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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These birth defects are caused by the the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A doctor is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy using newborn screening or prenatal tests. Other birth defects could only be detected after the Birth Defect Attorney of your child, or after symptoms start to show.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for the majority of birth defect lawsuit defects is still unknown. There are some things that increase the chance of being pregnant with a child with birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member who has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these diseases are advised to speak with a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.

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

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

Structural birth imperfections 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, to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations are one kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which result in the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about potential birth defect lawsuits defects. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid to test. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus, amniotic fluid and even the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of birth defect. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its effect on a child's future.

However certain birth defects may go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they first appear and are often only discovered by using equipment for diagnosing. In these cases the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technology and have the necessary training to be able to spot these defects. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the appropriate expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional challenges and often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defects, but many others remain unknown. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers use, the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to assess the medication taken by the mother-to-be and birth defect attorney inform her of any potential risks for the baby. If they fail in their obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and 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 would be considered to be malpractice. If this happens, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as quickly as you can. In certain states, you only have a single year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you begin the process, the better.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born every year, and are the most common cause of infant mortality. These conditions can be life-threatening, and can lead to long-term physical, mental and emotional difficulties. Researchers have in a few instances identified the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery, family medical history, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are readily detectable and can be identified at birth or within the first year of life. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, aren't as obvious and require special tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant are more likely to having a child with certain defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.