What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects could be the result of the fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be used by a healthcare professional to identify certain birth defects during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be detected until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The reason for numerous birth defects remains unclear. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of pregnant women having children with birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or prescription drugs prior to becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women with an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.

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

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by talking to a genetic counsellor, learning about the health background of your family and meeting with the geneticist.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They may range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate to the invisibly, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited may be a sign of structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning as it should.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to discover more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and fetus's tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the root of Birth Defect Law Firms defects. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and the impact it has on the adult life of a child.

Certain birth defects might not be detected until after the birth of a baby or, in rare instances even after becoming an adult. These conditions are not detectable before they are present and can be detected by using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the latest technologies and possess the training necessary to be able identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the right specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can create life-long physical and psychological challenges, often requiring ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defect cases However, the majority of cases remain unsolved. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, for example those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications a mother takes or the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications and advise her about any dangers to the embryo. If they fail to meet this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defect law firms defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could lead to grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is crucial to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In certain states, you're only given a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process, the better.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 newborns every year and are the most common cause of infant death. The condition are life-threatening and cause a myriad of physical, emotional and cognitive problems. In some cases, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect lawyer defects the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily evident and can be found at birth or within the first year. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities require tests specific to detect.

Researchers are attempting to determine what can cause birth defects and how these can be avoided. Women who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs while pregnant are more likely to having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that run in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.