What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent wants to be told is that their child may have a birth defect. These defects are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A doctor can identify birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other birth defects can not be detected until after the baby is born or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. There are certain factors which can increase the chances of pregnant women having children with birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member who has birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders should talk to an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not will depend on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part affected. The more severe the birth defect the more serious the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or environment during fetal growth. The chance of developing a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history with health issues and genes and speaking with an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change the way a part of your body appears or performs. They vary from the obvious like cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetically-inherited conditions could be a form of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental causes, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal or brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to discover more about a possible Maple Grove Birth Defect Lawyer defect. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of fetal fluid to test. This test can reveal chromosomal abnormalities, as well other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test the blood of a fetus as well as amniotic fluid and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are vital in finding out the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining how severe the birth defect could be and the consequences it could affect a child later in their adult life.

Some birth defects might not be discovered at the time of birth or, in some rare cases, even as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected before they are present and are often only discovered with diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be familiar with the technologies and have the education required to identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the right specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers from a severe fontana birth defect lawyer injury, it can completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems that require medical attention for the rest of their lives.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defect cases but the rest remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers use and the harmful chemicals that working in some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any dangers to the fetus. If they fail in this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and any other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment or fails correctly calibrate the equipment, it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It is important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately if this happens. In some states you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the leading reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The condition are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical difficulties. Scientists have in some cases identified the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery or a family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic illnesses). However, in a majority of birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to detect and can be identified at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require tests specific to be identified.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. Women who smoke, drink or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize 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.