What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent wants to be told is that their child might have a birth deformity. These birth defects may be caused by a variety of events that occur during pregnancy and can impact the physical or mental health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be utilized by a health care provider to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects may only be detected after the birth of your child or when symptoms are evident.

What caused your child's deformity?

The cause of numerous birth defects remains unclear. There are certain factors that increase the chance of pregnant women having children with birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or drugs prior to conception, having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women with an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not will depend on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the more serious the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of genes and health issues and speaking with an expert on genetics and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an element of your body looks or functions. They vary from the obvious such as cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of birth defect that is structural, and environmental factors like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which cause spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, in which a healthcare professional takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This test can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effects on a child's future.

However, some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. These problems aren't visible when they occur and are sometimes only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these instances, the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the techniques and the education required to be able identify these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney is able to determine the right expert for your particular case.

Employ an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

If a child is born with a serious birth Defect attorney defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional issues and often require ongoing medical treatment.

While medical science can identify the root causes of around 30% of birth defects others remain unsolved. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medication taken by mothers and toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the dosage of medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks for the foetus. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defect law firm defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to evaluate 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 properly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. If this happens, it's important to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the most common cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions are life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical problems. Scientists have in some cases identified the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and birth or a family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to detect and are easily diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easy to identify and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are working to understand what causes birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant increase their risk for having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to get 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 genetic counselor.