What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent would like to be told is that their child could have a birth defect. These defects are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A doctor can identify birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects could not be detected until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of being pregnant with a child with birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should talk to an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not is dependent on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more severe the problems.

Most birth defects are caused either by genes or environment during fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of having a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor as well as learning about the health history of your family and meeting with geneticists.

Structural birth defects are those that change how a particular part of the body looks or works. They can be visible, like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations could be a form of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or Birth Defects rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the reason for a birth defect. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its effects on a child's life.

However certain birth defects could remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare cases, an adult. This is because the conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and may only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate education to spot these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the best expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional problems that often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the root causes of around 30% of birth defects, many others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances such as those in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers take, toxic chemicals in homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air may cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any possible dangers to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects 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 machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens, it's important to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice, so it's best to start the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions are life-threatening and cause long-term physical, emotional and cognitive difficulties. In some cases, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). In the majority of cases, the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to spot and can be identified either at birth or during the first year of a child's existence. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are working to understand what can cause birth defects and how them may be prevented. For instance women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.