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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These issues can be caused by things that happen during the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health care provider can detect birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be detected following your child's birth or when symptoms start to show.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The root of many birth defects is not known. However there are a few things that increase a woman's risk of having a child born with defects. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a relative with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family history of these conditions are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby can cause serious health issues or not will depend on the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more serious the problems.

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

Structural Birth Defect Attorney problems are those that alter the way a part of your body looks or works. They may be visible, like cleft lips, cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of structural birth defect attorney defect while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that cause the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to determine the possibility of a birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test could reveal chromosomal variations as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining how serious a birth defect will be and the effects it could have on a child in their adult life.

However some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they first appear and are often only discovered through equipment for diagnosing. In these situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness is familiar with these techniques and has the correct training to be able to identify such defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the best expert for your case.

Find an attorney for Medical Malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional challenges, often requiring a lifetime of medical care.

Medical science can pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects others remain a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medications a mother takes and the harmful chemicals that work in some communities and in homes, or the contaminating air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to assess the medication taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any possible risks for the baby. If they fail in this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, and any other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could cause serious consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. It is essential to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you are only allowed a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the faster you begin the process, the better.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions could be life-threatening and lead to many long term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. In a few instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription drugs, toxins in the environment, maternal infections, complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic diseases like sickle cell diseases or PKU). In the majority of cases, the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects are readily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year of life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult with a genetic counselor before trying to have a baby. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information regarding medical conditions that run in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.