What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expecting parents wants to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These problems may be caused by a variety of the fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be utilized by a healthcare professional to diagnose certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects may only be detected after your child's birth or when symptoms start to show.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The cause of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors that increase the chance of the mother having a child with a birth defect law firm defect. Some of these include using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of macon birth Defect lawyer defects, or having medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women who have an history of these conditions should consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming 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 how much of the body part is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is and the more serious the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by gaining knowledge about your family's history with health and genetic issues or talking to a genetic counselor and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change the way a part of your body appears or works. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can be a type of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning properly.

Get More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo to determine the cause of a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the reason for birth defects. They can also help determine how severe a birth defect will be and the effect it may be having on a child's their adulthood.

However certain birth defects may go undetected until a baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they have been identified, and often can only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, macon birth Defect lawyer it is crucial that the medical expert witness in question is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the correct education to spot these issues. A lawyer who has expertise should be able to pinpoint the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can cause life-long physical and psychological challenges which often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the root causes of around 30% of birth defects, others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in the community and in homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any potential risks for the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are 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 machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment, or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to grave consequences for macon birth Defect Lawyer the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. It's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you're given only one year to file a case for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues can be life-threatening and can lead to long-term physical, mental and emotional problems. In a few instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription drugs, toxins in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). In about 70% of cases, the cause is not known.

Certain dothan birth defect attorney defects, such as clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to see and can be diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's existence. Other conditions, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as obvious and require special tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what can cause birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs while pregnant increase their risk for having a child with certain defects. Women who have an inherited family history of genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information regarding medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.