What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parent would like to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These problems are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A medical professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects could be discovered only after the birth of your child or if symptoms appear.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

Many birth defects are not known. However there are some things that can increase the risk of having a child with defects. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior Vimeo.Com to the birth defect attorney, having a relative with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with an established history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect lawsuit defect in a child depends on the body part that is affected and how much is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect, the more severe the problem will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. You can lessen the risk of a birth defect speaking with a genetic counselor, learning about the health background of your family, and talking with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth defects are those that change how a specific part of the body looks or works. They vary from the obvious like cleft lip and gwwa.yodev.net cleft palate, up to the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetically-inherited conditions could be a form of birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental factors, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal cord or brain not being correct.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to determine possible birth defects. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid and tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are essential in determining the causes of birth defects. They can also assist in determining the severity of a birth defect will be and the effect it may affect a child later in his or her adult life.

Some birth defects might not be discovered until after the birth of a baby or, in rare cases, gwwa.yodev.net even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they first appear and can be detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the proper knowledge to spot these issues. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the best expert for your case.

Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects others remain unexplained. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or in toxic chemicals found in homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

Doctors must evaluate the medication taken by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the baby. When they fail in this duty, they can be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to grave consequences for the baby. This is a case of malpractice. If this occurs it is important to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The conditions are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, the birth and pregnancy and family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified at birth or within the first year. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easily identified and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how them can be prevented. For instance women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that run in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.