Birth injury is an unfortunate, but real possibility for women and their newborns around the world — including here in the United States. While, birth injury is relatively rare, it’s important to discuss so that families suffering through the ordeal can get the assistance and compensation they deserve. In order to learn more about birth injuries, here are the top five facts you need to know.
1. Less than one percent of infants born in the U.S. are born with a birth injury.
Birth injury is not what any parent expects, but it happens. Seven out of every 1,000 infants born in the United States are born with a birth injury. This comes out to about 28,000 per year, 2,333 per month, 538 per week, 76 per day, or 3 per hour.
2. Many injuries to mothers and newborns could be avoided.
In 2006, nearly 157,700 injuries to mothers and newborns could have potentially been avoided. Planning for obstetrical risk factors before birth could prevent nearly half of all birth injuries. This is why so many families file medical malpractice suits against negligent medical professionals following a birth injury. If your newborn experienced a birth injury, the legal team at Schwaner Injury Law is available to help.
3. Cerebral palsy is one of the 10 most common birth injuries.
The top 10 birth injuries include the following, in no particular order:
- Brachial Plexus Palsy (Erb’s Palsy)
- Bone fractures
- Cephalohematoma
- Caput succedaneum
- Perinatal asphyxia
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage
- Facial paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cerebral palsy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates that medical costs for children with cerebral palsy are 10 times higher than medical costs for children without the disorder. This is just one of many reasons getting the proper compensation for a birth injury is crucial for getting proper treatment.
4. Newborns covered by Medicaid have higher injury rates than those covered by private insurance.
Despite this, there is no difference in the rate of newborn injury between the wealthiest and poorest communities. However, women with private insurance had higher obstetrical trauma rates than those with Medicaid.
5. In the year 2000, birth injuries occured most often at private, non-profit hospitals.
According to the National Healthcare Quality Report,
- 15 out of every 1,000 birth traumas occurred at private, non-profit hospitals.
- 11 out over 1,000 birth injuries happened in public hospitals.
- 33 out of every 1,000 birth traumas occurred in for-profit, private hospitals.