What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

A health care provider is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects could only be detected after the gautier birth defect law firm of your child or if symptoms begin to appear.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The cause of numerous birth defects remains unclear. However there are several factors that can increase the risk of having a baby born with defects. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs before becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have an established history of these diseases should speak with an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect causes serious problems or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe the birth defect, the greater the severity of the problems.

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

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter the way a part of your body looks or works. They can be visible, like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetically-inherited conditions can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal or brain not being correct.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis, for instance, is in which a healthcare professional takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in determining the causes of Mullins Birth Defect Lawsuit defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effects on a child's adult life.

However certain sandusky birth defect law firm defects could be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare instances, when an adult. These problems aren't visible before they are present and can be detected through equipment for diagnosing. For these types of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate experience to spot these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer will be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or a serious birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional issues, often requiring an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others remain unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those present in prescription or over the counter medications a mother takes, the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and homes, or in contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, Exeter Birth Defect Attorney and advise her of any potential dangers for the baby. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a child should a doctor use the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. In the event of this it is important to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you're only given a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the earlier you begin the process the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions can be life-threatening and can lead to permanent physical, cognitive and emotional issues. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and medical history of the family, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the reason is not known.

Some birth defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to spot and can be identified from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Certain birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and development disabilities, require special tests to identify.

Researchers are trying determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who smoke, rio Grande city birth defect lawyer drink or take illegal drugs when pregnant are more likely to having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.