What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parent would like to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These birth defects are caused by the things that happen during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A doctor can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be diagnosed until after your child's selma birth defect law firm or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The root of many birth defects is not known. There are some things that can increase the risk of pregnant women having children with birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the smithville birth defect law firm, having a family member who has a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an established history of these diseases should speak with a genetic counselor about their options before getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part affected and how severe the damage. 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 fetal development. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by consulting with a genetic counsellor and learning about the health background of your family and tualatin birth Defect lawyer having a conversation with geneticists.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a part of the body appears or works. They may be visible, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, but also invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord or brain not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to determine the cause of the possibility of a tualatin Birth defect lawyer defect. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications and other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and fetus's tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are vital in finding out the cause of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and its impact on the adult life of a child.

Some birth defects might not be identified until after a baby's birth or, in a few instances even as an adult. These problems aren't visible when they first appear and are often only discovered with equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the proper education to spot these issues. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury can completely change the life of the family. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional issues and often require ongoing medical treatment.

Although medical science has been able to identify the root causes of around 30% of birth defects others remain unexplained. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, like those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take and the harmful chemicals that work in some communities and homes, or in contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medication and inform her of any possible risks for the baby. When they fail in this duty, they may be held liable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It is important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In some states, you're given only one year to file a case for medical malpractice therefore it's best to start the process as soon as you can.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect one in 33 babies born each year and are a leading cause of infant death. The conditions could be life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical difficulties. In some cases, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications of pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). In around 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified either at birth or Tualatin birth defect lawyer during the first year of life. Some birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require special tests to identify.

Researchers are trying determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that run in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.