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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parents wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health care provider can detect birth defects during pregnancy with newborn screening or prenatal tests. However other birth defects can not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or later when they develop symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. However there are a few factors that increase a woman's risk of having a baby with a defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child depends on the body part affected and how severe the damage. 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 risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history with health and genetic issues, talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how a part of your body appears or functions. They may range from the visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, but also the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that cause the brain or spinal cord not developing properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of birth defects. One of these is amniocentesis which entails a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

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

However certain birth defects may remain unnoticed until a child is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions aren't easily detected until they become apparent, and may only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technologies and have the education required to be able identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the appropriate expert for your case.

Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems, requiring medical care for a lifetime.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30% of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications a mother takes and the harmful chemicals that working in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medication and inform her about any risks for the baby. If they fail in their obligation, they can be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. In the event of this it's crucial to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you have only a single year to file a medical malpractice claim, so the earlier you begin the process, the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions are life-threatening and lead to many long term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic illnesses). However, in a majority of birth defects cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to spot and can be identified at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Other conditions, such as heart defects or Vimeo.Com intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how some of they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are more likely to having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor prior lake birth defect attorney to trying to get pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.