The term “birth injury” is used a lot. We see it in news accounts about specific occurrences, online general information articles and in many other publications. But what exactly is a birth injury?
We’ll talk about it in this issue.
Isn’t a birth injury the same as a birth defect?
No. While they’re often used interchangeably, the two words have completely different meanings.
- A birth defect refers to a child genetically predisposed to having a certain condition.
- A birth injury is any injury that happens while the baby is in the process of being delivered or occurs as a result of something that happened during the process.
How common are birth injuries?
Data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) confirms that for every 1,000 infants born in the U.S., about 6 – 8 experience a birth injury. By running the numbers, that translates to about 1 in every 9,174 people in this country being born with a birth injury.
What are the most common birth injuries?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the most commons types of birth injuries are:
- Brachial palsy injuries – including Erb’s Palsy, Klumpke’s Palsy and Shoulder Dystocia
These types of injuries happen when nerves needed for moving arms and hands are injured. The most common cause stems from the infant’s shoulder being trapped in the mother’s pelvic bone during the delivery. - Brain injuries
Cerebral palsy and autism are the leading conditions that can stem from a brain-related injury. In many cases, such injuries occur when the brain’s oxygen flow is disrupted. - Injuries from Delivery
Birth injuries occurring during the actual delivery are quite common, and can result in broken bones, lacerations and even skull fractures. Such injuries can be the result of medical personnel mishandling the infant, and the improper use of such tools like forceps or vacuum extractors.These types of injuries can also lead to the infant experiencing high blood pressure or hypertension.
Call The Fitzgerald Law Firm if Your Child Has Experienced a Birth Injury
Even though our offices are based in New York, The Fitzgerald Law Firm is proud to fight on behalf of children throughout the U.S.
Call us for a free consultation. Our number is 800-323-9900.