What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent would like to learn is that their child may be born with a deformity. These problems are caused by things that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy by using newborn screening or prenatal tests. However other birth defects might not be discovered until after your child's Powder springs birth defect Attorney or later when they develop symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. There are certain factors that could increase the likelihood of the mother having 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 who has birth defects or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the affected body part and how much is affected. The more severe the defect is then the more severe the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal development. You can lessen the risk of having a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor and learning about the health history of your family and meeting with geneticists.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a part of the body looks or works. They can be visible, like cleft lips, cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect and environmental factors like a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. One of them is amniocentesis that involves a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the reason for birth defect. They also help determine the degree of a port angeles birth defect lawyer defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

Some birth defects may not be discovered at the time of birth or, in rare instances even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable prior to their onset and are sometimes only detected with diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the proper training to be able to recognize these defects. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer will be able to identify the right expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or a serious birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional challenges and often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

While medical science can identify the causes of 30% of birth defects others remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medication taken by mothers or in toxic chemicals found in homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air can cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medications and inform her about any dangers for the foetus. When they fail in this obligation, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, as well as other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice and it's recommended to begin the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The conditions could be life-threatening and lead to many long term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. In some cases, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter drugs, toxins in the environment and maternal infections, the complications associated with pregnancy and birth, or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases, sickle cell disease or PKU). But in about 70% of birth defect cases the causes are not clear.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot are easily identifiable and can be detected from birth or within the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are attempting to determine what can cause birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.