While the rate of birth injuries has declined somewhat this century, it is still unacceptably high. In 2004, the rate of birth trauma was 2.6 babies out of every 1,000 live births. By 2012, that declined to 1.9 babies out of every 1,000 live births. While this number may seem low to many, it breaks down to one baby out of every 500 injured at birth, often due to the doctor’s negligence. However, not every one of these birth injuries is severe.
Physicians have decreased their reliance on forceps extractions, which can cause long-term injuries to babies. Physicians have increased their use of Cesarean section surgeries since it decreases some of their legal risks. Nevertheless, there are still too many birth injuries due to the negligence of others.
In general, birth injuries can impact six babies out of every 1,000, meaning that tens of thousands of babies each year are born with injuries, many of which doctors could have avoided.
