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What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent wants to hear is that 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.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be utilized by a healthcare professional to detect certain birth defects during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be diagnosed until after the baby is born or later when they develop symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

The reason for the majority of birth defects is still unknown. There are a few factors that could increase the likelihood of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or prescription drugs before getting pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women who have an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more severe the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can lessen the risk of developing a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor as well as learning about the health history of your family and speaking with an expert in genetics.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how a part of your body looks or functions. They can be obvious, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations could be a form of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, for instance, the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that lead to brain or spinal cord development not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test a fetus' blood, amniotic fluid and even the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential to determining the cause of birth defect. They also help determine the extent of the birth defect and its effect on a child's future.

However some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected when they occur and are usually only detected through equipment for diagnosing. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the techniques and the necessary training to be able identify the defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the most suitable expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues, requiring medical care for the rest of their lives.

Medical science can pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medications that mothers use as well as the toxic chemicals that the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors must evaluate the dosage of medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential risks to the fetus. If they fail in their duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have a responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and any other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. When this happens it's crucial to consult a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the faster you start the process, the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

birth defect lawsuits defects are the most common cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues could be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, cognitive and emotional problems. Researchers have in a few instances connected the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic illnesses). In about 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects are readily noticeable and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as easy to identify and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are trying to discover the cause of birth defects and how they can be avoided. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or a genetic counselor.