What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent would like to learn is that their child could have a birth deformity. These birth defects are caused by events that occur during the fetal development and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.

A health professional can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other birth defects could not be detected until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The cause of many birth defects is not known. There are several factors that increase the chance of pregnant women having children with birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these diseases are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to becoming pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect the greater the severity of the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or environment during fetal growth. You can lower the risk of having a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor as well as learning about the health history of your family, and meeting with geneticists.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body looks or works. They can be visible, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations are one type of structural birth defect while environmental factors such as an absence of folic acids can lead to neural tube defects, which result in the spinal cord or brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a number of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to discover more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, in which a healthcare professional takes a small sample of fluid from the fetus for testing. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities, as well other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test a fetus' blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of college park Birth defect attorney defects. They can also help determine how severe the lewisville birth defect lawsuit defect is and the effects it could affect a child later in their adult life.

However, some birth defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born, or in rare instances, even as an adult. These issues are not readily apparent until they are present, and are often detected using diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the latest technologies and possess the knowledge and experience required to recognize these flaws. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can completely change the life of a family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional problems which often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother or in toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medication used by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks for the embryo. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment in a negligent manner or fails to calibrate it correctly. This would be considered to be malpractice. It is essential to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you have only a single year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you begin the process the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The conditions are life-threatening and cause a myriad of physical, emotional and Olney birth defect Lawsuit cognitive challenges. Researchers have in a few instances linked the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or garden city birth defect Attorney other genetic illnesses). However, in approximately 70% of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected at birth or in the first year. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easily identified and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how they can be avoided. For instance smoking and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their likelihood of having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.