When a child is injured during birth, parents often find themselves navigating a whole new, unknown area. Not only do they have to try to come to terms with often quite traumatic circumstances, but they usually also have many unanswered questions about what might have gone wrong. If you are considering a birth injury claim, one of the first questions you may have is: What medical records do I need? Medical records can feel daunting, long and technical. However, they are also one of the most important tools in understanding what happened, why it happened, and whether the injury could have been avoided. Boyes Turner’s Birth Injury Solicitors work closely with families to gather, review, and interpret these records with care and sensitivity. Below, we explain the key types of medical records involved in birth injury claims, why they matter, and how we support you throughout the process. Why medical records matter in birth injury claims Medical records are at the heart of any birth injury claim. They allow us to piece together the events leading up to labour, the management of the birth itself, and the care provided to your baby afterwards. They therefore help us answer crucial questions, such as: Were warning signs missed? Were appropriate steps taken when complications arose? Was the standard of care reasonable and in line with accepted medical practice? In cases involving conditions such as cerebral palsy, where the cause of the injury may not be immediately clear, medical records are essential in determining whether the brain injury was avoidable. They also help Boyes Turner’s Birth Injury Solicitors understand the severity of the injury and the long-term needs your child may have, which is vital when valuing cerebral palsy claims and other neonatal injury claims. What medical records are needed for a birth injury claim? Every case is unique, but most types of birth injury cases require a similar set of essential records. These include: Antenatal records These records cover your pregnancy and include: Midwifery notes Ultrasound reports Screening test results Records of any concerns raised during pregnancy Monitoring of maternal health (e.g. blood pressure, urine tests, glucose tests) Antenatal records help us understand whether any risk factors were identified and whether they were managed appropriately. Labour and delivery records These are often the most important records in a birth injury claim. They include: CTG (cardiotocography) traces Midwifery notes Obstetric notes (ie those from the doctors involved) Records of interventions (e.g. induction, forceps, ventouse) Anaesthetic records Theatre records (e.g. in a caesarean delivery) These records allow us to examine how labour progressed, whether your baby showed signs of distress, and how the medical team responded. Neonatal records If your baby required special care after birth, neonatal records will be essential. They may include: Apgar scores Resuscitation notes Blood gas results Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) note Imaging reports (MRI, ultrasound scans) Records of seizures, infections, or breathing difficulties These documents help establish when the injury occurred and what immediate treatment your baby received. Maternal postnatal records Your own postnatal records can also be relevant, particularly if complications such as haemorrhage, placental abruption, uterine rupture or infection (e.g. GBS) occurred. They may shed light on the overall management of the birth. GP Records GP records provide a broader picture of your health before and after the birth. Child Health Records As your child grows, their medical records will help us understand the ongoing effects of the injury. These may include: Paediatric assessments Physiotherapy notes Occupational therapy reports Speech and language therapy notes Developmental assessments Educational psychology reports These records are particularly important in cerebral palsy claims, where long-term care needs must be carefully assessed. Do I need to apply for these records myself? No. Boyes Turner’s Birth Injury Solicitors understand that families are often already under immense pressure. Part of our role is to take this burden off your shoulders. With your permission, Boyes Turner’s Birth Injury Solicitors will request all relevant medical records on your behalf. We handle the process from start to finish, ensuring nothing is missed. Once received, we review the records in detail and work with independent medical experts to assess whether the care you and your baby received fell below an acceptable standard. How medical records help your birth injury claim Medical records are used to: Establish what happened - they provide a factual timeline of events, helping us understand the circumstances surrounding the injury. Identify potential birth injury negligence - with the help of independent medical experts, we can compare the care provided with accepted medical standards and can determine whether mistakes were made. Prove causation - in birth injury cases, it is not enough to show that mistakes occurred - we must also show that those mistakes caused or contributed to the injury. Medical records are essential in making this link. Assess future needs - for children with lifelong conditions such as cerebral palsy, medical records help us understand the level of care, therapy, equipment, and support they will need throughout their lives. This ensures that any compensation reflects the true extent of their needs. Common types of birth injury claims Birth injuries can take many forms. Some of the most common types of birth injuries caused by medical negligence include: Cerebral palsy Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) or birth asphyxia Traumatic birth injury, skull fracture and/or intracranial bleeding Kernicterus (jaundice) brain injury Erb’s palsy/brachial plexus nerve injury Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) Group B streptococcal (GBS) infection / meningitis Autism (ASD) and ADHD Whether your case involves cerebral palsy, a physical injury, or another form of harm, the medical records will help us in understanding what went wrong. A caring and supportive approach to birth injury claims Boyes Turner’s Birth Injury Solicitors’ approach is always compassionate and we are here to support you through every step with sensitivity and expertise. If you are considering a birth injury claim or a neonatal injury claim, please do contact us now for free and confidential initial advice at mednegclaims@boyesturner.com.
