What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to learn is that their child might have a birth defect. These issues could be the result of the pregnancy and can impact the physical or mental health of your child.

A health professional is able to detect some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after the baby is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

Many birth defects are not known. However there are some things that increase a woman's risk of having a child born with defects. One of them is using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to conception, having a family history of birth defects or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with a history of these disorders should consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and the extent to which it is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is and the more serious the problem will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. You can lessen the risk of developing a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor as well as learning about the health background of your family, and meeting with the geneticist.

Structural birth defects alter the way a part of your body appears or performs. They may range from the visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a kind of structural birth defect while environmental factors such as an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that cause spinal cord or brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of fetal fluid to test. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications and other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus as well as amniotic fluid and the umbilical cord for indications of Elburn Birth Defect Attorney defects. These tests are vital in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its impact on the adult life of a child.

However certain birth defects may be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare instances, even as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected before they are present and are sometimes only detected through diagnostic equipment. For these types of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness in question is familiar with these techniques and has the right education to spot these issues. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it can completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems that require medical attention for a lifetime.

Medical science can pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects, others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers or children, harmful chemicals in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medications taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any possible risks for the baby. If they fail to perform this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a duty to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. If this happens it is important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you only have a single year to file a medical malpractice case, so the faster you start the process, the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns every year and are a major reason for infant mortality. These issues could be life-threatening, and can result in lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Researchers have in a few instances identified the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription or over-the-counter medicines or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during the birth and pregnancy and family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic illnesses). In around 70% of cases, the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected either at carpentersville birth defect attorney or during the first year of life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require tests specific to identify.

Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.