Vacuum-Assisted Delivery Complications
While most vacuum extractions are successful, the procedure carries risks for both the mother and child. Newborns can suffer serious vacuum-assisted delivery complications, like skull fractures and brain damage, that require expensive medical treatments. See if a birth injury lawyer may be able to fight for compensation to help pay for your child’s care.
Why Take Legal Action?
By filing a birth injury lawsuit, you can seek financial compensation to provide your child with the care they need to live their best life.
Results Secured
- $10.4 million for a Pennsylvania child with cerebral palsy
- $5 million for a Massachusetts child with brain damage
- $4.5 million for a child in Illinois with Erb’s palsy
What Are Vacuum Delivery Complications?
Vacuum-assisted delivery complications are injuries to a newborn that occur when medical professionals use an assistive device known as a vacuum extractor to help with a vaginal birth.
A vacuum extractor has a soft cup that’s placed on the baby’s head and attached to a suction device. The doctor gently pulls as the mother pushes, guiding the baby through the birth canal.
The device is used when labor isn’t progressing, or if there are concerns for the baby’s health. When misused, brain injuries, nerve damage, and other vacuum-assisted delivery complications can occur, potentially impacting a child for the rest of their life.
“Vacuum-assisted delivery is associated with more maternal and neonatal complications than normal vaginal delivery.”
– Study published in Cureus
LawFirm.com works with birth injury lawyers who have secured over $1 billion for families impacted by vacuum-assisted delivery complications and other birth injuries.
Get a free case review now to see if one of our trusted legal partners can fight hard for everything your child deserves.
Common Vacuum-Assisted Delivery Complications
When a vacuum extractor is used during delivery, it can lead to different types of birth injuries. While some vacuum extraction injuries may be minor and resolve on their own, others may require medical care and result in long-term harm.
Common vacuum-assisted delivery complications include:
- Brachial plexus injuries: If a vacuum extractor for childbirth is used when the baby is too large and not fitting through the birth canal and the neck gets pulled too hard, the nerves that control arm and hand movement can be damaged. Long-term complications include Erb’s palsy, which can result in permanent paralysis.
- Caput succedaneum: This is a swelling of the baby’s scalp that typically resolves in a few days.
- Cephalohematoma: A collection of blood between the baby’s scalp and skull, it’s caused by damaged blood vessels. While most cases go away on their own, severe cases, and complications that arise from this, can lead to life-long disabilities.
- Cerebral palsy: Pressure or damage to the areas of the brain that control movement can cause this group of neurological disorders.
- Intracranial hemorrhage: A rare condition involving bleeding in or around the brain that can lead to brain damage in serious cases.
- Jaundice: If the vacuum cup bruises the scalp, infants are at risk of jaundice, a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes due to increased levels of bilirubin (a pigment released when red blood cells break down). When untreated, jaundice can lead to life-threatening conditions like kernicterus.
- Skull fracture: Newborn skulls are soft and more prone to injury. While most fractures are small and heal on their own, more severe ones can cause brain bleeds and may need surgery to fix.
- Subgaleal hemorrhage: This rare injury occurs when the veins in the baby’s head are ruptured and blood builds up in the connective tissue between the skull and the scalp. If it’s not diagnosed and treated quickly, a subgaleal hematoma can result in death.
A Colorado jury ordered a hospital to pay over $8 million to a child with neurological injuries from vacuum-assisted delivery complications. The jury found that the nurses who delivered the child hadn’t been educated on the proper use of the device.
The effects of complications from a vacuum-assisted delivery may not become apparent for months or even years after birth. Developmental delays in areas like speech and learning, which could indicate brain damage, can take longer to notice and diagnose.
For this reason, it’s important to closely monitor your child for signs of vacuum-assisted delivery complications and ensure they’re meeting key developmental milestones.
Vacuum Birth and Medical Malpractice
Due to their experience and training, health care providers are responsible for determining the safest method for delivering a baby.
