This page is for parents and caregivers who had a baby at UCI Health – Fountain Valley, the hospital at 17100 Euclid Street in Fountain Valley, Orange County, California, and who now have questions about their child's health after birth. Maybe your baby needed intensive care, maybe your child has been diagnosed with a condition such as cerebral palsy, or maybe something about the delivery was never fully explained to you. Wanting to understand what happened is reasonable, and you are not alone.
Beverly Law prepared this guide to explain, in plain words, what birth injuries are, which warning signs families notice, how an independent review of a delivery works, and where to find help for your child. It is general information. It is not medical or legal advice, and it does not say that anything went wrong at any hospital. Many families who read it will have no legal concern at all, and that is a good outcome.
UCI Health – Fountain Valley is licensed to the University of California and is part of the UC Irvine health system. That detail matters for the legal steps further down this page, because deadlines that apply to public entities can be shorter than the ones families expect. Below you will find a guide to the hospital, medical information with sources, how to request your records, where a case would usually be filed in Orange County, and how to ask for early help for a baby under three.
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At a glance: UCI Health – Fountain Valley
| Address | 17100 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 |
| County | Orange County |
| Health system / operator | UCI Health (University of California, Irvine) |
| Type of hospital | University of California hospital (public entity) |
| Newborns in 2024 | 1,551 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 23 |
| Main phone | 714-966-7200 |
| Hospital website | ucihealth.org |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at UCI Health – Fountain Valley
According to the hospital's own website, UCI Health – Fountain Valley offers labor and delivery. UCI Health's maternity orientation includes a live tour of the labor and delivery unit and the chance to meet staff, and it is held at the hospital's conference center on Warner Avenue in Fountain Valley. The hospital also lists a childbirth preparation series and a breastfeeding class for Fountain Valley patients. One UCI Health page notes that families who choose to deliver at Fountain Valley should make arrangements with their private physician, which is a useful detail to remember when we talk later about who cared for you.
According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 1,551 newborns in its newborn nursery that year. The same report lists 23 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds and 164 NICU discharges in 2024. These numbers show that the hospital serves many Orange County families, and that it has a dedicated unit for babies who need extra support after birth.
The hospital's main phone number is 714-966-7200. We have not stated a NICU level for this hospital because the pages we reviewed did not state one for the Fountain Valley campus. If your baby spent time in the NICU, you can ask the hospital or your child's pediatrician what level of care your baby received. Being in the NICU does not by itself mean a birth injury happened. Many babies go there because they were born early or need help with breathing or feeding.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is brain injury caused by too little oxygen or blood flow to a baby's brain around the time of birth. Doctors may treat some newborns with moderate or severe HIE with a cooling treatment called therapeutic hypothermia, which medical reviews describe as an established standard of care. HIE can come from many causes, and some start before labor. A baby diagnosed with HIE often needs close follow-up for months or years.
Cerebral palsy is a group of movement and posture disorders. The CDC describes it as the most common motor disability in childhood. The CDC also explains that most cases begin before or during birth, that in many cases the specific cause is unknown, and that lack of oxygen during birth is now thought to cause only a small number of cases. This is important to understand honestly: a cerebral palsy diagnosis does not by itself tell a family why it happened, which is one reason a careful medical review matters.
Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus birth injuries affect the nerves that control the arm. According to Hospital for Special Surgery, they occur in about 1 to 3 of every 1,000 births, most often when a baby's shoulder is stuck during delivery, and about two thirds of children recover without surgery. Families also ask about newborn brain bleeds, which are seen most often in babies born early; skull or collarbone fractures; infections such as group B strep (GBS); and injuries to the mother, such as heavy bleeding after delivery. Each of these has many possible causes, and some happen even when everyone does everything right.
Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months
In the first days, parents and nurses watch for trouble breathing, a baby who is very limp or very stiff, seizures or unusual jerking movements, poor feeding or a weak suck, a very high or very low temperature, or an arm or leg that is not moving. If you see any of these after you go home, call your pediatrician or seek emergency care right away. Do not wait to see whether it passes.
In the weeks and months that follow, the signs are often about development. The CDC says the main early sign of cerebral palsy is a delay in reaching motor milestones such as rolling over, sitting, standing or walking. For babies under 6 months it lists a head that lags when the baby is picked up, and arms, legs or trunk that feel stiff or floppy. For babies over 6 months it lists not rolling over, difficulty bringing the hands together, and reaching with one hand while the other stays fisted. NICHD adds that a child may use one side of the body more than the other.
These signs do not always mean something is wrong, and the CDC notes that some children without cerebral palsy show them too. But if something worries you, trust that feeling. Tell your pediatrician, write down what you see, and ask for a developmental screening. The CDC also says you do not need a doctor's referral or a diagnosis to contact your state's early intervention program, and we explain how to do that below.
