What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent would like to learn is that their child may have a birth deformity. These problems are caused by factors that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A medical professional can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be identified after the birth of your child or when symptoms start to show.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. There are several factors that can increase the risk of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or prescription drugs prior to becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women who have a history of these disorders should consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is then the more severe the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can lower the risk of a del mar birth defect law firm defect consulting a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family, and speaking with geneticists.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how a part of your body looks or performs. They can be visible, like cleft lips and cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of structural birth defect, and environmental factors like the lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause spinal cord and brain not developing properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are several medical procedures that pregnant women undergo to discover more about a potential birth defect. One of them is amniocentesis which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This test can reveal chromosomal changes and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and its impact on a child's adult life.

Some birth defects may not be identified until after a baby's birth or, in rare instances even after becoming an adult. This is because the conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and can sometimes only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the technologies and have the knowledge and experience required to identify these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able identify the best expert for your case.

Hire an attorney for Medical Malpractice

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional challenges, often requiring a lifetime of medical care.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of st augustine birth Defect lawsuit defects however, many other cases remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medication that mothers take or the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to evaluate the dosage of medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks to the baby. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment, or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. If this occurs you should speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical malpractice case, http://ivimall.com so the earlier you begin the process, the more favorable.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions can be life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical issues. Scientists have in a few cases identified the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery, family medical history, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to spot and can be identified at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Some birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require tests specific to detect.

Researchers are trying determine what causes birth defects and how they can be avoided. For instance women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or a genetic counselor.