The NHS in Fife has paid out £99,000 in compensation since 2012 for hospital bungles that injured babies.
The local health authority revealed that there had been 17 reports of injury or trauma since 2012.
The figures emerged as part of wider revelations showing that the NHS in Scotland has paid out at least £25 million in compensation in the past three years.
A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: “The safety of the patients in our care is NHS Fife’s single biggest priority.
“There are inherent risks associated with childbirth; however, injuries to infants during the process are incredibly rare, which is testament to the skill and expertise of our midwives and obstetricians.
“Indeed, there was an average of around 3,500 deliveries per annum in Fife between 2012-15, with 17 reported injuries across the whole period.
“It is worth noting also that the vast majority of the complications experienced during childbirth are as a result of issues beyond the clinician’s control. In each instance our practices are thoroughly reviewed to ascertain whether any learning can be gained to enable us to make our practices even safer still.”
Of Scotland’s health boards, NHS Lanarkshire was the single worst offender, paying almost £13m to parents of injured babies over the past four years.
Dozens of delivery-room blunders resulted in NHS Lothian accounting for another £12m of the total.
NHS Grampian admitted five babies were injured and “fewer than five” died, but refused to reveal how much compensation was paid out.
NHS Forth Valley and NHS Borders refused to answer the question, claiming the Freedom of Information request would cost too much.
Politicians and patients groups have now condemned the NHS for trying to “brush off” avoidable tragedies with big payouts.
Margaret Watt, chairwoman of Scotland Patients Association, said: “This situation is shocking both by the fact that these incidents should never be happening in our hospitals today and secondly with the shortfall of monies in the NHS this money put aside could be put to much better use.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: “It is vital that these tragic incidents are not brushed off with payouts.
“It’s important lessons are learned and there is accountability when such negligence occurs. That is the only way to reduce future incidents.
“The complaints process is so complex that even a sincere apology can often take years to arrive and this is obviously something which needs looked at.”