What Causes a Birth Defect?
It’s the last thing any expectant parent wants to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These problems can be caused by events that occur during the fetal development and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.
A medical professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy using the prenatal test or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be detected after your child’s birth or when symptoms are evident.
What was the reason for your child’s deformity?
Many birth defects are not known. There are certain factors that could increase the likelihood of pregnant women having children with birth defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has birth defects or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women with an history of these conditions should talk to a genetic counselor about their options prior getting pregnant.
The degree to which a birth defect causes serious problems or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and how much of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect it, the more serious 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 reduced by gaining knowledge about your family’s history with health issues and genes, talking to a genetic counselor and following the prenatal care guidelines.
Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how an element of your body looks or functions. They may be visible, like cleft lips and Cleft palettes, or they can be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one type of birth defect that is structural, while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects that result in the spinal cord or brain not developing properly.
Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.
There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to find out more about possible birth defects. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of fetal fluid for analysis. This procedure can reveal chromosomal changes, as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.
A doctor may also test a fetus’ blood as well as amniotic fluid and the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are vital in finding out the reason for east chicago birth defect attorney defect. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child’s adult life.
However, some birth defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These problems aren’t visible when they first appear and are sometimes only detected by using equipment for diagnosing. For these kinds of cases, it is critical that the medical expert witness in question is familiar with these technologies and has the correct knowledge to detect these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your case.
Hire 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 cause life-long physical and emotional challenges and often require ongoing medical treatment.
Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of about 30% of birth defects others remain unexplained. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription or over-the counter medication that mothers take and the harmful chemicals that the heart of some communities and in homes, or the contaminating air and groundwater.
Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication taken by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible dangers to the embryo. When they fail in this duty, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.
Doctors are also required to assess the safety and efficacy of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, as well as other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could have serious consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. It is important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can should this happen. In some states, you’re allowed only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice and it’s recommended to start the process as soon as possible.
Take the First Step
oak grove Birth defect Attorney defects are the main cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions can be life-threatening and can result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Researchers have in a few instances linked the causes of birth defects to the mother’s exposures to prescription or over-the-counter medicines or environmental toxins, as well as complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). However, in the majority of birth defect cases the cause is unknown.
Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year. Others, such as heart problems or intellectual and developmental disabilities, aren’t as easily identifiable and require tests that are specific to the condition.
Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For example women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.
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