What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expectant parent wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and birth defect lawyer can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A doctor can detect birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after your child is born or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. However there are some things that increase the likelihood of having a baby born with a defect. Some of these include taking drugs or certain medications prior to conception, having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women with an established history of these diseases should consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child varies on the affected body part and the degree to which it is affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the more serious the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce the chance of developing a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor, learning about the health history of your family and having a conversation with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth defects are those that change how a specific part of the body looks or works. They may be visible, like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, but also invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning as it should.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about a potential birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, in which a healthcare professional takes a small sample of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the cause of a birth defect. They also aid in determining how serious a birth defect could be and the effect it may be having on a child's the years to come.

Certain birth defects may not be identified until after the birth of a baby or, in some rare cases, even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and are usually only detected by using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technologies and have the necessary training to identify the defects. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the right expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury can alter the life of families. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues, requiring medical care for birth defect law firm a lifetime.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30 percent of birth defects others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother, toxic chemicals in homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medication and inform her about any risks for the fetus. When they fail in this obligation, they can be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby when a doctor uses the equipment in error or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. In the event of this, it's important to consult a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you are only allowed a single year to file a medical negligence claim, so the earlier you begin the process, the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the most common reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The conditions are life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical issues. Scientists have in a few cases linked the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter drugs or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects are readily noticeable and can be detected at bound Brook Birth defect law firm or within the first year. Some birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities require special tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying to determine the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.