How Often Do Birth Injuries Happen?
July through October is the busiest period of the year for births. August sees the most deliveries overall, while the ten days between September 9th and 20th contain the most common birthdays in the US. Generally, birth injuries are startlingly common, and with the increase in births between July and October, birth injuries may also increase during this period.
It is projected that approximately six to eight out of every 1,000 infants born in the US will suffer a birth injury. Data suggests that birth injuries are highest in cases where the mother was 25 to 34 years old and had a delivery assisted with a birthing tool.
What causes birth injuries?
- Genetic factors
- Environmental factors
- Medical malpractice
Infants suffering from birth injuries frequently must stay in the NICU. They also tend to require additional care, surgeries, or further hospitalization down the road. This is nothing compared to the likelihood that those with birth injuries will be left with lifelong disabilities and/or chronic pain. Furthermore, mothers of infants who suffer birth injuries may be injured themselves and require additional treatment. While some birth injuries are unavoidable, it is devastating when they result from medical malpractice and negligence.
Birth Injuries Can Affect the Child & Mother
Birth injuries (also referred to as birth trauma) are incredibly serious and take a physical and mental toll on the families affected by them. More and more people are becoming aware of the prevalence of birth injuries. However, many do not realize that they impact both the infant and the mother.
According to Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, common examples of birth injuries:
- Brachial palsy
- Bruising
- Caput succedaneum
- Cephalohematoma
- Facial paralysis
- Fractures
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage
Common injuries suffered by mothers:
- Internal bleeding
- Vaginal tears
- Ruptured uterus
- Prolapsed uterus
- Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)
Mothers may also suffer from postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum anxiety (PPA), and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD).
Filing a Birth Injury Claim
If your child or partner has suffered harm from a birth injury, you may be scared, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do. Furthermore, medical care for infants and mothers can be shockingly expensive. Even with health insurance, many families face insurmountable medical bills. This puts incredible stress on families when they need all their energy to focus on healing and moving forward.
In cases where the birth injury was caused by the negligence or malpractice of a doctor, medical practitioner, or healthcare provider, it may be in your and your family’s best interest to file a birth injury claim. Though the thought of filing a lawsuit may be stressful, with the help of a skilled attorney, you can get the support you need to focus on what matters.
Through filing a birth injury suit, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Your immediate medical bills associated with the birth and related injury
- The costs associated with long-term care
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Occupational devices and equipment
- Lost wages
- Emotional suffering
At Golomb Legal., we appreciate what you are going through. Our goal is to bring our clients the compassionate-yet-strong legal representation they need to feel confident making important legal decisions. We are well-known for our tireless advocacy and our unwillingness to back down from a fight. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a birth injury, we are here for you. Reach out to our law firm to discuss your options.
For more information on birth injuries, review these blog posts: