This page is for parents and families who delivered a baby at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, at 725 Welch Road in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, and who now have questions about how the birth went. Maybe your baby needed intensive care, was diagnosed with a condition such as cerebral palsy, or is not reaching milestones, and no one has been able to tell you why. You are not alone, and wanting clear answers is reasonable.
According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford is a private nonprofit hospital that cared for 4,565 newborns in its newborn nursery that year. The same report lists 100 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds and 1,058 NICU discharges in 2024. Those numbers show the size of the community the hospital serves. They say nothing about the care any one family received.
We wrote this page to explain, in plain words, what birth injuries are, which warning signs families notice, how an independent medical review of a delivery works, how to ask the hospital for records, and what steps a family can take now. It is general information, not legal or medical advice, and it is not a statement about any particular delivery or any person. Every family's situation is different, and the only way to learn what happened in yours is to review your own records.
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At a glance: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
| Address | 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304 |
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Health system / operator | Stanford Medicine Children's Health |
| Type of hospital | Private nonprofit hospital |
| Newborns in 2024 | 4,565 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 100 |
| NICU level | Level IV |
| Main phone | 650-497-8000 |
| Hospital website | stanfordchildrens.org/en/location/lucile-packard-childrens-hospital.html |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto
According to the hospital's own website, Labor and Delivery is in Unit 280 on the second floor of the West building at 725 Welch Road. The hospital asks expectant parents to complete a pre-registration form at least six weeks before the due date and to call its Labor and Delivery line if they think they are in labor. After delivery, mothers recover on the unit for a couple of hours and then move to the maternity or postpartum unit, and staff support skin-to-skin bonding and breastfeeding. The hospital also offers a virtual Birth Center tour and a free monthly orientation for expectant parents.
The hospital is part of Stanford Medicine Children's Health, and its website says that babies who need special care are supported by the neonatology team in the NICU. The hospital's neonatology page lists a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, with specialty areas such as a NeuroNICU, a NephroNICU and a unit for very small babies. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), it has 100 licensed NICU beds and recorded 1,058 NICU discharges that year, and 4,565 newborns were cared for in its newborn nursery.
Because it is a children's hospital with obstetric, newborn and pediatric services under one roof, families from across the Bay Area and beyond may deliver there, including pregnancies that doctors expect to need extra monitoring. Many babies who go home healthy and many who spend weeks in the NICU are cared for by dedicated teams. This page is not about the care at this hospital. It is for families who want to understand their options if they believe something went wrong in a delivery.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is a brain injury caused by too little oxygen and blood flow to the baby's brain around the time of birth. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) describes it as rare but serious, and its Neonatal Research Network helped show that cooling therapy (therapeutic hypothermia) can help some babies with moderate or severe HIE when it starts promptly. HIE can lead to seizures, feeding problems, and long-term conditions such as cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a group of movement and posture disorders caused by damage to, or abnormal development of, the developing brain. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NICHD and the CDC explain that most cerebral palsy begins before or during birth, and that causes can include lack of oxygen, bleeding in the brain, infection, and problems in brain development. In many children the exact cause is never found. That is why a careful, independent review of the medical record matters: it can separate causes that were beyond anyone's control from those that deserve more questions.
Other injuries families ask about include Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries, which affect the nerves of the shoulder and arm and are more often linked to a difficult delivery such as shoulder dystocia, a large baby or a prolonged labor, according to Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Many babies recover over months, while some need therapy or surgery. Newborns can also have a broken collarbone or skull fracture, bleeding inside the skull, or infections such as group B strep (GBS) that can be serious if not treated quickly. Mothers can be hurt too, for example by heavy bleeding (hemorrhage) after delivery, tears, or infection. These are general medical facts, and a diagnosis does not by itself mean that anyone made a mistake.
Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months
In the first hours and days, signs that doctors take seriously include a baby who is very limp or very stiff, has trouble breathing, has seizures or unusual jerking movements, will not feed well, has a weak or high-pitched cry, or needs resuscitation or admission to the NICU. A baby who does not move one arm, or who holds it close to the body, may have a nerve injury in the shoulder. Swelling, bruising or a bump on the head or collarbone area should also be mentioned to the care team.
