Perinatal Stroke Lawyer in New York

What Is a Perinatal Stroke?

A perinatal stroke refers to a disruption in blood flow to a baby’s brain between 22 weeks of gestation and 7 days after birth. This type of injury may occur in utero, during labor, or shortly after delivery, often leading to permanent neurological damage.

Perinatal strokes may be:

• Ischemic: Caused by blood clots blocking an artery (more common).
• Hemorrhagic: Caused by bleeding into the brain.

These strokes can interfere with the development of critical brain structures and are associated with a high risk of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and motor skill impairments.

Signs and Diagnosis of Perinatal Stroke

In many cases, symptoms of a perinatal stroke aren’t immediately apparent at birth. However, red flags may include:

• Seizures in the first 72 hours of life
• Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
• Feeding difficulties or poor reflexes
• Abnormal muscle tone (floppiness or stiffness)
• Delayed milestones or early hand preference

Diagnostic tools such as MRI scans, cranial ultrasounds, CT scans, and EEG monitoring can help confirm a stroke and assess the extent of brain damage. Unfortunately, many cases are only diagnosed months after they occur, delaying critical interventions.

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Did Something Go Wrong During Labor or Delivery? Get the Help and the Answers You Need.

Our legal team offers free, confidential consultations to help families understand their rights. We’ll obtain and review all medical records, consult independent OB and neurology experts, and give you a clear, honest assessment of whether medical negligence played a role.

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When Is a Perinatal Stroke Considered Medical Malpractice?

While some perinatal strokes may be unavoidable, many are the result of medical errors that could — and should — have been prevented. Doctors and hospitals have a duty to recognize known risk factors, monitor the baby appropriately, and act swiftly when warning signs appear.

Examples of medical negligence that may lead to a perinatal stroke include:

• Failure to detect fetal distress on monitoring strips
• Delayed response to abnormal heart tracings
• Waiting too long to perform an emergency C-section
• Misuse of delivery instruments (e.g., forceps or vacuum)
• Undiagnosed or untreated maternal infections (e.g., chorioamnionitis)
• Failure to manage preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or clotting disorders
• Excessive use or mismanagement of labor-inducing drugs like Pitocin
• Inadequate prenatal care or improper postnatal monitoring

If your provider ignored these signs or failed to act when intervention was medically necessary, you may have grounds for a birth injury claim.

At Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Firm, we work with leading medical experts to review delivery records, consult on missed diagnoses, and uncover whether a breach of the medical standard of care occurred — and whether it contributed to your child’s stroke.

Lifelong Effects of a Perinatal Stroke

The impact of a perinatal stroke can range from mild to severe, but often results in permanent challenges for the child and family.

Long-term effects may include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Intellectual or learning disabilities
• Speech, vision, or hearing impairment
• Paralysis or poor motor control
• Need for lifelong medical or educational support

Many families are left navigating a complex and expensive future they never expected. Our perinatal stroke attorneys build strong legal cases to ensure you don’t carry that burden alone.

What Compensation Can Families Recover After Their Child’s Perinatal Stroke?

Birth injuries change everything. A successful claim can help cover current and future needs, including:

• Hospital and surgical costs
• Rehabilitation and therapy (PT, OT, speech)
• Assistive devices and home modifications
• Special education and academic support
• In-home care or nursing assistance
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages (in fatal cases)

We often collaborate with life care planners and pediatric neurologists to determine the comprehensive scope of care required, ensuring that nothing is overlooked.

Why Families Trust Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Firm

• 40+ years of birth injury advocacy: We’ve recovered millions for families impacted by preventable perinatal and neonatal injuries across New York.
• Nationally respected — locally rooted: Our NYC birth injury attorneys regularly handle high-stakes cases involving top hospitals and leading OBs. We fight and win — with dignity and persistence.
• Multilingual, family-centered approach: Our team proudly serves New York’s diverse communities, offering support in English, Spanish, and more. You’ll never feel left in the dark.
• No fees unless we win: We cover all costs upfront. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you.