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Who may be responsible in a birth injury claim
In a birth-injury case, responsibility depends on the facts, and many people may have been involved in a delivery. Depending on what the records show, a claim may involve the obstetrician, a midwife, the anesthesia team, nurses and other hospital staff, a neonatologist or pediatrician, and the hospital itself. A medical group may also be involved if the doctor worked through one.
One of the most common questions is whether the doctor worked for the hospital. Some physicians are employees of a hospital or health system. Others are independent and have their own practices, and they come to the hospital to care for their patients. As noted above, a UCI Health page tells families delivering at Fountain Valley to arrange care with their private physician, so it is worth finding out who your delivering doctor's employer was. This matters because it affects who may be named in a claim and which legal rules and deadlines apply.
Nothing here means that anyone did anything wrong. Most deliveries, including complicated ones, are handled with skill, and many bad outcomes happen with no one at fault. The purpose of a review is to answer that question fairly, using the records and the opinion of qualified experts, before anyone decides what to do next.
How an independent expert review of the delivery works
An independent review starts with the records. The reviewers look at the mother's prenatal and labor chart, the nursing notes, the fetal heart monitoring strips, which are the printouts that track the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions, and the delivery record. For the baby, they look at Apgar scores, which are quick scores given at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, and umbilical cord blood gas results, which show how the baby was doing chemically at birth. They also look at the NICU notes, lab results and imaging, including any brain MRI.
Qualified medical experts, such as obstetricians, neonatologists, nurses and pediatric neurologists, then read this material and tell the family, in plain language, what the records show, whether the care met accepted standards, and whether the baby's condition appears linked to events around the birth or to something else, such as a condition that began earlier in pregnancy. This step can take time because the charts are long and the timing of each event matters.
Sometimes the answer is reassuring: the care was appropriate and the condition had other causes. Sometimes questions remain that justify a closer look. Either way, the family comes away understanding more. The review is about facts first. It does not commit you to anything, and it is better done soon, while records are complete and memories are fresh.
What to do now: a step-by-step guide for families
First, take care of your child. Keep every appointment, follow your doctors' advice, and ask your pediatrician about a referral to specialists and therapies. Second, write down what you remember about labor, delivery and the first days: dates, times, what you were told, and who you spoke with. Keep discharge papers, bills, insurance letters and any photos or messages from that time.
Third, request the records for both mother and baby from the hospital, including the NICU chart and the fetal monitoring strips if you want them. The next section explains how to do that at UCI Health – Fountain Valley. Fourth, ask for an Early Start evaluation if your baby is under three, since early therapy helps and does not depend on any legal case.
Fifth, talk with a birth-injury attorney early. Birth-injury claims follow strict deadlines, and claims involving public hospitals have a short six-month claim step before any lawsuit, so it is safer to ask soon even if you are unsure. A consultation is a chance to ask questions, not a promise to sue. Finally, avoid posting details of your child's case on social media, and be careful about signing forms from insurers or anyone else without understanding them.
Support for your child while the case is reviewed
Your child's care should not wait for a legal review. Depending on your child's needs, a pediatrician may recommend physical, occupational or speech therapy, specialist visits, braces or splints, or equipment. The CDC explains that there is no cure for cerebral palsy, but that early identification and treatment can improve quality of life, and that a team of professionals can build a plan for your child.
For babies and toddlers under three, the Regional Center of Orange County runs the Early Start program, which we describe below. State programs such as Medi-Cal and California Children's Services may also help with the cost of care for children who are eligible. Eligibility rules change, so ask your pediatrician, the hospital's social worker or a benefits counselor which programs fit your family.
We cannot promise any outcome from a legal review, and nothing on this page guarantees that any program or claim will apply to you. What we can say is that understanding your options early, getting services started and keeping good records give families the most choices.
UCI Health – Fountain Valley is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first
Because UCI Health – Fountain Valley is a University of California hospital (operated by UCI Health (University of California, Irvine)), a claim for an injury at birth usually has to start with a written government claim, not a lawsuit. This is the single most important deadline on this page.
Many California babies are born at county or University of California hospitals: LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA, Riverside University Health System, Arrowhead Regional, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Davis and others. These are public entities, and the Government Claims Act applies. Under Government Code § 911.2, a written claim for injury or death must be presented to the public entity within six months of the injury, before any lawsuit. If the claim is rejected in writing, Government Code § 945.6 gives six months from that notice to file suit. The child’s longer deadline under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 does not replace this six-month claim, so families with a public-hospital birth should act right away.
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.
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 UCI Health – Fountain Valley
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 request your records from UCI Health – Fountain Valley, contact the hospital's Release of Information office at 11170 Warner Avenue, Suite 102, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. According to the hospital's records page, you complete an Authorization for Release of Health Information form, which is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, and mail or fax it to that office. The office's direct phone is 714-966-8027, its fax is 714-966-3367, and its email is FVRROI@hs.uci.edu. Ask for the complete chart for both mother and baby, including the labor and delivery record, the fetal heart monitoring strips and the NICU chart if your baby was admitted. Fill in every section of the form, because the hospital says it cannot release records if the form is incomplete.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from Fountain Valley would be filed
A civil case for a birth injury at UCI Health – Fountain Valley would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange. The court's website lists the Central Justice Center, at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, as the facility that handles unlimited civil cases, which is where larger personal injury cases are heard. The court assigns each case, and a claim against a public entity must first go through the claim process described above, so ask an attorney which steps apply to your situation.
