What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These problems may be caused by a variety of the pregnancy and can impact the physical or mental health of your child.

A medical professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other baldwin birth defect law firm defects can not be identified until after the baby is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

Many birth defects are not known. There are a few factors that increase the chance of being pregnant with a child with birth defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to conception or having a family history of birth defects, or having medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with a family background of these disorders are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and how much is affected. The more severe the defect and the more serious the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of health issues and genes or talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth defects alter how a part of the body appears or works. They can range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can be a type of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal or brain not being correct.

Gather More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to learn more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, in which a healthcare professional takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal variations in addition to other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and the fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are vital in determining the cause of birth defect. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and its effects on a child's future.

Some birth defects might not be identified at the time of glasgow birth defect lawyer or, in rare instances even as an adult. This is due to the fact that these problems are not easily identified until they have been identified, and often can only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technology and have the necessary training to be able to spot these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a serious birth injury can drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges needing medical attention for the rest of their lives.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases remain unknown. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances may cause tallassee birth defect attorney defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medication that mothers take and the harmful chemicals that work in some communities and homes, as well as contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to assess the medication used by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks to the foetus. When they fail in this duty, they may be held liable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby should a doctor use the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens you should contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. In certain states, you are only allowed one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you begin the process, the more favorable.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues can be life-threatening, and can result in permanent physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Scientists have in a few cases identified the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and medical history of the family, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to see and can be identified at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other conditions, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easy to identify and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to determine what causes birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are more likely to having a child born with certain defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.