What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These defects can be caused by events that occur during growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health professional is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects could not be diagnosed until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. However there are a few things that can increase the risk of having a baby born with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a relative with joliet Birth defect lawyer defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders should consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby causes serious problems or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is, the more severe the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the development of the fetus. The chance of developing norwood birth defect law firm defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of health issues and genes and speaking with a genetic counselor and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They can range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors like the absence of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord or brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant women undergo to determine the possibility of a birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of fetal fluid for analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations as well as other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the cause of birth defect. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

Certain birth defects might not be detected until after the birth of a child or, in rare instances even as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected prior to their onset and are often only discovered by using diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these techniques and has the proper education to identify such defects. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the right expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or severe birth injury can alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional problems, often requiring the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defect cases however, many other cases are still unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed and the harmful chemicals that the heart of some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications and inform her of any risks to the embryo. If they fail in their obligation, they can be held responsible for little canada birth defect lawsuit defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby if a doctor uses the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is essential to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you are only allowed a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the earlier you start the process the better.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns every year, and are a major reason for infant death. These conditions could be life-threatening, and can trigger permanent physical, cognitive and emotional problems. Scientists have in a few cases connected the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and birth, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defects the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified either at birth or during the first year. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identified and require specialized tests.

Researchers are working to understand what can cause birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.