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 defects are caused by factors that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a health professional to detect certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects can only be identified after the birth of your child or when symptoms start to show.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The cause of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are some things that increase a woman's risk of having a baby born with a defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an history of these conditions should consult a genetic counselor about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect can cause serious health issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the more serious the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal growth. The chance of developing a birth defect can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of genes and health issues, talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how the body appears or functions. They can be obvious, like cleft lips or cleft palettes, or invisible, birth defect like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a type of structural birth defect, and environmental factors like an absence of folic acids can lead to neural tube defects, which cause the brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are several medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, in which a healthcare professional takes a small sample of fluid from the fetus for examination. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications in addition to other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and tissues of a fetus for signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the reason for birth defects. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its effects on a child's future.

Certain birth defects might not be identified until after the birth of a child or, in rare cases even after becoming an adult. This is because the conditions are not detectable until they have been identified, and often can only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these techniques and has the right education to detect these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the appropriate specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can lead to long-term physical and mental issues that require medical attention for the rest of his life.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30% of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances, like those found in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers or children, harmful chemicals in the homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any potential risks for the fetus. If they fail in their obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby when a doctor uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered to be malpractice. It is essential to contact a medical negligence lawyer immediately should this happen. In certain states, you're only given a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Researchers have in a few instances linked the causes of birth defect lawsuit defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications, environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, the birth and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). In about 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

Some birth defect law firms defects are easily visible and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easy to identify and require special tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For instance women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use 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 speak with a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They may 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.