What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to learn is that their child could be born with a deformity. These birth defects could be the result of circumstances that occur during growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be used by a healthcare professional to identify certain birth defects during pregnancy. However, Vimeo.Com other birth defects may not be discovered until after your child is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. However there are a few things that increase the risk of having a child with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these diseases are advised to speak with a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child depends on the affected body part 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 genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family and having a conversation with an expert in genetics.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how the body looks or performs. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a type of structural iowa birth defect attorney defect, while environmental factors such as an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that cause the spinal cord and brain not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a doctor collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations as well as other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of birth defect. These tests are vital in finding out the cause of birth defect. They can also assist in determining how severe the birth defect is and the impact it will have on a child in their adult life.

Some birth defects might not be recognized until after the birth of a child or, in some rare cases even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable before they are present and are often only discovered through diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the technologies and have the training necessary to be able identify these issues. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the right specialist for your case.

Hire an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges that require medical attention for a lifetime.

Medical science can explain about 30% of birth defect cases However, the majority of cases remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications a mother takes or the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any potential dangers to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety 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 when a doctor uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered to be malpractice. It's important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns each year and are a major cause of infant mortality. These conditions can be life-threatening, and can result in lasting physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In some cases, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment, maternal infections, complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). In around 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects are easily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year of life. Other conditions, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easy to identify and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women who have an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They may also use 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.