What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be used by a healthcare professional to detect certain birth defects during pregnancy. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after the birth of your child or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. There are a few factors which can increase the chances of pregnant women having children with birth defect. This includes using medications or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a relative with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the defect is and the more serious the problem will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history with genes and health issues by speaking to a genetic counselor, and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body looks or works. They vary from the obvious such as cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions may be a sign of birth defect attorney defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause brain or spinal cord development not functioning as it should.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a healthcare provider takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities and other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in determining the cause of birth defects. They also help determine the degree of a birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

However some daly city birth defect attorney defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare cases, an adult. This is because these issues are not readily apparent until they are present and birth defect attorney can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate education to identify such defects. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer is able to determine the appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury could completely alter the life of a family. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and mental challenges, requiring medical care for the rest of their lives.

While medical science can identify the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defects, others remain unsolved. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers take or in toxic chemicals found in the community and in homes or groundwater that is contaminated air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the dosage of medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks to the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to examine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered to be malpractice. It is important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you have only one year to file a medical negligence case, Birth Defect Attorney so the earlier you start the process, the better.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These issues could be life-threatening, and can result in lasting physical, cognitive and emotional issues. In some instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins accumulated in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications of pregnancy and delivery, or medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). In the majority of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot are easily identifiable and are easily diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require special tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to discover the root of birth defects, and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child with certain defects. Women who have an inherited family history of genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.