What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new berlin birth defect law firm parent wants to hear is that their child could be born with a deformity. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health care provider is able to detect some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be discovered until after the baby is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with a birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a relative with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a history of these disorders should talk to an expert on genetic counseling about their options before getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child can cause serious health issues or not is dependent on the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more serious the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. You can reduce your risk of developing a stanton birth defect attorney defect by speaking with a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family and speaking with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an element of your body appears or performs. They may be visible such as cleft lips and Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can be a type of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, for instance, an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal or brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers may undergo to learn more about a possible birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, that involves a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for testing. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations in addition to other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of birth defect. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defect. They can also determine the extent of the birth defect and its effect on a child's life.

Certain birth defects might not be detected until after a baby's birth or, in rare cases, even as an adult. These issues are not readily apparent until they become apparent, and may only be recognized with the help of 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 knowledge to spot these issues. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the best expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

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

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances like those in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in communities and homes 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 for the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held liable for birth 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 instruments, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby's health should a doctor use the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it properly. This is a case of malpractice. When this happens, it's important to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you're given only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born every year, and are a major reason for infant death. The condition are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical challenges. In some instances, researchers have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery, or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, vimeo PKU). However, in the majority of all birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and are easily diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easily identifiable and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history involving inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data regarding medical conditions that run in their families and then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.