What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: Their child may have a birth defect. These problems may be caused by a variety of circumstances that occur during growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be used by a healthcare professional to diagnose certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects might not be diagnosed until after the baby is born or when they start to develop symptoms.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. However there are a few factors that increase the chance of having a baby born with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a relative with birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestral history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or Vimeo not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is and the more serious the problem will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor as well as learning about the health history of your family, and having a conversation with geneticists.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a specific part of the body appears or functions. They can range from visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, but also the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Inherited genetic conditions can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal or brain not working as intended.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. One of them is amniocentesis which entails a doctor taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial to determining the root of birth defects. They can also help determine how severe a birth defect could be and the impact it will have on a child's their adult life.

Some birth defects may not be discovered until after the port royal birth defect attorney of a baby or, in a few instances, even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and are sometimes only detected by using equipment for diagnosing. In these cases the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the techniques and the necessary training to be able identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the right specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for the rest of his life.

Medical science can explain about 30% of birth defect cases but the rest are still a mystery. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, like those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed, the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication used by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential risks to the embryo. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and any other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a child in the event that a physician uses the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered malpractice. It is crucial to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In some states, you're only given a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the faster you begin the process, the better.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The conditions can be life-threatening and can result in a variety of long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical difficulties. In a few instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter drugs, toxins in the environment and maternal infections, the complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in approximately 70% of north royalton birth defect attorney defect cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are easily visible and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year of life. Others, Vimeo like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as obvious and require special tests.

Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For example women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with a defect. Women with a family history involving inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.