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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: their child could be born with a birth defect. These problems can be caused by the fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects remain unknown. However, there are a few factors that increase the chance of having a baby with a defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has birth defects or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders should speak with a genetic counselor about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child varies on the affected body part and the extent to which it is affected. Usually, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal development. The chance of developing a birth defect is reduced by knowing about your family's history with health issues and genes by speaking to an expert on genetics and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural birth defects alter how a particular part of the body appears or performs. They can range from visible like cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions could be a form of structural Birth defect law firms defects. Environmental factors, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly.

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There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother may undergo to determine the cause of the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a healthcare provider takes a small sample of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the reason for birth defect. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect attorneys defect will be and the effects it could be having on a child's his or her adult life.

However certain birth defect lawyers defects may go undetected until a baby is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These problems are not easily identified until they are present, and may only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be conversant with the latest technologies and possess the necessary training to be able identify the defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney is able to determine the most appropriate expert for your particular case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or Birth Defect law firms suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional problems that often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others are still a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over the counter medications taken by a mother or in toxic chemicals found in the community and in homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any potential dangers for the embryo. If they fail in this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is essential to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In certain states, you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

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Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions can be life-threatening and can result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive difficulties. Scientists have in a few cases linked the birth defects' causes to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In around 70% of cases, the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Others, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to figure out the causes of birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are inherited may want to speak with a genetic counselor before trying to have a baby. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.