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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parent would like to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A medical professional is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy by using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However other birth defects might not be identified until after the baby is born or when they start to develop symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors which can increase the chances of pregnant women having children with birth defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs before becoming pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have an established history of these diseases should talk to a genetic counselor about their options prior to getting pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby can cause serious health issues or not will depend on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe a birth defect, the greater the severity of the issues.

Most birth defect lawyers defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal development. The risk of having birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health issues and genes or talking to an expert on genetics and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how a part of your body appears or performs. They may be visible, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of structural birth defect while environmental factors, birth defect Attorney such as the lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that cause spinal cord or brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are several medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about potential birth defect Attorney defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is in which a healthcare professional takes small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities and other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are vital in finding out the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and its effect on a child's adult life.

However certain birth defects could be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. This is because these conditions aren't easily detected until they have been identified, and often can only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these techniques and has the right knowledge to identify such defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can lead to lasting physical and mental health challenges, requiring medical care for the rest of their lives.

Medical science could explain up to 30 percent of birth defect cases but the rest remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers or in toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air can cause birth defects.

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

Doctors also have a duty to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment, or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. In the event of this it is important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as possible.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the leading reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions can be life-threatening, and can lead to long-term physical, mental and birth Defect Attorney emotional difficulties. Researchers have in a few instances identified the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified either at birth or during the first year of life. Others, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, aren't as easy to identify and require special tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For instance women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data regarding medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.