Improper use of vacuum extractors — or using one when it’s not needed — may be considered medical malpractice.
- Applies excessive force during vacuum extraction
- Attempts the procedure for more than 20 or 30 minutes or when an infant’s scalp shows signs of trauma
- Doesn’t screen the mother for risk factors
- Fails to detect vacuum extraction birth injuries after a device has been used
- Ignores signs of fetal distress
- Makes an error using a birth vacuum extraction device
- Performs a vacuum birth delivery when unnecessary
- Uses more than 3 sets of pulls to deliver a baby
Health care workers must closely monitor both the mother and newborn for vacuum-assisted delivery complications like skull fractures, brain bleeds, or nerve damage. Early treatment can help prevent more serious injuries from developing.
When care provided by medical professionals falls short, they can be held responsible for the harm they’ve caused.
LawFirm.com has registered nurses on staff who can listen to your story and help you figure out what may have gone wrong. Get started by calling (888) 726-9160 right now or chatting with a case manager.
“The nurses I work with are some of the most intelligent, empathetic women I know. We will actively listen and do everything we can to get families the justice they deserve.”
– Beth Carter, Registered Nurse and LawFirm.com case manager
Reasons to Perform a Birth Vacuum Extraction
Doctors use vacuum extractors to quickly remove the infant from the birth canal and decrease the risk of delivery complications.
A vacuum-assisted delivery may be performed when:
- There are signs of fetal distress, like an abnormal heart rate.
- The mother is pushing, but the baby is not coming out.
- The mother has a health condition that makes it difficult to push for an extended period.
- The mother is too exhausted to continue pushing.
“In the U.S., vacuum extraction accounts for about 2.5% of vaginal births.”
– Cleveland Clinic
A cesarean section (C-section) may be needed if a vacuum-assisted delivery can’t be performed without putting the health of the mother or the baby in danger.
The rates of delivery by vacuum extraction and the use of forceps have been declining while the rates of C-sections have been increasing, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Risk Factors for Vacuum Extraction Delivery Complications
Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of vacuum-assisted delivery complications. Obstetricians and other health care providers must carefully evaluate these risks before deciding if a vacuum-assisted delivery is appropriate.
The risk of complications during a vacuum-assisted delivery is higher when the baby:
- Estimated fetal weight is large for infant’s gestational age
- Has a bleeding disorder
- Has not progressed low enough in the birth canal
- Is not in a headfirst position
- Is premature
- Might not fit through the birth canal
- Needs to be rotated
Labor and delivery team members are responsible for checking for these risk factors ahead of time to prevent harm to vulnerable newborns. If they fail to do so, it may be considered medical negligence.
When a baby suffers long-term vacuum-assisted delivery complications, families may be able to hold negligent medical staff accountable with the help of a birth injury lawyer.
The birth injury attorneys in our network have secured over $1 billion for children with preventable birth injuries like vacuum extraction complications.
See if a top lawyer in our network may be able to fight for the compensation and justice your family deserves during a free case review.
Treating Complications From a Vacuum-Assisted Delivery
Doctors should promptly assess both the mother and baby for any vacuum-assisted delivery complications. Many injuries from vacuum extraction can be effectively treated if addressed shortly after birth.
Bruising and swelling on the baby’s head from the suction cup are common and typically heal without treatment. However, doctors typically monitor the baby for 2-3 days to reduce the risk of any long-term issues.
Mothers who experience severe vaginal tears or receive an episiotomy (a surgical incision to enlarge the vaginal opening) will need stitches, which will dissolve naturally. In cases of incontinence, a catheter may be used to drain the bladder for up to 24 hours.
If more serious vacuum-assisted delivery complications arise, medical interventions may vary. Possible treatments for a child’s vacuum extraction injuries include surgery, light therapy, and physical therapy.
