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What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent would like to be told is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A medical professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal testing or newborn screening. Other birth defects could only be detected after the birth of your child or when symptoms are evident.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The root of many birth defects is not known. There are some things that could increase the likelihood of pregnant women having children with birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or prescription drugs before getting pregnant, having a family history of birth defects, or having medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women with an ancestry of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not is contingent upon 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 problems.

The majority of birth defect lawsuits defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can lower the risk of a birth defect speaking with a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family and meeting with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way the body looks or functions. They vary from the obvious like cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of structural birth defect and environmental factors like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord and brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman is able to undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, where a healthcare provider takes a small sample of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This test may reveal chromosomal mutations and other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and the tissues of a fetus to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are vital in diagnosing the root of a birth defect. They also aid in determining how serious the birth defect is and the impact it will have on a child in their adulthood.

Some birth defects might not be identified until after the birth of a child or, in a few instances even as an adult. These problems are not easily identified until they have been identified, and can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the techniques and the knowledge and experience required to be able to spot these flaws. A lawyer who has experience should be able identify the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

If a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional problems and often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science can explain about 30 percent of birth defect cases but the rest remain unsolved. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over-the-counter medication taken by mothers and toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medications taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks to the foetus. If they fail to perform this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to evaluate 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 in error or does not calibrate it correctly. This is considered to be malpractice. It is important to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

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Birth defects affect one out of 33 newborns every year and are a leading cause of infant death. The conditions are life-threatening and cause a myriad of cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, connected the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, the birth and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In about 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as clubfoot or hearing loss, are easily identifiable and are easily diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's existence. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities require tests specific to detect.

Researchers are working to understand the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example, women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chance of having a baby with certain defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.