What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These defects are caused by events that occur during the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health care provider can detect birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects could not be identified until after your child is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's deformity?

The reason for numerous birth defects remains unclear. However there are a few factors that increase the chance of having a baby with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to becoming pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect can cause serious health issues or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe a birth defect, the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. You can lower the risk of developing a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor and learning about the health background of your family, and having a conversation with a geneticist.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a specific part of the body appears or functions. They vary from the obvious, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetically-inherited conditions can result in birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in brain or spinal cord development not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations in addition to other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the fetus's blood, amniotic fluid and even the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defects. They can also help determine how serious a birth defect will be and the effects it could have on a child's the years to come.

However some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born or, in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions are not detectable until they have been identified, and often can only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. For these types of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness in question is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the proper education to recognize these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the best expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for a lifetime.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of about 30% of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities, or contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication used by the expecting mother and inform her of any possible dangers to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. It's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions could be life-threatening and Birth Defect Attorney result in a variety of long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical issues. In some instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery, or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, PKU). In the majority of cases, the reason is unknown.

Some Birth defect attorney defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to detect and are easily diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine what can cause birth defects and how these can be avoided. For example women who smoke or birth Defect attorney drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with a defect. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.