What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent wants to hear is that their child may have a birth defect. These problems may be caused by a variety of things that happen during growing up and could affect the physical or mental health of your child.

A doctor can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy using the prenatal test or newborn screening. Other birth defects could be discovered only after the birth of your child or if symptoms begin to appear.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are not known. There are certain factors that increase the chance of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child depends on the body part affected and how severe the damage. Usually, the more severe the defect is, the more severe the issues will be.

Most altoona birth defect law firm defects are caused by genes or environment during fetal development. The chance of developing a birth defect is reduced by knowing about your family's history of genes and health issues, talking to a genetic counselor, and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or works. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetic disorders that are inherited may be a sign of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a number of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to learn more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This test can reveal chromosomal changes and other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

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

However certain birth defects may be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they first appear and are sometimes only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the latest technologies and possess the training necessary to be able to spot the defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney should be able to identify the right expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

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

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defects, but many others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those found in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors must evaluate the dosage of medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks for the baby. If they fail to meet this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This would be considered malpractice. In the event of this, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as you can.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born each year and are the most common cause of infant death. These issues could be life-threatening, and can trigger permanent physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. In a few instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, xilubbs.xclub.tw toxins accumulated in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a family medical history (like genetic diseases like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in the majority of all Redwood Falls Birth Defect Law Firm defects, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects are easily evident and can be found at birth or within the first year. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes 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 certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders may want to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to have a baby. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.