3 Areas of Birth Injury Statistics Every Prospective Parent Should Know

Medical malpractice can be a devastating and traumatic experience under any circumstance, but it’s always especially sad when the life of a child is at stake. Obviously, not all birth injury statistics are in relation to medical malpractice, but it is important to consider as it is one of the leading causes of things like a cerebral palsy diagnosis, the most common motor disorder in children.

Knowing as much information as you can on birth injury statistics and how to identify medical malpractice in that setting is crucial for prospective parents. Ultimately, you, of course, hope to never have to need any of it, but it’s always better to prepare yourself just in case.

Here are a few facts and birth injury statistics that parents-to-be should be aware of as they begin their journey that is the miracle of life.

1. Overall Birth Injury Rates and Prevalence: According to BirthInjuryGuide.org, approximately six to eight infants in every 1,000 born in the U.S. will be born with a birth injury. Overall, that means about 28,000 birth injuries occur every year. that breaks down to 2,333 per month, 538 per week, 76 per day, and three every hour of the day.
2. Birth Injury Statistics (Pertaining to Mother): Those unfamiliar with the field might be surprised to find that mothers between the ages of 25 and 34 who use birthing tool-assisted deliveries are actually the most at-risk of birth injuries. Mothers in the 40 to 54 age group are actually among the lowest. The data suggests that non-instrument vaginal births are statistically safest.
3. Birth Injury Research (Race and Demographics): White and Asian-Pacific area women have the highest rate of birth injuries whereas blacks and Hispanics are on the low end of the spectrum. Interestingly, the Northeast region of the U.S. — home to many of the best medical institutions and facilities in the country — have 24 to 32% more birth injuries than the West, South, and Midwest.

 
Often times birth injuries are impossible to predict or avoid. Unfortunate results can occur during such a delicate process. However, there are many that are the result of negligence/mishaps. In fact, it’s estimated that about 157,700 injuries to mothers and babies could have been avoided in 2006. Some estimates suggest that as many as 50% of all birth injuries could be avoided with proper planning and execution.