What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to learn is that their child might have a birth deformity. These birth defects may be caused by a variety of the pregnancy and can impact the physical or mental health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be utilized by a health care provider to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects can only be detected after the birth of your child or birth defect law firm if symptoms are evident.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are some things that can increase the risk of the mother having a child with a birth defect. One of them is using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to conception, having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women with an history of these conditions are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options before getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child varies on the affected body part and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the birth defect the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or environment during fetal development. You can reduce the chance of a birth defect talking to a genetic counsellor and learning about the health background of your family, and speaking with a geneticist.

Structural birth defects are those that change how a part of the body appears or performs. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions could be a form of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental causes, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord or brain not being correct.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant mothers can undergo to learn more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effects on a child's adult life.

However certain birth defects could remain unnoticed until a child is born, or in rare cases, an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and can be detected through diagnostic equipment. In these situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness is well-versed in these technologies and has the proper knowledge to spot these issues. An experienced medical malpractice attorney is able to determine the most suitable expert for your particular case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional challenges which often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30% of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medications a mother takes or the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication used by a pregnant mother and inform her of any possible dangers to the embryo. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby should a doctor use the equipment in a negligent manner or fails to calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is essential to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In certain states, you have only one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process, the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the most common cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The conditions are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical challenges. In some instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins found in the environment and maternal infections, the complications during pregnancy and delivery, or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, PKU). In around 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to spot and can be identified at Sharon hill birth defect Law firm or in the first year of a child's existence. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, require tests specific to identify.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or birth defect attorney take illegal drugs while pregnant increase their risk for having a child born with certain defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.