What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent wants to hear is that their child may have a birth defect. These defects are caused by the things that happen during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health care provider can diagnose some birth defect attorney defects during pregnancy by using prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be detected following the birth of your child, or after symptoms begin to appear.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

Many birth defects are not known. However, there are a few things that can increase the chance of having a baby born with defects. One of them is using certain medications or taking certain drugs before becoming pregnant, having a family history of birth defects, or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have an ancestral history of these conditions are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the affected body part and Birth defect how severe the damage. The more severe the birth defect the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family, and meeting with geneticists.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an element of your body appears or functions. They can range from visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, but also the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of structural birth defect, and environmental factors like a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that can result in the brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are several medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to discover more about a potential birth defect [read page]. One example is amniocentesis, that involves a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid to test. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications, as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in determining the cause of a birth defect. They also help determine the severity of birth defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These problems aren't visible before they are present and are often only discovered by using equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate knowledge to identify such defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the right specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and psychological challenges, often requiring ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases are still a mystery. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances, such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother, toxic chemicals in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, birth defect can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication used by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks to the baby. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they can be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to serious consequences for the baby. This is a case of malpractice. It's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In some states, you're given only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice which is why it's important to begin the process as soon as possible.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 babies born each year, and are a major reason for infant death. These issues could be life-threatening, and can lead to long-term physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In some instances, researchers have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter drugs, toxins in the environment, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery, or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in the majority of birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to detect and can be diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities require specific tests to detect.

Researchers are attempting to determine what can cause birth defects and how some of them may be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or consume illegal substances while pregnant increase their risk for having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.