What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child may have a birth defect. These problems can be caused by the fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be used by a doctor to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However, other birth defects may not be discovered until after the baby is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. However there are several things that increase the likelihood of having a child with defects. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and how severe the damage. Usually, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the problems will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by speaking with a genetic counselor as well as learning about the health background of your family, Birth Defect Law Firms and talking with a geneticist.

Structural birth defects alter how a specific part of the body appears or performs. They may be visible like cleft lips, cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited can be a type of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal or brain not functioning as it should.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman may undergo to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. One of them is amniocentesis which involves a healthcare provider taking a small sample of fetal fluid for analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities and other health issues like 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 umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial in determining the causes of birth defects. They can also help determine how severe the birth defect could be and the effects it could have on a child in his or her adult life.

Some birth defect lawsuits defects may not be recognized until after the birth defect law Firms of a baby or, in some rare cases even after becoming an adult. This is because these conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and often can only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be familiar with the techniques and the training necessary to recognize the defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able identify the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury could completely alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for a lifetime.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30 percent of birth defects, others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, such as those in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in the homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any potential dangers to the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby should a doctor use the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it properly. This would be considered to be malpractice. It is crucial to contact a medical negligence lawyer immediately in the event of this happening. In certain states, you are only allowed one year to file a medical negligence case, so the earlier you begin the process the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born each year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. The conditions can be life-threatening and can cause a myriad of physical, birth Defect Law firms emotional and cognitive issues. Scientists have in a few cases connected the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications and environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth and family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the cause is not known.

Certain birth defect lawyer defects are readily detectable and can be identified either at birth or during the first year. Other conditions, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are more likely to having a child born with certain defects. Women who have an inherited family history of genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.