National Birth Injury Statistics & Data
As a parent, you want nothing but the best for your child. Complications during childbirth are a terrifying and stressful experience, especially when these issues are preventable and result from a medical provider’s negligence.
At Levin & Perconti, we want our clients to feel informed about the situations they may face. Therefore, we have compiled objective, government-backed national birth statistics and data on how often these injuries occur, the most common types, and where disparities exist. For more information, schedule a free consultation with a birth injury attorney at Levin & Perconti today.
How Common Are Birth Injuries in the U.S.?
In 2023, there were over 3.5 million births in the United States. Of these, more than 25,000 babies sustained birth injuries. In addition, birth injuries account for 20 percent of the 20,000 infant deaths in the U.S. annually.
It’s important to understand that birth injury rates vary by delivery method; the overall rates per method are as follows:
- Cesarean with labor – 10 per 1,000 births
- Spontaneous vaginal birth – 4.74 per 1000 births
- Vaginal with vacuum – 14.22 per 1000 births
- Vaginal with forceps – 25.48 per 1000 births
Most Common Types of Birth Injuries
Several injuries can result from medical malpractice on a doctor’s part. The most commonly documented birth injuries include the following:
- Intracranial Hemorrhage – Bleeding within the skull that can be life-threatening and lead to long-term brain damage or cerebral palsy.
- Spinal Cord Injury – While uncommon, spinal injuries are serious and may result in paralysis or lasting neurological issues.
- Brachial Plexus Injury, or Erb’s Palsy – This condition can significantly impair movement or sensation in the affected arm.
- Fractures – Broken bones may require surgical intervention and can result in mobility challenges.
- Facial Nerve Injury – Can lead to temporary or permanent facial paralysis, affecting feeding and expression.
- Cephalohematoma – This is an accumulation of blood beneath the skull’s membrane. It usually resolves on its own, though it can result in jaundice or anemia.
- Caput Succedaneum – This involves swelling of the scalp tissue. While typically harmless, it may cause discomfort and initially hinder breastfeeding.
- Subconjunctival Hemorrhage – Burst blood vessels in the eyes are harmless and typically resolve without treatment.
- Soft Tissue Injuries and Bruising – Minor bruising of skin and muscles usually heals quickly without the need for medical intervention.
Disparities in Birth Injury Rates by Race, Geography & Insurance
The rate of birth injuries varies based on race, geographic location, and hospital quality metrics.
Risk of Birth Injuries Per Race
For example, black infants have the highest rate of birth injuries in the United States, experiencing 10.90 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to white infants, who had 4.52 deaths per 1,000 live births. Black mothers are also more likely to experience injuries during the birthing process. According to the statistics, “an average of 19 Black women in Chicago die within 12 months of giving birth, making their deaths nearly six times higher than whites.”
Birth Injuries Based on Location
Similarly, geographic location can impact birth injury rates. Rural hospitals tend to have higher birth injury rates due to limited access to specialized obstetric care and emergency services, fewer resources for managing high-risk pregnancies or emergencies like shoulder dystocia, and less-equipped facilities and fewer specialists. Urban areas, on the other hand, are more likely to offer specialized and emergency services for high-risk pregnancies and house a higher volume of centers and medical professionals.
Hospital Quality Metrics and Birth Injuries
Hospitals with a higher volume of deliveries tend to have more experience with different situations, resulting in lower rates of birth injuries. These centers tend to be placed in high-population areas, allowing for more specialized staff and better protocols.
In addition, hospitals with accreditation and quality certifications have been shown to deliver better birth outcomes. These centers have a higher enforcement of safety protocols and quality care to reduce trauma during birth.
Lastly, hospitals with access to neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, access to anesthesiology, and multidisciplinary teams are better equipped to handle complications, lowering injury rates.
Risk Factors Associated with Higher Birth Injury Rates
There are medically recognized risk factors that increase the likelihood of birth injuries. These can be broken down into three categories: Infant-related, maternal-related, and delivery-related risks.
Infant-Related Risks
- Premature Birth – Infants born preterm have underdeveloped tissues and organs, which heightens their vulnerability to injury during delivery.
- Feet-first or Transverse Positions – These complicate delivery, increasing the risk of trauma.
- Multiple Births – Due to confined spaces and complex delivery scenarios, twins, triplets, and more face greater risks.
- Congenital Anomalies – Some congenital disabilities may make infants more susceptible to injury at birth.
Maternal-Related Risks
- Maternal Obesity – This is associated with a higher risk of cesarean delivery and delivery complications.
- Pelvic Abnormalities – A small or abnormally shaped pelvis can make vaginal delivery difficult.
- Inadequate Prenatal Care – Lack of early and consistent prenatal care can miss identifying risk factors or managing complications.
- Previous Birth Injuries or Cesarean Sections – History of difficult deliveries or uterine surgery can complicate the current birth.
Delivery-Related Risks
- Use of Instruments – The use of instruments to assist delivery increases the risk of trauma, such as nerve injury, skull fractures, or bleeding.
- Prolonged Labor – Extended labor can cause fetal distress and increase injury risk.
- Emergency Cesarean Section – Urgent deliveries under distress increase the chance of injury compared to planned cesareans.
Consult With Levin & Perconti for a Free Case Evaluation
At Levin & Perconti, our compassionate attorneys care about your well-being and will do our best to get you the justice you deserve. We have extensive experience with cases involving birth injuries caused by medical malpractice and negligence.
At our firm, we offer no-fee, confidential consultations. Early intervention is key to getting the compensation you need to move forward. Call us today at (312) 332-2872 or complete our online form.
Legally Reviewed by
Dov Apfel
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Related Pages
- Birth Injury Lawyer
- Birth Asphyxia
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Breech Birth Complications
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb's Palsy
- Gestational Diabetes Misdiagnosis
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
- Neonatal Seizures
- Oxygen Deprivation
- Preeclampsia Misdiagnosis
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Statute of Limitations by State
- Stillbirth Lawsuit
- Umbilical Cord Compression
- Untimely C-Section
- Vacuum Extraction Injury
Notable Results
SETTLEMENT
for the family of a child who suffered brain injury due to lack of oxygen during her birth
SETTLEMENT
for a child who suffered brain damage causing cerebral palsy as a result of a family practice physician's failure to perform a timely C-section
VERDICT
for a child who died as a result of a doctor’s failure to diagnose the mother with an immune disorder while pregnant
Birth Injury Awards
In 2024, Michael Bonamarte, Seth Cardeli, and Cari Silverman won the Trial Excellence award at the Jury Verdict Reporter reception and awards ceremony for their groundbreaking $40 million verdict on behalf of a client who suffered a birth injury. This is the highest ever reported medical malpractice verdict outside of Cook County, IL at the time of reporting and the highest ever verdict in Coles County.
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