What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expectant parent wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These problems are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health care provider is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy by using newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be discovered until after your child's birth or later when they develop symptoms.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are a few factors that increase the risk of having a baby with a defect. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications prior to conception or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect can cause serious health issues or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect the greater the severity of the problems.

Most birth defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of genes and health issues and speaking with a genetic counselor and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change how a part of the body looks or works. They can be visible, such as cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations are one type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors such as an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that cause spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo to discover more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which entails a doctor taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations in addition to other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for Vimeo.com indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the reason for birth defect. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its impact on a child's future.

However some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These problems aren't visible prior to their onset and can be detected through diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the techniques and the knowledge and experience required to be able to spot these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, like those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medications that mothers use, the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, as well as contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any potential risks to the baby. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and any other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby's health should a doctor use the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered to be malpractice. If this occurs you should contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're given only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

hartford birth defect lawyer defects affect 1 of 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant mortality. The conditions can be life-threatening and cause long-term mental, emotional and physical issues. In a few instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins found in the environment, maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery, or medical history in the family (like genetic diseases, sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in approximately 70% of birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to detect and are easily diagnosed at wauseon birth defect lawsuit or in the first year of a child's existence. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easily identifiable and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of birth defects and how them may be prevented. For example, women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to conceive. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that can be found in their families and then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.