Over the following weeks and months, parents often notice that a baby is not lifting the head, rarely smiles or follows faces, startles very little or too much, favors one side of the body, has stiff or floppy limbs, or is not rolling over, sitting or reaching when other children the same age are. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics both encourage parents to track milestones and to talk to the pediatrician early when something seems different.
Trust your instincts. If you are worried, ask your pediatrician for a developmental screening and a referral to a specialist, and write down dates, symptoms and what you were told. Early therapy helps children whether or not a legal claim ever follows, so do not wait for a diagnosis or for an answer about the cause before asking for help.
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Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim
A birth-injury claim looks at whether the care a mother and baby received met the accepted standard, and, if it did not, whether that caused the injury. Many people take part in a delivery: obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, labor and delivery nurses, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, pediatricians, residents, and the hospital itself. Depending on the facts, responsibility may rest with one or more of them, or with none.
A key question is who employed the people involved. Some physicians and midwives are employees of the hospital or a medical group, while others are independent doctors who have privileges to deliver at the hospital but run their own practices. Nurses and other staff are usually employed by the hospital or its health system. Which kind of relationship exists affects who may be named in a claim, and it is one reason the records and an expert review come first.
Not every bad outcome comes from a mistake. Some babies are born with conditions that no one could have prevented, and a responsible review will say so. Our goal on this page is to help you find out which of those two situations applies to your family, not to assume an answer.
How an independent expert review of a delivery works
A review usually begins with the complete records for both the mother and the baby: prenatal visits, labor and delivery notes, anesthesia records, operative or delivery reports, and the baby's newborn and NICU charts. Medical experts, such as an obstetrician, a neonatologist or a pediatric neurologist, read them in order and build a timeline of what happened and when.
Several items are especially important. The fetal heart monitoring strips show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions during labor, and an expert looks at how patterns were recognized and answered. Apgar scores, assigned at one and five minutes of life, summarize how the baby looked right after birth. Umbilical cord blood gases measure acidity and oxygen levels in the cord blood. Brain imaging such as MRI, EEG results and NICU notes help show the type, timing and extent of any brain injury.
The experts then answer two questions: whether the care met accepted standards, and whether any departure caused the child's condition. A review may also conclude that the injury had other causes. Having a physician review of the records is also required in practice before a medical malpractice case can responsibly move forward, and it protects families from spending time and money on a claim the facts do not support.
What to do now: step-by-step for families after a birth injury
First, take care of your child and yourself. Keep every appointment, follow the treatment plan and ask the care team to explain diagnoses in plain language. Keep a folder or notebook with test results, bills, names of specialists, dates and your own notes about what you remember from labor and delivery while it is fresh.
Second, request the records in writing. Ask for the mother's chart and the baby's chart, and ask specifically for the fetal monitoring strips, labor flow sheets, delivery summary, anesthesia record, Apgar scores, cord blood gas results, NICU notes and imaging reports. Do not alter or discard anything you already have, including photographs, discharge papers and text messages.
Third, do not wait too long to get advice. California sets strict deadlines for birth-injury claims, and some claims, including those by parents and those against public hospitals, can have much shorter deadlines than a child's own claim. Talking with a lawyer does not commit you to filing anything, and a first conversation can tell you which deadlines may apply to your family. Fourth, sign nothing and give no recorded statements to an insurance company before you have understood your rights.
Support for your child while your case is reviewed
Services for your child should never wait for a legal answer. Physical, occupational and speech therapy, early intervention, and specialist care can make a real difference, especially in the first three years when the brain is developing quickly. Ask your pediatrician about referrals, and ask the hospital's social work team or your child's clinic about resources for families.
Families in Santa Clara County who have a child under three with a delay or a risk of one can ask the regional center about Early Start, described below. Many children with serious medical needs may also qualify for California Children's Services (CCS) and Medi-Cal, which can help cover specialist care and equipment. Eligibility depends on your income and your child's diagnosis, so ask your county office or your child's specialist how to apply.
