What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent wants to be told is that their child might be born with a deformity. These birth defects are caused things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health professional can detect seaford birth defect lawyer defects in pregnancy through the prenatal test or newborn screening. However other birth defects could not be identified until after your child is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. However, there are a few things that increase the chance of having a baby with defects. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications prior to becoming pregnant or having an ancestral history of eagar birth defect law firm defects or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child depends on the body part that is affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the defect is it, the more serious the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history of health and genetic issues and speaking with a genetic counselor, and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an area of your body appears or functions. They can range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate, but also the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. 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 properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are several medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to discover more about a potential birth defect. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a healthcare provider takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This test can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

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 crucial to finding out the causes of birth defects. They can also determine the extent of the birth defect and its impact on a child's future.

Some birth defects may not be detected until after a baby's birth or, in some rare cases, even as an adult. This is because the conditions are not detectable until they become apparent, and often can only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness involved is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the proper training to be able to detect these flaws. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the right specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges, often requiring the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defects others remain unexplained. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, such as those in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in homes and communities, or contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications and advise her of any possible risks for the embryo. If they fail in this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, and any other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could have grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It is important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately when this happens. In some states, you're given only one year to file a case for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Start with the First Step

mount Pleasant Birth defect attorney defects affect one of 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant death. The conditions are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive problems. In some cases, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in a majority of birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to detect and are easily diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as easily identifiable and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For instance smoking and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with a defect. Women who have 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 run in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.