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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing any expecting parent would like to hear: their child may be born with a defect. These birth defects could be the result of things that happen during growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health professional is able to detect some birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal tests or newborn screening. Other birth defects can only be detected following the birth of your child, or after symptoms are evident.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The cause of the majority of birth defects is still unknown. There are certain factors that increase the chance of the mother having a child with a birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or prescription drugs before getting pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women who have an history of these conditions should speak with a genetic counselor about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the body part that is affected and how much is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is then the more severe the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused either by genetics or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health and genetic issues, talking to a genetic counselor, and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way an element of your body looks or performs. They can range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, for instance, the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal or brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are several medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to discover more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is one of them, that involves a doctor taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the amniotic fluid, blood and the tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of birth defects. They can also determine the extent of the birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

Certain birth defects might not be identified until after a baby's birth Defect Law firms or, in a few instances, even as an adult. This is because these issues are not readily apparent until they are present, and can sometimes only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the right experience to spot these issues. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your particular case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury could completely alter the life of families. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional problems and often require ongoing medical treatment.

While medical science can identify the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother or in toxic chemicals found in communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

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

Doctors are also required to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could have serious consequences for the baby. This is considered to be malpractice. When this happens, it's important to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the earlier you start the process the better.

Take the First Step

birth defect law firms defects affect 1 out of 33 babies born every year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. These issues could be life-threatening, and they can cause long-term physical, mental and emotional challenges. In some instances, researchers have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins found in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery or a family medical history (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease or PKU). But in about 70% of all birth defects the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot, are easy to detect and can be identified at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to determine what causes birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited 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 collect information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.