Superior Court of California, County of Orange – Central Justice Center → — 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Help for your child now: Early Start in Orange County
If your baby is under three and you are worried about development, ask for an Early Start evaluation. In Orange County, Early Start is provided through the Regional Center of Orange County, which serves children from birth to 36 months who have a developmental delay or are at risk of a developmental disability, and the child must live in Orange County. You can apply online through the regional center's Early Start page or call its main number, 714-796-5100, and ask to speak with an Intake Specialist. The CDC says you do not need a doctor's referral or a diagnosis to ask for help, and getting an evaluation does not depend on any legal claim.
Regional Center of Orange County →
Key facts
- UCI Health – Fountain Valley, at 17100 Euclid Street in Fountain Valley, offers labor and delivery according to the hospital's own website.
- According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), it cared for 1,551 newborns in its nursery and has 23 licensed NICU beds.
- The hospital is licensed to the University of California, so public-entity claim rules with short deadlines may apply to a birth-injury claim.
- The CDC says most cerebral palsy begins before or during birth, and that in many cases the cause is unknown, so a careful records review matters.
- You can request your and your baby's records, including fetal monitoring strips, from the hospital's Release of Information office at 714-966-8027.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against UCI Health – Fountain Valley?
Families have the right to ask whether a child's injury could be linked to the care around a delivery. Whether a claim is possible depends on the medical records and on an expert's opinion, not on the hospital's name alone. A review of the records is the usual first step, and it does not commit you to a lawsuit.
How long do I have to bring a birth-injury claim?
California sets strict deadlines, and a child's case has its own deadline that can be longer than the parents' own claims. Claims against a public hospital also require a written claim within six months before any lawsuit. Because the rules are different for each person involved, it is safer to speak with an attorney early rather than assume you have time.
Is UCI Health – Fountain Valley a public hospital?
The hospital's report to the state lists its type of control as the University of California, with UC Irvine as its parent organization. Public entities fall under special claim rules, including a short written-claim step before suing. An attorney can confirm how those rules apply to your family.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
That is common. Many obstetricians and other doctors are independent and only use the hospital to deliver their patients, and a UCI Health page tells families delivering at Fountain Valley to arrange care with their private physician. A claim may still be possible against the doctor, the doctor's medical group, or others involved, and different deadlines can apply to each.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from UCI Health – Fountain Valley?
Send a signed Authorization for Release of Health Information to the hospital's Release of Information office at 11170 Warner Avenue, Suite 102, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, or by fax or email as listed on the hospital's records page. Say clearly that you want the fetal heart monitoring strips along with the complete labor, delivery and NICU records. The office's direct phone is 714-966-8027.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer?
Many personal injury firms offer a first consultation at no charge and handle injury cases on a contingency basis, but terms differ. Ask about fees and costs at the very start and get the answer in writing before you sign anything. A consultation is a chance to ask questions and does not commit you to a case.
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Other Orange County hospitals we cover
Hoag Hospital Newport Beach · Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange · Kaiser Permanente Anaheim · Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical Center · Hoag Hospital Irvine · St. Jude Medical Center · MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center · Orange County Global Medical Center · UC Irvine Medical Center · Orange County birth injury lawyers →
UCI Health – Fountain Valley Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in Fountain Valley. 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)
- UCI Health – English Maternity Orientation & Tour — Shows the hospital offers labor and delivery at Fountain Valley, with a live unit tour held at the hospital's conference center.
- UCI Health – Labor and Delivery — Says families delivering at Fountain Valley should arrange care with their private physician and lists Fountain Valley classes.
- UCI Health – Medical Records, Fountain Valley — Release of Information office address, phone, fax, email and authorization form.
- CDC – About Cerebral Palsy — Causes, early signs, and early intervention for cerebral palsy.
- NICHD – Early signs of cerebral palsy — Early signs such as abnormal muscle tone and favoring one side of the body.
- Hospital for Special Surgery – Erb's Palsy and Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries — Frequency, causes, signs and recovery of brachial plexus birth injuries.
- NIH PubMed Central – Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy and Hypothermia Treatment — Medical review of HIE and cooling treatment.
- Superior Court of California, County of Orange – Central Justice Center — Courthouse address and the unlimited civil cases it handles.
- Regional Center of Orange County – Early Start — Early Start eligibility from birth to 36 months and how to apply.
- Government Code § 911.2
- Government Code § 945.6
- Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5
- 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 UCI Health – Fountain Valley or UCI Health (University of California, Irvine). 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.