What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent wants to hear is that their child may be born with a deformity. These issues may be caused by a variety of circumstances that occur during pregnancy and can impact the physical or mental health of your child.

A health professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be detected after the birth of your child or if symptoms are evident.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. However there are a few things that increase the chance of having a child with defects. One of them is taking certain medications or prescription drugs before getting pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.

The degree of Birth defect attorney defect in a child is contingent on the body part that is affected and the degree to which it 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 development of the fetus. The chance of developing a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history with health issues and genes and speaking with a genetic counselor and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a specific part of the body appears or performs. They can be obvious, like cleft lips or Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a kind of structural birth defect lawsuits defect, while environmental factors such as the absence of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord and brain not developing properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother may undergo to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid to test. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations in addition to other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can also test a fetus' blood as well as amniotic fluid and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect will be and the impact it will have on a child in their adulthood.

Certain birth defects might not be detected at the time of birth or, in some rare cases, even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable before they are present and are usually only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these kinds of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness in question is familiar with these technologies and has the proper training to be able to identify such defects. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer is able to determine the most appropriate expert for your particular case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges, requiring medical care for a lifetime.

Medical science may explain around 30% of birth defect cases however, many other cases are still a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medicines that mothers are prescribed or the toxic chemicals at play in certain communities and homes, as well as contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors must evaluate the medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any possible risks for the fetus. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a baby's health when a doctor uses the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered to be malpractice. It is important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer immediately if this happens. In certain states, you only have a single year to file a medical malpractice claim, so the earlier you start the process the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

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

Some birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified at birth or within the first year of life. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to discover the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.