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What Causes a Birth Defect?

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





A health professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy using newborn screening or prenatal tests. Other birth defects may only be detected following the birth of your child or if symptoms appear.

What caused your child's deformity?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. There are some things that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with a birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or drugs prior to conception or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women with an history of these conditions should talk to a genetic counselor about their options before getting pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child can cause serious health issues or not will depend on the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect is, the more severe the problems will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history with health and genetic issues, talking to a genetic counselor and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects alter how a specific part of the body looks or works. They may be visible, like cleft lips, Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited are a kind of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors like a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the spinal cord and brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers may undergo to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This procedure may reveal chromosomal irregularities as well as other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and the fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the severity of birth defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

However some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare cases, an adult. These problems aren't visible when they first appear and are sometimes only detected with equipment for diagnosing. For these kinds of cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness involved is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the right training to be able to spot these issues. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the right specialist for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury can completely change the life of families. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional challenges that often require an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science can explain about 30% of birth defect cases however, many other cases remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or in toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

birth defect law firm southfield have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medication and inform her of any risks to the embryo. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment 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 to properly calibrate the equipment it could lead to serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It is crucial to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states, you have only one year to file a medical negligence claim, so the earlier you start the process, the more favorable.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born every year and are a major reason for infant death. The conditions can be life-threatening and can result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Scientists have, in some instances, identified the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and non-prescription drugs or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during the birth and pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). However, in the majority of all birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected either at birth or during the first year. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities require special tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying to determine the cause of birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to conceive. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.