What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

A medical professional can diagnose some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be diagnosed until after the baby is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

Many birth defects are not known. There are certain factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before the birth, having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family background of these disorders are advised to speak with a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby can cause serious health issues or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history of health issues and genes or talking to an expert on genetics and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how an element of your body looks or performs. They may range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, but also the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations may be a sign of birth defects that are structural. Environmental causes, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal or brain not being correct.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman may undergo to find out more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which entails a doctor taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can also test a fetus' blood or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential to finding out the cause of birth defect lawyer defect. They also aid in determining how severe the birth defect is and the impact it will affect a child later in the years to come.

However, some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, even as an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions aren't easily detected until they become apparent, and can sometimes only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the techniques and the necessary training to be able to spot these defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the best expert for your case.

Employ an attorney for Medical Malpractice

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems and require medical treatment for a lifetime.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 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 and over-the-counter medications that mothers use or the toxic chemicals at play in certain communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications and inform her of any potential risks for the embryo. If they fail in this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is a case of malpractice. In the event of this you should consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In certain states, you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as you can.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the most common reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition can be life-threatening and lead to many long term physical, emotional and cognitive difficulties. In some instances, researchers have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications, toxins found in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications during pregnancy and delivery or a family medical history (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). In around 70% of cases, the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Some birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require specific tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defects and how they can be avoided. For instance, women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.