What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

A health professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects can only be identified after the charleston birth defect attorney of your child or if symptoms begin to appear.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are some factors that can increase the risk of having a baby born with a defect. Some of these include taking drugs or certain medications before getting pregnant or having an ancestral history of birth defects or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women who have an history of these conditions are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options before getting pregnant.

Whether a child's Gloversville birth Defect lawyer defect causes serious problems or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the defect is and the more serious the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. You can reduce your risk of having 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 a geneticist.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a particular part of the body appears or functions. They may range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions could be a form of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, for instance, a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning as it should.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman is able to undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. One of these is amniocentesis which entails a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for testing. This test could reveal chromosomal variations and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. This is because these conditions are not detectable until they are present and often can only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness is well-versed in these technologies and has the appropriate education to identify such defects. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the appropriate specialist for your case.

Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth injury could completely alter the life of the family. These injuries can lead to long-term physical and mental issues that require medical attention for a lifetime.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defects, but many others are still a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, including those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medications a mother takes as well as the toxic chemicals that working in some communities and homes, as well as contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to assess the dosage of medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks for the baby. If they fail in this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby when a doctor uses the equipment in a negligent manner or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered malpractice. If this occurs, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice, so it's best to start the process as soon as you can.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born every year and are a leading cause of infant mortality. These conditions can be life-threatening, and they can cause long-term physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. In some instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a medical history of the family (like genetic diseases like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in the majority of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are readily evident and can be found either at birth or during the first year. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to determine the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example, women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to conceive. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.