What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent would like to hear is that their child may 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.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be utilized by a doctor to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects might not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors which can increase the chances of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member with an abnormal hartford birth defect lawsuit 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 getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect can cause serious health issues or not will depend on which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect and the more serious the problem will be.

Most birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal growth. The risk of having a birth defect is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health issues and genes and speaking with an expert on genetics and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how a part of your body looks or performs. They can be visible, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors such as a lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that cause brain or spinal cord not developing properly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant women undergo to find out more about a potential birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, that involves a doctor taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities as well as other health conditions such as 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 tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

However certain Bluffton Birth Defect Attorney defects may be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These problems aren't visible prior to their onset and are usually only detected through diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness in question is familiar with these technologies and has the proper training to be able to identify such defects. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional problems which often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers and toxic chemicals found in the community and in homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any possible risks to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. In the event of this, it's important to contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. In certain states, you only have a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you start the process the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

anderson birth defect lawsuit defects affect one out of 33 babies born each year and are a major reason for infant death. These issues can be life-threatening, and can lead to permanent physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. In some instances, researchers have identified the causes as a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment, maternal infections, complications associated with pregnancy and birth or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). In around 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Certain birth defects are readily 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 obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. For example, women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with a defect. Women who have a family history of inheritance 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 collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.