What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These problems are caused by things that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be used by a doctor to diagnose certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other Paris Birth defect lawyer defects can only be detected after the birth of your child or if symptoms appear.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are not known. There are several factors that can increase the risk of the mother having a child with birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before the birth, having a family member that has a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child depends on the body part that is affected and how much is affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is then the more severe the problem will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of a birth deformity by speaking with a genetic counselor, learning about the health background of your family and having a conversation with the geneticist.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They may range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that lead to brain or spinal cord development not working as intended.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers is able to undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is in which a healthcare professional takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood as well as amniotic fluid and the umbilical cord for signs of fountain inn birth defect attorney defects. These tests are vital in finding out the cause of a birth defect. They can also assist in determining the severity of the birth defect is and the consequences it could have on a child's the years to come.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they have been identified, and are often identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. For these types of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the proper education to detect these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able identify the right specialist for your case.

Employ an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury could completely alter the life of families. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and psychological challenges that often require ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science can pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects others remain a mystery. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother or in toxic chemicals found in communities and homes as well as contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medications taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks for the baby. When they fail in this duty, they can be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a baby's health in the event that a physician uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. When this happens it's crucial to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice, so it's best to start the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born every year and are a leading cause of infant mortality. These issues are life-threatening, and can trigger permanent physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Scientists have, in some instances, connected the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription or over-the-counter medicines or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and birth or a family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). In around 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or a clubfoot are easily identifiable and can be diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Other conditions, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are working to understand what can cause birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.