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What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent wants to learn is that their child could have a birth deformity. These defects may be caused by a variety of circumstances that occur during fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be utilized by a health professional to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects can only be detected following the birth of your child or when symptoms are evident.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. There are some things which can increase the chances of a woman having a child with a birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should consult a genetic counselor about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the affected body part and how much is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the problems will be.

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

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an element of your body appears or performs. They can range from the visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, but also the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of birth defect lawyer defect that is structural, and environmental factors like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the brain or spinal cord not developing properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. One of them is amniocentesis that involves a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications, as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can 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 cause of birth defect. They can also help determine how severe a birth defect could be and the consequences it could affect a child later in the years to come.

However certain birth defects could be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These issues are not readily apparent until they have been identified, and can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technologies and have the education required to recognize the defects. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will be able to identify the right expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and psychological challenges that often require ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defect cases However, the majority of cases remain unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her of any possible dangers to the foetus. If they fail to meet this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a duty to evaluate the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered to be malpractice. If this happens, it's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the most common cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues are life-threatening, and can lead to lasting physical, cognitive and emotional issues. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs and environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects, including clubfoot or hearing loss, are easily identifiable and can be diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, aren't as obvious and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the root of birth defects, and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs when pregnant increase their risk for having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.