What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent wants to be told is that their child might be born with a deformity. These birth defects are caused by things that happen during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a health professional to determine the presence of certain oxford birth defect lawsuit defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects could only be detected after the birth of your child or when symptoms appear.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are not known. However there are a few things that increase the chance of having a baby born with defects. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should talk to a genetic counselor about their options before getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child depends on the affected body part and the extent to which it is affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the more serious the problems.

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

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an element of your body looks or performs. They may be visible, like cleft lips and cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal cord or brain not being correct.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother is able to undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, which is when a healthcare professional collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities, as well other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They also aid in determining how severe a birth defect will be and the impact it will affect a child later in the years to come.

Some birth defects might not be detected until after the birth of a baby or, in rare instances, even as an adult. This is due to the fact that these problems are not easily identified until they are present and may only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate education to identify such defects. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or severe birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges needing medical attention for the rest of his life.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects, others remain unexplained. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medicines that mothers are prescribed as well as the toxic chemicals that work in some communities and in homes, or the contaminating air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medications taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered medical malpractice. In the event of this you should contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you only have a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you begin the process, the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns every year, and are a leading cause of infant death. These conditions are life-threatening, and can trigger long-term physical, cognitive and emotional problems. Researchers have in a few instances linked the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription and non-prescription drugs and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, the birth and pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are readily evident and can be found at kutztown Birth defect lawyer or within the first year. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as easily identified and require special tests.

Researchers are trying determine the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs when pregnant increase their risk for having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They could 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.