What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to hear is that their child may be born with a deformity. These problems are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health professional can diagnose some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects could only be detected following the birth of your child or if symptoms begin to appear.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are certain factors that could increase the likelihood of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has birth defects or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part that is affected and how much is affected. The more severe the defect is and the more serious the issues will be.

The majority of Waterloo Birth Defect Lawyer - Vimeo.Com - defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal development. You can lower the risk of a birth defect talking to a genetic counsellor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family and talking with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a specific part of the body looks or works. They may range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetic disorders that are inherited may be a sign of birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental causes, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal or brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to discover more about potential birth defects. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of fetal fluid for analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defect. They can also assist in determining how severe the birth defect could be and the consequences it could have on a child in the years to come.

However some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. These problems aren't visible prior to their onset and are sometimes only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness involved is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the appropriate experience to identify such defects. An experienced medical malpractice attorney is able to determine the most suitable expert for your particular case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

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

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others remain a mystery. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her about any risks to the foetus. If they fail in this obligation, they could be held accountable for keizer birth defect attorney defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have a responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and any other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby should a doctor use the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. If this occurs it is important to contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical negligence claim, so the earlier you start the process the better.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues are life-threatening, Brookfield Birth Defect Attorney and they can cause long-term physical, mental and emotional challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, connected the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription or over-the-counter medicines or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during delivery and Springfield Birth Defect Lawsuit pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). However, in a majority of all birth defects, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easily identifiable and can be identified at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren't as easily identifiable and require special tests.

Researchers are working to understand what causes birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a family history involving inherited genetic disorders may want to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.