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What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing that an expectant parent wants to hear: Their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects can be caused by things that happen during the fetal development and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

A health care provider can detect birth defects during pregnancy with newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?





Many birth defects remain unknown. However there are a few factors that increase a woman's 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 that has a birth defect or having certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these diseases are advised to speak with an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child depends on the affected body part and how severe the damage. 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 growth. You can lower the risk of having a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor as well as learning about the health history of your family and talking with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way a part of your body looks or functions. They vary from the obvious like cleft lips and cleft palate, up to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect, while environmental factors such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

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There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers is able to undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, where a healthcare provider takes an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus for analysis. This test could reveal chromosomal variations and other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also aid in determining how serious the birth defect is and the effect it may be having on a child's his or her adult life.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they become apparent, and are often recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the technology and have the education required to recognize these flaws. A lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the best expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a severe defect or birth injury can alter the life of families. These injuries can lead to lasting physical and mental health challenges and require medical treatment for a lifetime.

Medical science can pinpoint the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, like those found in prescription or over-the-counter medication that mothers take and the harmful chemicals that working in some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to review the pregnant mother's current medications and inform her about any dangers to the baby. If they fail to meet this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and effectiveness 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 to properly calibrate the equipment, it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered malpractice. It is crucial to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can in the event of this happening. In some states you have only one year to file a claim for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

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Birth defects affect 1 out of 33 babies born each year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. The condition are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical issues. Researchers have in a few instances linked the birth defects' causes due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter medications and environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth and family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). However, in a majority of all birth defect cases the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are easily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year of life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require specific tests to identify.

Researchers are trying to figure out what can cause birth defects and how some of them may be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs when pregnant increase their risk for having a child born with certain defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and then share it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.