What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parent would like to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These defects are caused by things that happen during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health professional can identify birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be identified until after the baby is born or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are a few factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications before the birth, having a relative with birth defects or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not will depend on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the greater the severity of the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. You can lessen the risk of a birth deformity by consulting a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family and meeting with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how the body appears or performs. They may be visible like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, but also invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Genetically-inherited conditions may be a sign of structural birth defect lawyers defects. Environmental factors, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not being correct.

Find More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to find out more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a healthcare provider takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus for testing. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the cause of birth defects. They can also help determine how serious the birth defect is and the effects it could affect a child later in their adulthood.

Some birth defect lawyer defects may not be detected at the time of birth or, in a few instances even after becoming an adult. This is because the problems are not easily identified until they become apparent, and may only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the techniques and the education required to be able to spot these issues. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the most suitable expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges, requiring medical care for the rest of their lives.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of 30% of birth defects others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers and toxic chemicals found in homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medications taken by an expectant mother and inform her of any potential risks for the fetus. If they fail to perform this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment it could result in serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. If this occurs, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as you can.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions could be life-threatening and cause long-term physical, emotional and cognitive issues. Researchers have in a few instances linked the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription or over-the-counter medicines or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected at birth or within the first year of life. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easy to identify and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are working to understand what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. For instance women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.