Finding out that you’re going to be a parent is an amazing experience. It fills you with joy and the promise of countless happy memories you’ll make with your child as they grow up and eventually have families of their own.

Most parents don’t start out expecting serious problems to interfere with their hopes and dreams for their children’s futures. Unfortunately, life can be incredibly unpredictable, and unexpected challenges can turn an otherwise joyful occasion into a frightening experience with an uncertain future. 

Based on recent reports from the medical sector, an estimated 120,000 babies are born with birth defects each year in America. Another 30,000 sustain birth injuries. While those issues aren’t quite the same, both of them can have lifelong repercussions for children and their families. What are the differences between the two, though? We’ll be comparing birth injuries and defects in this write-up to help you understand what distinguishes one from the other. 

Taking a Closer Look at Birth Defects

First, let’s take a closer look at birth defects. These issues occur in utero while a fetus is developing. They can happen at any point during pregnancy and fetal development, but they often begin in the first trimester. They can come from a variety of causes. In many cases, they’re passed down from parents. Sometimes, chromosomal abnormalities happen unexpectedly.

In certain cases, birth defects are caused by outside forces, such as being exposed to alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or infections via the mother during pregnancy. When a mother has a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, that can increase the risks of her baby being born with birth defects. In some instances, the causes of birth defects aren’t clear. 

Several types of birth defects may occur. Some of the most common are cleft lift or palate, improperly formed arms or legs, clubfoot, heart defects, Down syndrome, and spina bifida. Many others also exist. Some birth defects are mild, and children can fairly easily overcome them. In other cases, they can cause serious developmental delays, health issues, and other lifelong challenges. 

Examining Birth Injuries

Now, let’s examine birth injuries. In contrast to defects, birth injuries typically happen during or immediately after birth. Instead of being caused by genetics and environmental factors, they’re often the result of medical negligence. That being said, some of them stem from inadequate medical attention during pregnancy, which can come from either medical negligence or a lack of access to proper prenatal care. 

While many birth defects can’t be prevented, most birth injuries can. Some common examples of these are are brain and spinal cord injuries, scalp injuries, facial injuries, nerve damage, collarbone fractures, birth asphyxia, and cerebral palsy. Some of these injuries heal, and babies can recover from them fairly quickly.

That’s not always the case, though. Many birth injuries leave children with partial paralysis, developmental delays, and other issues that affect them for their entire lives. Certain birth injuries can result in death as well. 

Coping With Birth Defects and Injuries

Many infants and their families are affected by birth defects and birth injuries. They can leave children with lifelong physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive impacts. They can lead to significant financial hurdles as well. Numerous resources are available to help families cope with the repercussions of these conditions. In the case of birth injuries, pursuing legal action against the medical professionals who were responsible can ensure justice is served and victims receive the compensation they’re entitled to.