What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expectant parent wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects can be caused by things that happen during the fetal development and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a health care provider to determine the presence of certain seattle birth defect law firm defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects could not be identified until after your child is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The cause of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are a few factors that can increase the risk of having a child with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a history of these disorders should speak with an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious problems or not is dependent on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more serious a madras birth defect attorney defect is, the more serious the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history with health issues and genes by speaking to an expert on genetics and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth defects alter how a part of the body appears or performs. They vary from the obvious like cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetically-inherited conditions may be a sign of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to determine the cause of the possibility of birth defects. One of them is amniocentesis which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test could reveal chromosomal variations as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can also examine the fetus's blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child's life.

Certain birth defects may not be detected at the time of birth or, in a few instances even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they occur and are usually only detected with diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these techniques and has the appropriate training to be able to spot these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If 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 lead to lasting physical and mental health challenges needing medical attention for a lifetime.

Medical science can pinpoint the causes of 30 percent of birth defects others remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother, toxic chemicals in communities and homes or groundwater that is contaminated air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the foetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a baby's health in the event that a physician uses the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. If this occurs, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Scientists have in some cases identified the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth or a family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic illnesses). However, in approximately 70% of birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects, including clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to detect and can be identified from birth or within the first year of a child's life. Others, like heart defects truth or Consequences birth defect lawyer developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easily identified and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how them can be prevented. For instance smoking and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with a history of family members that includes inherited genetic disorders may want to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.