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What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent wants to learn is that their child could have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

A doctor can diagnose some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after the birth of your child or when they start to develop symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects are still undiscovered. However there are some factors that can increase the likelihood of having a baby born with defects. Some of these include taking certain medications or prescription drugs prior to becoming pregnant or having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to speak with a genetic counsellor before getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect causes serious issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is then the more severe the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. The risk of having a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history of health and genetic issues or talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a part of the body appears or works. They may range from the visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations may be a sign of birth defects that are structural. Environmental causes, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal or brain not being correct.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are several medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis, for instance, is in which a healthcare professional takes a small sample of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities and other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the amniotic fluid, blood and the tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of birth defect. They can also determine the extent of the birth defect and the impact it has on the adult life of a child.

Certain birth defects may not be identified until after the birth of a child or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and are usually only detected through diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technology and have the knowledge and experience required to identify these flaws. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the best expert for your case.





Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn the world of a family upside down. birth defect lawsuit pharr can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges, often requiring an entire lifetime of medical attention.

Medical science can explain about 30 percent of birth defect cases but the rest are still a mystery. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, like those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take as well as the toxic chemicals that the heart of some communities and homes, or in contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medications taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks to the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a child should a doctor use the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it correctly. This is considered to be malpractice. It is crucial to get in touch with a medical malfeasance lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In certain states, you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 newborns each year, and are a major cause of infant death. These conditions can be life-threatening, and can result in long-term physical, mental and emotional problems. Scientists have, in some instances, linked the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription and non-prescription drugs and environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and birth, family medical history, or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects, including hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to spot and can be diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Some birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities require special tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are trying determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be prevented. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their likelihood of having a child with a defect. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should consider seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. 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.