Caring for a child with complex needs is exhausting. Parent support groups, respite services and counseling can help, and asking for them is a sign of strength. We cannot promise any result from a legal claim, but a well-prepared claim may in some cases help families pay for the long-term care a child needs.
Deadlines for a birth-injury case in California
California gives a child’s birth-injury case its own deadline. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5, a minor must sue within three years of the wrongful act, but a child who was under six when it happened has until his or her eighth birthday if that is longer. For a baby hurt during labor or delivery, that usually means the eighth birthday. The clock runs from the act itself, not from the day the family learned what went wrong, and it is paused only in narrow cases of fraud or collusion. Parents’ own claims, and claims against a public hospital, can have much shorter deadlines, so it is safer to get advice early.
Before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed in California, the doctor or hospital must get written warning. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 364, the health care provider must receive at least 90 days’ notice of the intention to sue. No special form is required, but the notice must state the legal basis of the claim, the type of loss and the specific injuries suffered. Under § 364(d), if the notice is served within the last 90 days of the filing deadline, the deadline is extended 90 days from the date of service. The notice is a required step, and it is often the moment a case moves from questions to formal action.
What MICRA caps — and what it does not
California’s MICRA law limits one part of a medical malpractice recovery. Under Civil Code § 3333.2, as amended by AB 35, non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) are capped. In 2026 the cap is $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death, and it rises every January 1 ($40,000 and $50,000 a year until 2033, then 2% a year). Separate caps can apply to doctors, hospitals and unaffiliated providers. Economic damages are not capped: lifetime medical care, therapy, equipment, home modifications and lost earning capacity can be recovered in full, and in a birth-injury case they are usually the largest part of the claim.
How to get the delivery records from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
California law gives families a right to these records. Under Health and Safety Code § 123110, a patient or the patient’s personal representative — for a baby, a parent or guardian (§ 123105) — may inspect the records within five working days of a written request and is entitled to a paper or electronic copy, which the provider must send within 15 days after receiving a request that says which records are wanted. For a birth-injury review, ask for both charts: the mother’s labor and delivery record, including the fetal heart rate monitoring strips, and the baby’s newborn and NICU record.
To get the records from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, contact its Health Information Management Services (HIMS) Release of Information team. According to the hospital's medical records page, you can request records through MyChart (My Record menu, Request Medical Records) or send the Authorization for Release of Health Information form, available in English and Spanish, by mail to Health Information Management Services, 4700 Bohannon Drive, MC 5900, Menlo Park, CA 94025, by fax to 650-725-8496, or by email to HIMS-ROI@stanfordchildrens.org. The hospital says it no longer has a walk-in office, that its HIMS phone line is 650-497-8079 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), that processing can take up to 14 days, and that fees may apply. List the exact dates of the mother's and the baby's stay and name the items you want, such as the fetal monitoring strips, labor notes and NICU chart. Radiology images are requested separately from the Radiology Film Library at 650-497-8376, option 2.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from Palo Alto would be filed
A birth-injury lawsuit from a delivery in Palo Alto would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. According to the court's civil rules, civil cases are filed in the Downtown Superior Court, 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, and the court's Civil Division page explains how civil cases move through the court. The exact court depends on the facts of each case, such as where the defendants are located, so a lawyer should confirm it before anything is filed.
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara – Downtown Superior Court → — 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Help for your child now: Early Start in Santa Clara County
If your baby is under three and has a developmental delay or a condition that may cause one, Early Start offers early intervention services, and the California Department of Developmental Services lists San Andreas Regional Center as the regional center that serves Santa Clara County, including Palo Alto. Anyone, including a parent or a doctor, can make a referral. Call the Early Start intake line listed by the state for Santa Clara County at 1-844-700-9889 or visit sanandreasregional.org, say that you would like an evaluation of your child, and ask for it in Spanish if you prefer. Early Start does not depend on a legal case, and evaluations should not wait.
