What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child might have a birth deformity. These defects are caused by things that happen during the fetal development and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.

A health care provider is able to detect some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects could be discovered only after your child's birth or when symptoms are evident.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. There are a few factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with birth defect. This includes using medications or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member that has an abnormal peabody birth defect Law firm or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family history of these disorders are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.

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

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

Structural defects are scotts valley birth defect lawsuit imperfections that affect how the body appears or functions. They can range from visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited can be a type of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not working as intended.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are several medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to learn more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is one of them, that involves a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the causes of birth defects. They can also assist in determining the severity of a birth defect will be and the effect it may have on a child in their adulthood.

Certain birth defects may not be identified until after the birth of a baby or, in rare cases, even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they occur and can be detected with diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the proper education to spot these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Employ an attorney for Medical Malpractice

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for the rest of his life.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defect cases however, many other cases are still unsolved. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances, like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medication taken by mothers or in toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medication and inform her of any dangers to the embryo. If they fail in this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby's health when a doctor uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. When this happens you should contact a medical negligence attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you're only given a single year to file a medical negligence claim, so the earlier you begin the process, the more favorable.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues can be life-threatening, and can trigger lasting physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In some cases, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter drugs, toxins in the environment, maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery or medical history in the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). However, in a majority of all birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easily identifiable and are easily diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to identify.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how them can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.