What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parent would like to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These defects are caused by things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

A doctor can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal tests 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 deformity?

The reason for numerous birth defects remains unclear. There are certain factors that could increase the likelihood of the mother having a child with a birth defect. One of them is using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to becoming pregnant, having a family history of birth defects or having medical conditions such as rheumatic illness. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect can cause serious health issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect the more serious the issues.

Most birth defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of a birth defect talking to a genetic counsellor and learning about the health background of your family, and talking with the geneticist.

Structural birth problems are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or functions. They vary from the obvious like cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited may be a sign of structural Birth Defect Attorney defects. Environmental factors, such as an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning as it should.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers is able to undergo in order to discover more about a possible birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid and fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and its impact on a child's life.

However some birth defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare instances, when an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions are not detectable until they are present and are often detected using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the techniques and the training necessary to identify these defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney is able to determine the most suitable expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If 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 create life-long physical and emotional challenges that often require a lifetime of medical care.

Although medical science has been able to identify the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defects, others remain unexplained. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers take, toxic chemicals in the community and in homes, or contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications and advise her about any risks for the fetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using this equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. If this happens, it's important to consult a medical malpractice attorney as quickly as you can. In some states, you're given only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as you can.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 babies born each year and are the most common cause of infant death. The conditions could be life-threatening and cause a myriad of mental, emotional and physical issues. In some cases, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins found in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications associated with pregnancy and birth defect lawsuit or medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). In around 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to see and are easily diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's existence. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying to figure out what can cause birth defects and how them may be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs when pregnant are at a higher risk of having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information regarding medical conditions that run in their families and share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.