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 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 using the prenatal test or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after your child is born or when they start to develop symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. There are some things which can increase the chances of being pregnant with a child with birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a family member that has birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect can cause serious health issues or not will depend on which body part is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more serious the problems.

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 genes and health issues and speaking with a genetic counselor, and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way the body looks or functions. They can range from the visible like cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Inherited genetic conditions can result in structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in brain or spinal cord development not working as intended.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small sample of fetal fluid for analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of birth defects. They also aid in determining how severe the birth defect could be and the effect it may have on a child's their adulthood.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. This is because the problems are not easily identified until they are present and may only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is well-versed in these technologies and has the appropriate training to be able to identify such defects. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you identify the right expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a serious birth injury can completely change the life of a family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional issues which often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science can pinpoint the root causes of around 30% of birth defect lawyer defects, others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, like those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medication that mothers take or the toxic chemicals at the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential risks for the foetus. If they fail to perform this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine 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 correctly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. If this happens you should speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as possible.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 babies born every year and are a major reason for infant death. The conditions are life-threatening and cause long-term mental, emotional and physical problems. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). However, in the majority of birth defects cases the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and can be 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, aren't as obvious and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how these can be avoided. For example, women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a history of family members that includes inherited genetic disorders may want to speak with a genetic counselor before trying to conceive. They should also use the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.