Orrhassan1071

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: their child may be born with a defect. birth defect attorneys deltona may be caused by a variety of circumstances that occur during fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be utilized by a health care provider to diagnose certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be identified until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

Many birth defects remain unknown. There are certain factors that increase the chance of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a relative with an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral background of these disorders are advised to consult an expert on genetics prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child depends on the body part affected and the degree to which it is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the greater the severity of the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. You can reduce the chance of a birth defect consulting with a genetic counsellor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the history of your family and meeting with the geneticist.

Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way an element of your body looks or performs. They may range from the visible such as cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetically-inherited conditions can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning properly.





Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers is able to undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This procedure may reveal chromosomal mutations and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor can examine the amniotic fluid, blood and tissues of a fetus for signs of a birth defect. These tests are crucial in determining the root of birth defects. They can also assist in determining how serious a birth defect could be and the impact it will have on a child in their adulthood.

Some birth defects may not be recognized until after the birth of a baby or, in rare cases even as an adult. These issues aren't easily detected prior to their onset and can be detected through equipment for diagnosing. In these instances the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the latest technologies and possess the knowledge and experience required to be able identify these flaws. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will be able to identify the most suitable expert for your case.

Find an attorney for Medical Malpractice

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family's life upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional problems which often require a lifetime of medical care.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30% of birth defects others remain a mystery. Research has found that certain chemicals and substances such as those in prescription or over-the-counter medication taken by mothers or in toxic chemicals found in the community and in homes, or contaminated groundwater and air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to review the pregnant mother's current medication and inform her of any potential dangers for the embryo. If they fail to perform this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses this equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. In the event of this it is important to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. 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 you can.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born each year, and are a major cause of infant death. The condition are life-threatening and lead to many long term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. In a few instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and birth, or family medical history (like genetic diseases, sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in a majority of all birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to see and can be diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's existence. Some birth defects, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require special tests to be identified.

Researchers are working to understand what causes birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. For instance, women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the likelihood of having a child with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to conceive. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that run in their families and discuss it with their doctor or genetic counselor.