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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 by things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be used by a healthcare professional to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects may only be identified after the birth of your child or if symptoms start to show.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women having children with birth defect. This includes using medications or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with a birth defect or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders should talk to an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a 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 it, the more serious the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history with health and genetic issues or talking to a genetic counselor and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an area of your body appears or functions. They can be obvious, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors such as an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo in order to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. One example is amniocentesis, which entails a doctor taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations as well as other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test a fetus' blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

Certain birth defects might not be identified until after a baby's birth or, in rare instances even as an adult. This is because these conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and often can only be recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the technology and have the education required to be able to spot these defects. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can alter the life of families. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges that often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medications that mothers use, the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, or in contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to assess an expectant mother's current medications and inform her of any risks to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they can be held liable for birth defect law firm defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a child should a doctor use the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. It is essential to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a case for medical malpractice which is why it's important to begin the process as soon as possible.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects are the primary reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. The condition could be life-threatening and lead to many long term mental, emotional and physical challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). In around 70% of cases, the reason is not known.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and are easily diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as obvious and require special tests.

Researchers are working to understand what can cause birth defects and how them may be prevented. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol or birth take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult with a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They may 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.