What Causes a Birth Defect?
It’s the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: Their child may be born with a defect. These issues can be caused by the growing up and could affect the mental or physical health of your child.
Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be used by a health professional to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects might not be discovered until after the birth of your child or when they start to develop symptoms.
What caused your child’s deficiency?
The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. There are some things which can increase the chances of being pregnant with a child with a birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has an abnormal birth or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a family history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.
The extent to which a birth defect in a child can cause serious health issues or not is contingent upon which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more serious the issues.
Most birth defects are caused either by genes or environment during fetal development. The chance of developing a birth defect is reduced by knowing about your family’s history of health and genetic issues by speaking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal guidelines.
Structural birth imperfections are those that alter the way a part of your body appears or functions. They may be visible like cleft lips, cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a kind of structural birth defect while environmental factors, such as a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.
Find More Evidence Than You Think
There are many medical procedures a pregnant mother can undergo to determine the cause of the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis, for instance, is where a healthcare provider takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health conditions, such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.
A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and tissues of a fetus for indications of a birth defect. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They can also assist in determining the severity of the birth defect is and the consequences it could be having on a child’s his or her adult life.
Certain birth defects might not be identified until after the birth of a child or, in some rare cases, even as an adult. These problems aren’t visible when they occur and are usually only detected by using equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be knowledgeable with the latest technologies and possess the education required to be able to spot these issues. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the right specialist for your case.
Employ an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice
A child born with a serious defect or severe birth injury can completely change the life of a family. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional challenges which often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.
While medical science can identify the causes of 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over the counter medications that mothers take or children, harmful chemicals in the community and in homes as well as contaminated groundwater and Vimeo.Com air, can cause birth defects.
Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother’s current medications and inform her of any potential risks for the fetus. If they fail in their obligation, they can be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.
Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines surgical tools, as well as other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a newborn baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment in error or fails to calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. It is crucial to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer immediately in the event of this happening. In some states, you’re allowed only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice therefore it’s best to begin the process as soon as you can.
Take the First Step
Birth defects affect one out of 33 newborns every year and are the most common cause of infant death. The conditions are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term mental, emotional and physical problems. Scientists have in a few cases connected the causes of birth defects to the mother’s exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, delivery and pregnancy and medical history of the family, or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the cause is unknown.
Certain forney birth defect lawsuit defects are easily noticeable and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year of life. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and development disabilities, require tests specific to be identified.
Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult with a genetic counselor before trying to conceive. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.
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