What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent would like to learn is that their child could be born with a deformity. These birth defects are caused things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a healthcare professional to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defect lawsuit defects can only be identified after the birth of your child or when symptoms begin to appear.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However, there are a few factors that increase the chance of having a baby with defects. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part that is affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe a birth defect, the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. You can lower the risk of a birth defect consulting with a genetic counsellor and learning about the health background of your family and meeting with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or works. They may range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, but also the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetically-inherited conditions may be a sign of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, for instance, the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that lead to brain or spinal cord development not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are several medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, which entails a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for testing. This test can reveal chromosomal defects and other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test a fetus' blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are vital in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They can also help determine the severity of a birth defect will be and the consequences it could affect a child later in their adulthood.

Some birth defects might not be recognized at the time of birth defect attorney or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected prior to their onset and are usually only detected through diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technologies and have the necessary training to be able identify these issues. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the best expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects others remain a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers use and the harmful chemicals that play in certain communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the dosage of medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential dangers for the baby. If they fail to perform this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby if a doctor uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered to be malpractice. It is crucial to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately in the event of this happening. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice and it's recommended to begin the process as soon as you can.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the most common cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can result in lasting physical, cognitive and emotional issues. In a few instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect law firms defects the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to spot and can be diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as easy to identify and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant increase their risk for having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult with 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 then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.