What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing that an expectant parent wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by the things that happen in the fetal period and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A doctor can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects could not be identified until after the baby is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. There are some things which can increase the chances of the mother having a child with a birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member who has a birth defect or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an established history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part that is affected and the degree to which it is affected. The more severe the birth defect the more severe the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal growth. The risk of having birth defects can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history of health and genetic issues or talking to a genetic counselor and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how the body looks or functions. They vary from the obvious like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetically-inherited conditions could be a form of birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental factors, for instance, the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not being correct.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers can undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of a Palmdale Birth defect lawyer defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, which entails a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the causes of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of newport birth defect lawsuit defect and its effects on a child's future.

However some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. This is because these issues are not readily apparent until they are present and can sometimes only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is well-versed in these technologies and has the appropriate knowledge to recognize these defects. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the most suitable expert for your particular case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can alter the life of the family. These injuries can lead to permanent physical and mental problems needing medical attention for the rest of his life.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30% of birth defect cases however, many other cases remain unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother or children, harmful chemicals in communities and homes or groundwater that is contaminated air may cause birth defects.

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

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using this equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. It's important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer immediately when this happens. In some states, you are only allowed one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you begin the process the more favorable.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect one in 33 babies born each year and are a major reason for infant death. The condition can be life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical challenges. In some instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter drugs, toxins in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and birth or a family medical history (like genetic diseases, sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in the majority of birth defects cases the causes are not clear.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to spot and can be detected from birth or within the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require special tests to detect.

Researchers are trying to figure out the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. For instance, women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.