What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing that an expecting parent would like to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused the things that happen during the fetal stage and could affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health professional can diagnose some birth defects in pregnancy through the prenatal test or newborn screening. Other birth defects could be discovered only after your child's birth or when symptoms are evident.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The cause of the majority of birth defects is still unknown. There are several factors that increase the chance of pregnant women having children with birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or prescription drugs prior to conception or having a family history of birth defects or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with a family history of these disorders are advised to speak with a genetic counsellor before becoming pregnant.

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

The majority of birth defects are caused either by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can reduce the chance of developing a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor as well as learning about the health background of your family, and speaking with an expert in genetics.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or works. They can range from visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic disorders that are inherited could be a form of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, like a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo to discover more about a possible birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis which entails a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid and the fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect could be and the impact it will have on a child in their adult life.

Some birth defects may not be detected until after a baby's birth or, in rare cases, even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable before they are present and can be detected through diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the latest technologies and possess the knowledge and experience required to be able to spot these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Find an attorney for Medical Malpractice

If a child is born with a serious payette birth defect law firm defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can create life-long physical and psychological challenges that often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases are still a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed as well as the toxic chemicals that the heart of some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her about any dangers to the foetus. If they fail to perform this duty, they can be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could result in serious consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. If this happens it's crucial to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you only have a single year to file a medical negligence claim, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues could be life-threatening, and they can cause lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. In some instances, scientists have identified the causes as a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins accumulated in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications of pregnancy and delivery or family medical history (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in approximately 70% of all birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, Vimeo.com are easy to spot and are easily diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, are not as obvious and require specialized tests.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how these can be avoided. For instance smoking or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult with a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.