What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expectant parent wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These defects are caused by things that happen in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health care provider can identify birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects could only be detected after your child's birth or when symptoms are evident.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. However, there are a few factors that can increase the chance of having a child born with defects. Some of these include taking drugs or certain medications before becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects or having medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women who have an ancestry of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect can cause serious health issues or not will depend on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the greater the severity of the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor and learning about the health background of your family and speaking with an expert in genetics.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how the body looks or functions. They can be obvious, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of structural birth defect, while environmental factors such as the lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord or the brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo in order to learn more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a doctor collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations as well as other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can examine the amniotic fluid, blood and the tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial to determining the causes of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its effect on a child's life.

Certain birth defects might not be identified until after the birth of a child or, in some rare cases even after becoming an adult. These issues aren't easily detected when they first appear and can be detected through diagnostic equipment. For these types of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness in question is well-versed in these technologies and has the proper knowledge to identify such defects. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the most appropriate expert for your particular case.

Employ an attorney for Medical Malpractice

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it can completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional challenges and often require ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science can pinpoint the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defect law Firms, hjinterior.kr, defects, many others remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications a mother takes and the harmful chemicals that the heart of some communities and homes, or in contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any risks to the embryo. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby's health if a doctor uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. It is crucial to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In some states, you are only allowed one year to file a medical malpractice claim, so the earlier you begin the process the better.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns each year, and are a leading cause of infant death. These issues are life-threatening, and can trigger long-term physical, cognitive and emotional problems. Scientists have, in some instances, connected the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, environmental toxins, 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). In around 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

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

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how them may be prevented. For instance women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child 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 should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.