What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parent would like to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health professional is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be detected until after the birth of your child or when they start to develop symptoms.

What caused your child's deformity?

The root of many birth defects is not known. There are some things that can increase the risk of the mother having a child with birth defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs before getting pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with an ancestral history of these conditions are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect causes serious issues or not depends on which body part is affected and Vimeo.com how much of the body part is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect, the more severe the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal growth. You can lessen the risk of a birth deformity by speaking with a genetic counselor, learning about the health history of your family and speaking with a geneticist.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way the body looks or performs. They can be visible, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, but also invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors such as a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which cause the spinal cord or brain not developing properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are several medical procedures pregnant women undergo to learn more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This test could reveal chromosomal variations as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of maryland birth defect lawsuit defects. These tests are vital in diagnosing the root of birth defect. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and its impact on a child's life.

However some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they occur and can be detected 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 knowledge to detect these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the most appropriate expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can lead to long-term physical and mental issues and require medical treatment for the rest of his life.

Medical science can explain about 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases are still unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother or in toxic chemicals found in communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defect lawsuit defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the dosage of medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible dangers for the fetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment or fails correctly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It's important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as you can.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant death. These conditions could be life-threatening and lead to many long term mental, emotional and physical problems. Scientists have in some cases identified the birth defects' causes in mothers' exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as environmental toxins, gokseong.multiiq.com complications of motherhood, infections, the birth and pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic illnesses). In about 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Certain birth defects are easily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year. Some birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities require specific tests to detect.

Researchers are trying to figure out the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. For example, women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their likelihood of having a child with a defect. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counselor before trying to be pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.