What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent wants to learn is that their child could have a birth deformity. These issues may be caused by a variety of circumstances that occur during growing up and could affect the physical or mental health of your child.

A doctor is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy by using the prenatal test or newborn screening. However other birth defects can not be discovered until after the baby is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. However there are a few factors that increase the risk of having a baby born with defects. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should speak with an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect causes serious problems or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. The more severe the birth defect the greater the severity of the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can lessen the risk of a birth defect talking to a genetic counsellor, learning about the health background of your family, and talking with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a specific part of the body appears or performs. They can range from visible like cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetically-inherited conditions could be a form of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to discover more about a possible birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid for testing. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid 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 defects. They also aid in determining how serious a birth defect will be and the consequences it could have on a child in his or vimeo her adult life.

Certain birth defects might not be identified at the time of birth or, in some rare cases even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they occur and are often only discovered by using diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technologies and have the necessary training to be able to spot the defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney should be able to identify the most appropriate expert for your case.

Hire an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers from a severe lexington birth defect attorney injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can lead to long-term physical and mental issues and require medical treatment for a lifetime.

Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defect cases However, the majority of cases remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medication that mothers take, the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications and inform her of any potential risks to the fetus. When they fail in this duty, they may be held liable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could lead to serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. If this happens it's crucial to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as possible.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the primary cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The conditions can be life-threatening and can cause long-term mental, emotional and physical difficulties. In some instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment and maternal infections, the complications associated with pregnancy and birth or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Certain rockwall birth defect Lawyer (vimeo.com) defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to see and are easily diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren't as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how they can be prevented. For defects example smoking or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with a defect. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and provide it to their doctor or a genetic counselor.