constitute medical malpractice when the standard of care is breached and harm results. Families dealing with the aftermath of a preventable Indiana birth injury have the right to pursue legal accountability.

What Families Should Know About Treatment and Recovery

Mild cases of birth-related facial palsy often resolve without intervention as the nerve heals on its own over the first weeks of life. In more moderate cases, physical therapy, eye protection, and close monitoring become part of the treatment plan. When nerve damage is severe, surgical intervention or prolonged therapy may be necessary, and in some situations, a degree of facial weakness can be permanent.

Regardless of the outcome, the costs of diagnosing and treating facial nerve palsy can be substantial. Families may face medical bills, therapy expenses, follow-up imaging, and specialist consultations in the first months alone. When negligence during delivery room errors caused or worsened the injury, those costs should not fall entirely on the family.

Pursuing a Birth Injury Claim in Indiana

Establishing liability in a birth injury case requires demonstrating that the medical team deviated from the accepted standard of care and that the deviation directly caused the child’s injury. These cases are complex because medical providers often contend that the outcome was unavoidable. A skilled legal team will work with qualified medical professionals to review delivery records, assess the techniques used, and determine whether the injury was preventable.

Indiana law provides a specific process for pursuing medical malpractice claims, including those involving birth injuries, with procedural requirements and deadlines that must be met to protect a family’s rights. Acting promptly to consult with a birth injury attorney gives families the best opportunity to gather and preserve critical evidence. Cases involving forceps injuries are among the more well-documented forms of delivery trauma, and when the facts support a finding of negligence, compensation may include current and future medical costs, therapy expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages tied to the child’s ongoing needs.

Contact Wagner Reese LLP for Birth Injury Legal Guidance in Indianapolis

Wagner Reese LLP has a long record of fighting for families affected by preventable birth injuries throughout Indiana. Both founding partners, Stephen Wagner and Jason Reese, have earned the distinction of Trial Lawyer of the Year, and the firm’s peer-reviewed rankings among Indiana’s top personal injury firms reflect the quality and dedication we bring to every case. More than half of the cases we handle come through attorney referrals, a testament to the trust Wagner Reese LLP  has built within the legal community over decades of service.

If your child was born with facial paralysis and you believe medical negligence may have contributed, our team is ready to review your situation at no cost. We handle birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs to pursue a claim. To get started, contact our office to schedule a consultation.