What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parent would like to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a health professional to identify certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects can be discovered only after the Ayden birth defect Law firm of your child or if symptoms begin to appear.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. However, there are a few factors that increase the risk of having a child born with defects. Some of these include taking drugs or certain medications prior to becoming pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women who have an history of these conditions are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options before getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child varies on the affected body part and how much is affected. The more severe a cartersville birth defect lawsuit defect, the greater the severity of the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. You can lessen the risk of having a birth defect by speaking with a genetic counselor as well as learning about the health background of your family and speaking with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how a part of your body looks or performs. They vary from the obvious, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in birth defects with structural causes. Environmental causes, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not being correct.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother may undergo to find out more about a possible birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. 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 amniotic fluid, blood and the tissues of a fetus to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the cause of birth defect. They can also help determine how severe a birth defect could be and the effects it could affect a child later in their adult life.

However, some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected prior to their onset and can be detected through diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technology and have the education required to be able identify the defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able identify the right specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges and require medical treatment for the rest of his life.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others are still a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take as well as the toxic chemicals that the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medications and inform her of any dangers for the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they can be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. It is crucial to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can if this happens. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice therefore it's best to start the process as soon as possible.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the most common cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These issues can be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, chunwun.com mental and emotional challenges. Scientists have in some cases identified the birth defects' causes to the mother's exposures to prescription and non-prescription drugs and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and birth and medical history of the family, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic illnesses). In about 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects are readily noticeable and can be detected at birth or within the first year. Certain birth defects, like heart defects, developmental and intellectual disabilities, require special tests to identify.

Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defects and how they can be avoided. For instance women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.