These treatments can be expensive and may not be covered fully by insurance. Compensation from a birth injury lawsuit can help lessen the financial burden associated with vacuum-assisted delivery complications.
Get Legal Help for Vacuum Delivery Injuries
In most cases, vacuum delivery injuries can be avoided when medical professionals follow care guidelines and act quickly in the event that anything goes wrong. If your health care provider failed to take the necessary precautions, you may be entitled to compensation.
The birth injury law firms we work with have secured over $1 billion for families affected by vacuum-assisted delivery complications and other birth injuries.
These firms can handle all of the legal work for you, so you can focus on what’s truly important — caring for your child.
Our legal partners:
- Can help families in all 50 states
- Fight for birth injury settlements, allowing families to access money as quickly as possible
- Have decades of experience with birth injury cases
- Never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees
Call (888) 726-9160 right now or get a free case review to see if a top birth injury firm may be able to fight for your family, too.
Vacuum Extractor Birth Injuries FAQs
What is the most common complication of vacuum-assisted delivery?
The most common complication of a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery is scalp injuries to the baby. These include caput succedaneum (a swelling on top of the scalp) and newborn cephalohematoma (a pooling of blood under the scalp).
These conditions result from the suction applied to the baby’s head during delivery. While many of these injuries heal on their own, more severe cases can lead to vacuum-assisted delivery complications that can have long-term consequences.
Which birth injury is most commonly associated with a vacuum-assisted birth?
The most common vacuum birth injury is cephalohematoma. This condition occurs when there’s bleeding between the baby’s skull and the periosteum, the membrane covering the skull.
When a medical professional applies too much force when using a vacuum pump, they can cause cephalohematoma or other vacuum-assisted delivery complications.
Is vacuum-assisted delivery safe?
When performed correctly, vacuum-assisted deliveries can be safe and effective. However, like any medical procedure, it carries potential risks and complications.
The labor and delivery team should check for any risk factors that would weigh against use of a vacuum extractor and advise the mother of potential vacuum-assisted delivery complications before the procedure.
When a vacuum device causes harm, medical professionals may be held accountable.
Call (888) 726-9160 now to learn about your legal options.
What are the contraindications for vacuum-assisted delivery?
Vacuum-assisted delivery is a useful tool in certain situations, but there may be times when risk factors outweigh the benefits of using this device.
This includes when:
- The baby has a bleeding disorder.
- The baby’s position is breech (feet first), or their position can’t be determined.
- The baby’s head is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis.
- The mother has certain health conditions.
- The mother has a history of failed vacuum-assisted delivery attempts.
Medical professionals have a duty to check for risk factors before performing a vacuum delivery. When they fail to do so, it could be considered medical malpractice.
Get a free case review to see if a top birth injury lawyer may be able to pursue compensation on your behalf.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Katie Lavender, RNRegistered Nurse
- Editor
Katie Lavender has over 8 years of experience as a registered nurse (RN), providing direct care to mothers and babies after childbirth. She brings her hands-on experience in the field of labor and delivery to the LawFirm.com team, helping ensure that our birth injury content is correct and up to date.

Written by: Rae Theodore
Rae Theodore is a writer and editor with more than 30 years of experience in legal publishing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Pennsylvania State University.
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022, October 11). “Fetal Distress.” Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23971-fetal-distress
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022, January 3). “Postpartum Hemorrhage.” Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22228-postpartum-hemorrhage
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022, January 28). “Vacuum Extraction Delivery.” Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22305-vacuum-extraction-delivery
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2023, July 29). “Vacuum Extraction.” StatPearls. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459234/
- MyHealth Alberta. (2023, December 20). “Kernicterus.” Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=ue5852&lang=en-ca
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2021, May). “Maternal and Neonatal Complications Resulting From Vacuum-Assisted and Normal Vaginal Deliveries.” Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 12(3), 132-138. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8191856/
- National Institutes of Health. (2023, December 20). “Shoulder Dystocia.” StatPearls. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470427/