What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent would like to hear is that their child may have a birth deformity. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health care provider can identify birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be identified until after the birth of your child or when they start to develop symptoms.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. There are some things which can increase the chances of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of 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 speak with a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not will depend on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. The more severe the birth defect the greater the severity of the issues.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The risk of having birth defects can be reduced by learning about your family's history of health and genetic issues and speaking with an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how an area of your body appears or performs. They may be visible like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, but also invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations could be a form of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to determine the cause of the possibility of birth defects. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a healthcare provider taking a small sample of fetal fluid for testing. This procedure may reveal chromosomal irregularities and other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They can also help determine the severity of the birth defect is and the effects it could have on a child's the years to come.

However, some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and may only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technology and have the training necessary to identify these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the best expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If a child is born with a severe birth defect attorneys defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues that require medical attention for the rest of their lives.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects, others remain a mystery. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medicines that mothers are prescribed and the harmful chemicals that work in some communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her of any possible risks to the fetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a child when a doctor uses the equipment improperly or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is considered medical malpractice. In the event of this it's crucial to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence claim, so the earlier you begin the process, the more favorable.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born every year and are a major cause of infant death. The condition can be life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical difficulties. Scientists have in some cases identified the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery and medical history of the family, or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). However, in approximately 70% of birth defects cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and can be diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, are not as obvious and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are trying to discover what can cause birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For instance women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to be pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.