What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parents wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects can be caused by events that occur during the fetal development and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.

A health professional can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other kittanning Birth defect Law firm defects could not be discovered until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. However, there are a few factors that increase the likelihood of having a child born with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a relative with birth defects or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby causes serious issues or not depends on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe the defect and the more serious the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal development. The risk of having birth defects can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history with health issues and genes by speaking to a genetic counselor, and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects alter how a particular part of the body looks or works. They can range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisibly, kittanning Birth defect law Firm such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited can be a type of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning as it should.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant mothers can undergo to discover more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is where a doctor collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations, as well as other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and its impact on a child's future.

However certain birth defects could be missed until a baby is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. These problems are not easily identified until they are present and are often detected using diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness is familiar with these techniques and has the correct experience to recognize these defects. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and psychological challenges that often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances such as those in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother or in toxic chemicals found in homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks to the foetus. If they fail to perform this duty, they may be held accountable for weslaco birth defect lawsuit defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, and any other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. It's important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process, the better.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns every year and are a leading cause of infant death. These conditions can be life-threatening and they can cause permanent physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. In some instances, researchers have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and birth, or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year of life. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as obvious and require specialized tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For instance women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain defects. Women who have an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.