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What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent would like to learn is that their child might have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by the things that happen in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health professional is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be identified until after your child is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. There are some things that can increase the risk of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or drugs before becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have a history of these disorders should speak with a genetic counselor about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and how much of the body part 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 development of the fetus. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by learning about your family's history of health issues and genes and speaking with a genetic counselor and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how an element of your body appears or functions. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or birth Defect chromosome disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, birth defect which can result in the spinal cord and brain not developing properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are several medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to find out more about a potential birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis that involves a doctor taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations in addition to other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can also examine the fetus's blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in diagnosing the root of birth defect. They can also help determine how serious the birth defect could be and the consequences it could affect a child later in their adulthood.

Some birth defects might not be recognized until after a baby's birth or, in rare instances even 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 detected using diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technologies and have the knowledge and experience required to recognize these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of a family. These injuries can lead to lasting physical and mental health challenges and require medical treatment for the rest of his life.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances, such as those in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or children, harmful chemicals in communities and homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible dangers for the foetus. If they fail to perform this duty, they can be held liable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility 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. This could cause serious harm for a baby should a doctor use the equipment negligently or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. If this happens, it's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're only given a single year to file a medical malpractice case, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born every year and are a leading cause of infant mortality. These issues can be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, mental and emotional issues. In some cases, scientists have identified the causes as a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and birth, or family medical history (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defects the causes are not clear.

Certain birth defects, including clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to detect and can be diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require special tests to detect.

Researchers are trying to figure out the cause of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For instance, women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.