What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent wants to learn is that their child may have a birth deformity. These defects are caused by things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be utilized by a health care provider to diagnose certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects may only be detected after the birth of your child or if symptoms start to show.

What was the cause of your child's error?

The root of many birth defects is not known. However there are a few factors that can increase a woman's risk of having a baby with defects. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions, Vimeo like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an established history of these diseases should speak with an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part affected. The more severe the birth defect the more serious the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. You can lower the risk of developing a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor, learning about the health background of your family and speaking with an expert in genetics.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an area of your body looks or performs. They can be obvious, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors like an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that can result in the brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother is able to undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is one of them, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal variations and other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are essential in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its effect on a child's life.

However certain birth defects could remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare cases, an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent before they are present and are sometimes only detected through equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the techniques and the knowledge and experience required to be able identify these flaws. A lawyer who has experience should be able identify the right specialist for your case.

Hire an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and mental challenges, requiring medical care for the rest of his life.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of troy birth defect law firm defects, many others remain unsolved. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or in toxic chemicals found in homes and communities, or contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her of any potential dangers for the baby. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to 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 cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case 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 affect 1 out of 33 newborns each year and are a major reason for infant death. The condition are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical issues. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription and non-prescription drugs or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and birth and medical history of the family, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic illnesses). However, in approximately 70% of birth defects cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects are readily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year of life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities require specific tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. For example smoking and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.