What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expectant parent wants to hear: birth their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused things that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be used by a health professional to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be detected until after your child is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The reason for numerous birth defects remains unclear. However there are several things that can increase the likelihood of having a child born with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a relative with birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part that is affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the defect is then the more severe the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the background of your family and meeting with a geneticist.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how an element of your body appears or performs. They can range from visible like cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations in addition to other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor may also test a fetus' blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the cause of birth defect attorneys defects. They also help determine the severity of birth defect and the impact it has on a child's life.

Some birth defects might not be detected at the time of birth or, in rare cases even after becoming an adult. This is because these issues are not readily apparent until they become apparent, and can sometimes only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the right education to detect these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the best expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it can completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges that require medical attention for the rest of his life.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects others remain unexplained. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, like those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medications that mothers use as well as the toxic chemicals that play in certain communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medications and advise her of any possible risks for the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects 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 doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. In the event of this, it's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence case, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 babies born each year and are a major cause of infant death. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can trigger permanent physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. In some cases, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins found in the environment, maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and birth or a family medical history (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, PKU). However, in the majority of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are readily evident and can be found at birth or in the first year. Certain birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to identify.

Researchers are trying to determine the root of birth defects, and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs while pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.