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What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to hear is that their child might have a birth defect. These problems could be the result of circumstances that occur during the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health professional can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy with newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after the baby is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The cause of many birth defects is not known. There are certain factors that could increase the likelihood of being pregnant with a child with birth defect. These include taking 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 a family background of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to becoming pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect causes serious problems or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect then the more severe the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce the chance of developing a birth defect by speaking with a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the background of your family and talking with the geneticist.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or performs. They can range from visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, but also the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman is able to undergo in order to determine the cause of a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is a prime example, which is when a healthcare professional collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This test can reveal chromosomal abnormalities as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the amniotic fluid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are essential in finding out the reason for birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its impact on a child's adult life.

However some birth defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born, or in rare cases, an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions are not detectable until they are present and may only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the right knowledge to recognize these defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth defect attorney (vimeo.com) injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional challenges that often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30% of birth defects, many others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed, the toxic chemicals at working in some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medications and advise her of any risks for the fetus. If they fail in this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray devices, birth defect attorney surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is essential to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence case, so the faster you begin the process, the better.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the primary reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions can be life-threatening and can result in permanent physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. In some instances, researchers have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medications, toxins found in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and delivery or a medical history in the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). However, in the majority of birth defect lawsuit defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to detect and are easily diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defect law firm defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to have a baby. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data regarding medical conditions that run in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.