What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects can be caused by the the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a healthcare professional to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or when they start to develop symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects are not known. However, there are a few things that increase the risk of having a baby born with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and how severe the damage. The more severe the defect is then the more severe the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. You can reduce your risk of developing a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family, and having a conversation with an expert in genetics.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how the body appears or performs. They may range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions may be a sign of structural Peoria Heights Birth Defect Attorney defects. Environmental factors, for instance, a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a number of medical procedures pregnant women undergo to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis which entails a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This test can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for indications of ironwood birth defect lawyer defects. These tests are crucial in determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the extent of the birth defect and the impact it has on a child's life.

Certain birth defects may not be discovered until after the birth of a child or, in a few instances even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and are often only discovered through diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness involved is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the proper training to be able to identify such defects. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges and often require ongoing medical treatment.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects others remain unsolved. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or children, harmful chemicals in homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medication and inform her of any potential dangers to the baby. When they fail in this duty, they can be held accountable for international falls birth defect law firm defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby should a doctor use the equipment in a negligent manner or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. It is important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the faster you begin the process the better.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born each year, and are the most common cause of infant death. These issues could be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Scientists have in a few cases linked the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery or a family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to detect and can be diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easily identified and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how them can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child with certain defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.