What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing that an expectant parent wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These problems are caused by things that happen during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

A medical professional can detect birth defects in pregnancy through the prenatal test or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be identified after the birth of your child, or after symptoms start to show.

What was the cause of your child's error?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are some things that increase the chance of being pregnant with a child with birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a relative with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an established history of these diseases should consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The severity of a south pasadena birth defect lawsuit defect in a child depends on the body part that is affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more serious the issues.

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

Structural birth defects alter the way a part of your body appears or functions. They may range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Inherited genetic conditions can be a type of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental causes, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal or brain not functioning as it should.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant women undergo to discover more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a doctor collects a small sample of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure could reveal chromosomal variations, as well as other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and the fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its effects on a child's adult life.

However certain birth defects may remain unnoticed until a child is born or, Vimeo in rare cases, as an adult. This is due to the fact that these problems are not easily identified until they are present, and often can only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the proper training to be able to recognize these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the right specialist for your case.

Hire an attorney for Medical Malpractice

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can completely change the life of the family. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges that require medical attention for the rest of his life.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defect cases however, many other cases remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken by mothers or in toxic chemicals found in homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air may cause birth defects.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications and inform her of any possible risks for the foetus. If they fail in this duty, they may be held accountable for massachusetts birth defect lawyer defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens you should consult a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as possible.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the most common reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These issues can be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, cognitive and emotional problems. In some instances, scientists have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter drugs, toxins in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications of pregnancy and delivery, or family medical history (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease or PKU). In around 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to detect and can be diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's existence. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how these can be avoided. For example, women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their likelihood of having a child with a defect. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.