What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent would like to hear is that their child may have a birth deformity. These defects could be the result of circumstances that occur during pregnancy and can impact the physical or mental health of your child.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a healthcare professional to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects could be discovered only after the birth of your child, or after symptoms are evident.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The causes of many birth defects is not known. However there are some things that can increase the likelihood of having a baby born with a defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious problems or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more serious a montevallo birth defect law firm 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 developing a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor, learning about the health history of your family and having a conversation with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth defects alter the way a part of your body appears or works. They can be obvious, like cleft lips or cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors such as a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which cause the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to find out more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a healthcare provider takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This test can reveal chromosomal defects and other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and fetus's tissues for signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial to finding out the causes of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and its effect on a child's adult life.

However certain birth defects may go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. This is because these problems are not easily identified until they become apparent, and can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be familiar with the techniques and the knowledge and experience required to be able identify these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney is able to determine 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 drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional challenges and often require ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others are still a mystery. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take and toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medication used by a pregnant mother and inform her of any possible dangers to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby's health if a doctor uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it properly. This is a case of malpractice. If this occurs, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence case, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns each year, and are the most common cause of infant death. These issues are life-threatening, and can trigger lasting physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In a few instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins accumulated in the environment, maternal infections, complications associated with pregnancy and birth or family medical history (like genetic diseases like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in a majority of all summit birth defect lawsuit defect cases the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects are easily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year of life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, are not as easy to identify and require special tests.

Researchers are trying determine the root of deerfield beach birth defect lawyer defects, and how they can be prevented. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with a defect. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to have a baby. They could also use 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.