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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expectant parent wants to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These defects could be the result of things that happen during the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be utilized by a health professional to diagnose certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects could be discovered only after the birth of your child, or after symptoms appear.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

Many birth defects remain unknown. However, there are a few factors that can increase the risk of having a baby with defects. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an established history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

If a birth defect in a baby can cause serious health issues or not depends on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is, the more severe the problem will be.





The majority of birth defects are caused either through genetics or environmental factors during fetal growth. You can reduce the chance of a birth defect consulting a genetic counselor and learning about the health background of your family, and meeting with geneticists.

Structural birth problems are those that alter the way a part of your body looks or works. They vary from the obvious such as cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic disorders that are inherited can result in structural birth defects. birth defect lawsuit oakland , such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to find out more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a healthcare provider takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal variations as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the causes of birth defects. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and its effect on a child's life.

However certain birth defects could be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they occur and are sometimes only detected by using diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be conversant with the techniques and the training necessary to identify these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able identify the right specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or severe birth injury can completely change the life of families. These injuries can create life-long physical and psychological challenges and often require ongoing medical treatment.

Medical science can pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances like those in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers take or in toxic chemicals found in communities and homes or groundwater that is contaminated air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medications taken by the expecting mother and inform her of any potential risks for the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment or fails properly calibrate the equipment it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. If this happens you should contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you begin the process the more favorable.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns each year, and are a major reason for infant mortality. These conditions can be life-threatening and can lead to permanent physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. In some instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medications, toxins found in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery or a medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses, sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in the majority of all birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or clubfoot are easily identifiable and can be detected at birth or in the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying to figure out the cause of birth defects and how they can be avoided. For instance smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with a defect. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to conceive. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.