What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent would like to be told is that their child might be born with a deformity. These birth defects are caused by the things that happen during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be utilized by a health care provider to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be detected until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are a few factors that could increase the likelihood of pregnant women having children with birth defect. Some of these include taking drugs or certain medications before getting pregnant, having a family history of birth defects or having medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women who have a history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child varies on the body part affected and how much is affected. The more severe the birth defect the more severe the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused either by genes or environment during fetal development. You can lower the risk of developing a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor as well as learning about the health background of your family and having a conversation with geneticists.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an area of your body looks or functions. They may be visible like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions could be a form of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, for instance, an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a doctor collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities and other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of canton birth defect law firm defects. These tests are crucial in determining the cause of a birth defect. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and its effect on a child's future.

However some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. These issues aren't easily detected prior to their onset and are sometimes only detected by using diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technologies and have the necessary training to be able identify the defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney is able to determine the most appropriate expert for your particular case.

Employ an attorney for Medical Malpractice

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can completely change the life of families. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and psychological challenges and often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of waverly birth defect attorney defects but the rest remain a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, like those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medication that mothers take as well as the toxic chemicals that working in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors must evaluate the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the embryo. If they fail in their obligation, they can be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. It is crucial to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately if this happens. In certain states, you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice, so it's best to start the process as soon as you can.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 babies born every year and are a major cause of infant death. The condition could be life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical challenges. Scientists have in a few cases identified the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter medications, environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery, family medical history, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). But in about 70% of all birth defects the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, developmental and intellectual disabilities, require special tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.