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What Causes a Birth Defect?

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

A health professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal testing or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after the birth of your child or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

Many birth defects are not known. There are a few factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or prescription drugs prior to conception or having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part that is affected and how much is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the more severe the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history of health and genetic issues or talking to an expert on genetics and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change the way a part of your body appears or performs. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of structural birth defect, and environmental factors like a lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which can result in the spinal cord or brain not developing correctly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are several medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to discover more about potential birth defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This test can reveal chromosomal abnormalities as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also test a fetus' blood, amniotic fluid and even the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining how severe a birth defect could be and the impact it will be having on a child's their adulthood.

However certain birth defects could be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions are not detectable prior to their onset and are often only discovered by using equipment for diagnosing. In these kinds of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate training to be able to recognize these defects. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the best expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges, often requiring the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science can explain about 30% of birth defect cases however, many other cases are still a mystery. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers take and toxic chemicals found in communities and homes or groundwater that is contaminated air can cause birth defects.

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

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and effectiveness of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor is negligent in using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is essential to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states, you are only allowed one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you start the process the more favorable.

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Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born every year and are a major cause of infant death. These issues can be life-threatening and can lead to long-term physical, mental and emotional difficulties. In a few instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription drugs, toxins in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or medical history in the family (like genetic diseases, sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in the majority of all birth defects the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defect attorneys defects, including clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to spot and are easily diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easily identifiable and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to determine the root of birth defects, and how they can be prevented. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with a defect. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.