What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be used by a health professional to detect certain birth defects during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or when they start to develop symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The causes of many birth defects is not known. However there are some things that increase the chance of having a child born with defects. This includes using medications or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a relative with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family background of these disorders are advised to speak with a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect law firm defect in a baby is dependent on the affected body part and how severe the damage. Usually, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defect lawyers defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history with health issues and genes, talking to a genetic counselor, and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth problems are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or performs. They may be visible, like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of structural birth defect while environmental factors such as the lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that can result in the brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are a number of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to determine the possibility of a birth defect. One of them is amniocentesis that involves a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid to test. This test can reveal chromosomal changes as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can also test a fetus' blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of birth defect. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and the impact it has on the adult life of a child.

Some birth defects might not be detected until after the birth of a child or, in rare cases even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they occur and are sometimes only detected through equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these techniques and has the appropriate training to be able to identify such defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can completely change the life of the family. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional issues, often requiring a lifetime of medical care.

Medical science can pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects, others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and birth defect substances can cause birth defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers use, the toxic chemicals at working in some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors must evaluate the medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks to the baby. If they fail to meet this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a newborn baby when a doctor uses the equipment in a negligent manner or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In certain states, you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect one in 33 babies born each year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. The conditions can be life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical issues. In some instances, scientists have identified the causes as a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription drugs, toxins in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery or family medical history (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). In the majority of cases, the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects are readily visible and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Certain birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities require specific tests to identify.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For instance, women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their likelihood of having a child with a defect. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to speak with a genetic counselor before trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.