Key facts
- According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford cared for 4,565 newborns in its newborn nursery.
- The same state report lists 100 licensed NICU beds and 1,058 NICU discharges in 2024, and the hospital's own website lists a Level IV NICU.
- The hospital is a private nonprofit hospital at 725 Welch Road in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, so the six-month claim rule for public hospitals does not describe it.
- California sets strict deadlines for birth-injury cases, and parents' own claims can have shorter deadlines than the child's, so it is safer to ask early.
- You can ask the hospital for your records through MyChart or its Health Information Management Services office, and an independent expert review starts with those records.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford?
Whether a claim is possible depends on what the medical records show, not on the name of the hospital. A family may bring a claim when care fell below accepted standards and that caused an injury, and an independent expert review of your records is how that question is answered. Many babies with serious conditions had no preventable cause, and a review can tell you that as well.
How long do I have to file a birth-injury case?
California gives a child's birth-injury case its own deadline under Code of Civil Procedure section 340.5. For a baby hurt during labor or delivery, that usually means the child's eighth birthday, but the clock runs from the act itself and parents' own claims can have much shorter deadlines. Because the rules are strict, it is safer to get advice early.
Is Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford a public hospital?
No. The hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI) classifies it as a non-profit corporation, so it is a private nonprofit hospital. The six-month written claim that applies to county and University of California hospitals is not described as applying to it, but a lawyer should confirm which rules apply to your delivery and to each provider involved.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
Many obstetricians and midwives are independent or belong to separate medical groups and only have privileges to deliver at a hospital. That may change who can be named in a claim, and strict deadlines and notice rules apply to each provider. The records and an expert review help sort out who was involved and in what role.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford?
Ask the hospital's Health Information Management Services for the mother's labor and delivery chart and name the fetal monitoring strips in your request. According to the hospital, you can use MyChart or send the Authorization for Release of Health Information form by mail, fax or email, and you should allow up to 14 days. Keep a copy of what you send and ask for the baby's NICU chart too.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer about a birth injury?
A first conversation to learn about your options is typically free, and birth-injury cases are commonly handled on a contingency basis, which means no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. Ask any lawyer you speak with to explain fees and costs in writing before you decide.
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Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in Palo Alto. We obtain the delivery records, have them reviewed by medical experts and deal with the hospital and its insurer — you focus on your child. You pay no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Cerebral Palsy · Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injury · HIE / Oxygen Deprivation at Birth · Statute of Limitations · MICRA Damages Cap · All California hospitals · California birth injury lawyers · Birth injury guides
Sources
- HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report (final, October 2025)
- Stanford Medicine Children's Health – Labor and Delivery Care — Confirms labor and delivery is offered at the hospital, its location, pre-registration and birth center information.
- Stanford Medicine Children's Health – Neonatology — Lists the hospital's Level IV NICU and its specialty units.
- Stanford Medicine Children's Health – Medical Records — Health Information Management Services process, forms, address, email, fax, phone and timing for records requests.
- Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara – Civil Division — Civil case information and filing location for civil cases in Santa Clara County.
- California Department of Developmental Services – Regional Center Listings — San Andreas Regional Center serves Santa Clara County; address and Early Start intake number.
- NINDS – Cerebral Palsy — What cerebral palsy is and its possible causes.
- NICHD – What causes cerebral palsy? — Causes of cerebral palsy including oxygen lack and brain bleeding.
- CDC – Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy — Most cerebral palsy is congenital, beginning before or during birth.
- NINDS – Brachial Plexus Injury — Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries.
- Cleveland Clinic – Birth Injury Types and Causes — Overview of common birth injuries and their causes.
- Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5
- Code of Civil Procedure § 364
- Civil Code § 3333.2 (as amended by AB 35, 2022)
- Health and Safety Code § 123110 (patient access to records)
Beverly Law is an independent law firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford or Stanford Medicine Children's Health. Hospital facts on this page come from the public sources listed above.
Important: This page is general information about birth injuries and California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Every case is different — talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No fees or costs unless we win. Last reviewed: 2026-09-18.