According to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, almost 157,700 mothers and newborns suffered an injury during childbirth that may have been preventable in 2006. Statistics from 2006 also show that vaginal birth with the use of instruments presented a serious risk of obstetric trauma for mothers (160.5 out of every 1000 births). However, even mothers who delivered their child without the use of instruments experienced obstetric trauma (36.2 out of every 1000 births). Birth trauma may also leave newborns injured, which can impact mothers in a variety of ways. For example, mothers whose child was hurt during delivery may struggle with tremendous emotional pain or they could face permanent challenges as a result of the injury, such as raising a child with cerebral palsy.
This information was written to inform people of the impact of birth injuries on mothers and is not a substitute for legal counsel.
