What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child might have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a doctor to determine the presence of certain birth defects during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be detected until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. However there are several factors that increase the risk of having a child born with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and how much is affected. Usually, the more severe the defect then the more severe the problems will be.

Most birth defect lawsuit defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history with health and genetic issues by speaking to an expert on genetics and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They can be visible, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect while environmental factors like the absence of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that can result in the brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers may undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This test can reveal chromosomal changes as well as other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its effects on a child's adult life.

However certain birth defects may be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent before they are present and are sometimes only 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 correct education to recognize these defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the right specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it can completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for the rest of their lives.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medications a mother takes or the toxic chemicals at play in certain communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication used by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks to the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could have grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered to be malpractice. It's important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice therefore it's best to start the process as soon as possible.

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Birth defects are the leading reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions can be life-threatening and can lead to many long term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, connected the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to detect and are easily diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren't as easy to identify and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor before 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 provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.