What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parent would like to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These birth defects are caused by events that occur during growing up and could affect the physical or mental health of your child.

A health care provider is able to detect some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects could be discovered only after the birth of your child or when symptoms start to show.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The cause of many birth defects is not known. However there are several factors that can increase a woman's risk of having a child with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before the Riverdale Birth Defect Law Firm, having a relative with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women with an established history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part affected and how much is affected. The more serious a birth defect is, the more severe the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor, learning about the health background of your family and talking with geneticists.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an element of your body looks or functions. They may range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not working as intended.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother is able to undergo in order to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, which is when a healthcare professional collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the blood of a fetus, amniotic fluid and even the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its impact on a child's future.

However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they first appear and are sometimes only detected through equipment for diagnosing. For these types of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness in question is well-versed in these technologies and has the correct education to spot these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer is able to determine the appropriate specialist for your case.

Find a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional issues and often require a lifetime of medical care.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defect cases but the rest remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take or the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors must evaluate the medications taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks to the foetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held accountable for granite falls birth defect law firm defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have a responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It is important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer immediately should this happen. In certain states, you're only given one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you begin the process the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the most common cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition can be life-threatening and lead to many long term cognitive, emotional, and physical issues. Scientists have in some cases identified the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic illnesses). In the majority of cases, the reason is unknown.

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

Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of birth defects and how some of they can be prevented. For example, women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with a defect. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.