What Causes a Birth Defect?
It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.
A health care provider is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy by using newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after your child is born or a few years later when they show symptoms.
What was the reason for your child's deformity?
The reason for the majority of birth defects is still unknown. However there are some factors that can increase the chance of having a child born with a defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member that has a birth defect or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestry of these disorders should consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.
If a birth defect law firms -
More Tips - defect in a baby causes serious issues or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe the defect it, the more serious the problems will be.
Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having birth defects can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history of health and genetic issues or talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal care guidelines.
Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way the body appears or functions. They may range from the visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a kind of structural
birth defect, while environmental factors, such as an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that can result in the brain or spinal cord not developing correctly.
Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.
There are a number of medical procedures pregnant women can undergo to determine a potential birth defect. One of them is amniocentesis which entails a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid to test. This test may reveal chromosomal irregularities, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and tissues of a fetus for indications of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the reason for birth defect. They can also help determine the severity of a birth defect could be and the impact it will have on a child's their adult life.
However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected prior to their onset and are sometimes only detected through diagnostic equipment. For these types of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the right experience to identify such defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the best expert for your case.
Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can lead to long-term physical and mental issues needing medical attention for the rest of their lives.
While medical science can identify the causes of about 30% of birth defects others remain unexplained. 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 play in certain communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.
Doctors must evaluate the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any possible dangers for the baby. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they can be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.
Doctors also have a responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a newborn baby should a doctor use the equipment improperly or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. If this occurs it is important to contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as possible.
Take the First Step
Birth defects are the most common cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions are life-threatening, and can trigger lasting physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Scientists have in a few cases identified the causes of birth defects to exposure to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). However, in the majority of birth defects cases the causes are not clear.
Some birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and development disabilities, require specific tests to be identified.
Researchers are trying to discover the causes 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 risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.