What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be used by a health care provider to determine the presence of certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be discovered until after your child is born or Birth Defect later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are not known. However there are a few factors that can increase a woman's risk of having a baby born with a defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs before becoming pregnant, having a family history of birth defects, or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and how severe the damage. The more severe a birth defect, the more severe the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by talking to a genetic counsellor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the background of your family and talking with a geneticist.

Structural birth defects alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They may range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, but also the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetically-inherited conditions may be a sign of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental causes, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that result in brain or spinal cord development not being correct.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis is one of them, which entails a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for testing. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities, as well other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its effects on the adult life of a child.

However certain birth defects could be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and are often only discovered by using equipment for diagnosing. For these types of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness in question is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the appropriate training to be able to recognize these defects. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the appropriate expert for your case.

Employ an attorney for Medical Malpractice

A child born with a serious defect or a serious birth injury can alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for birth defect a lifetime.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defects However, the majority of cases are still a mystery. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take as well as the toxic chemicals that work in some communities and homes, as well as contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her about any dangers for the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a child when a doctor uses the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition are life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical issues. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). But in about 70% of birth defect cases the causes are not clear.

Certain birth defects are readily noticeable and can be detected either at birth or during the first year. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easily identified and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of birth defect law firms defects and how they can be prevented. For instance, women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.