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What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be utilized by a health professional to diagnose certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects can only be identified after your child's birth or when symptoms appear.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are not known. There are several factors which can increase the chances of the mother having a child with a birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a relative with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an history of these conditions should speak with an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious problems or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is then the more severe the problem will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal development. The risk of having birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of genes and health issues, talking to an expert on genetics and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth defects alter how a part of the body appears or works. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and cleft palettes, or invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a kind of structural birth defect and environmental factors like the lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which cause the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother may undergo to determine the cause of the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis, for instance, is which is when a healthcare professional collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations and other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and fetus's tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are essential in determining the cause of a birth defect. They also aid in determining the severity of the birth defect could be and the impact it will affect a child later in his or her adult life.

Some birth defects may not be discovered at the time of birth or, in rare cases, even as an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they have been identified, and can sometimes only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. For these types of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness in question is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the correct education to identify such defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able identify the best expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can cause life-long physical and psychological challenges which often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

While medical science can identify the causes of about 30% of birth defects, others remain unexplained. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, for example those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications a mother takes or the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her about any risks to the embryo. When they fail in this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. If this occurs you should consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In certain states, you are only allowed a single year to file a medical malpractice case, so the earlier you begin the process, the more favorable.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions can be life-threatening, and they can cause lasting physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Researchers have in a few instances connected the causes of birth defect attorney defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs and environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth and medical history of the family, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). However, in the majority of birth defect law firms defects cases the causes are not clear.

Certain birth defects are readily noticeable and can be detected at birth or in the first year. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, aren't as easily identified and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or birth consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to conceive. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.