What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

A medical professional can diagnose some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be discovered until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with a birth defect. This includes using medications or taking certain medications before the birth defect lawsuits, having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an established history of these diseases should speak with a genetic counselor about their options prior getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a baby is dependent on the affected body part and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the defect then the more severe the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health issues and genes or talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth defects alter how a particular part of the body looks or works. They can be obvious, like cleft lips or cleft palettes, or invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother is able to undergo in order to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. One of these is amniocentesis that involves a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid to test. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications as well as other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus, amniotic fluid and even the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to finding out the reason for birth defects. They can also assist in determining the severity of a birth defect could be and the impact it will have on a child's their adult life.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare instances, even as an adult. This is due to the fact that these problems are not easily identified until they have been identified, and can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness in question is well-versed in these technologies and has the appropriate training to be able to spot these issues. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the best expert for your case.

Employ an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues needing medical attention for a lifetime.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the root causes of around 30% of birth defects others remain unsolved. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medications that mothers use and the harmful chemicals that working in some communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications and advise her about any dangers to the embryo. If they fail in their duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could cause serious consequences for the baby. This is a case of malpractice. It's important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In certain states, you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice and it's recommended to begin the process as soon as you can.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 babies born every year and are a major cause of infant death. These conditions are life-threatening, and can lead to lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Researchers have in a few instances connected the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). However, in approximately 70% of birth defects cases the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and can be detected at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren't as easily identified and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to figure out what can cause birth defects and how them can be prevented. For instance women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.