What Causes a Birth Defect?
It’s not something that any expectant parent wants to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These problems may be caused by a variety of the fetal growth and can affect the physical or mental health of your child.
A health professional can detect birth defects during pregnancy with newborn screening or prenatal tests. However other birth defects could not be identified until after your child is born or later when they develop symptoms.
What caused your child’s asymmetry?
The root of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with birth defect. One of them is taking certain medications or drugs before getting pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects or having medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women who have an established history of these diseases should talk to a genetic counselor about their options prior to getting pregnant.
The severity of a birth defect lawsuits defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the defect and the more serious the problem will be.
Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during fetal development. You can lessen the risk of a birth defect speaking with a genetic counselor or a health professional, gaining knowledge about the background of your family, and having a conversation with an expert in genetics.
Structural birth problems are those that alter how a part of the body appears or functions. They can be visible, like cleft lips and cleft palettes, birth defect Attorney or invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Genetic disorders that are inherited could be a form of structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not being correct.
Find More Evidence than You Think
There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant women can undergo to find out more about potential birth defects. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a healthcare provider taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications and other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.
A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid and fetus’s tissues for signs of a birth defect. These tests are essential to finding out the reason for birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and its impact on a child’s adult life.
Certain birth defects may not be discovered until after the birth of a child or, in rare instances even after becoming an adult. This is because these problems are not easily identified until they are present and often can only be detected using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it’s crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these technologies and has the right training to be able to spot these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your case.
Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a devastating birth injury, it could completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional issues which often require a lifetime of medical care.
While medical science can identify the causes of 30% of birth defects others remain unsolved. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take and the harmful chemicals that play in certain communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air.
Doctors are required to evaluate the mother’s current medication and inform her of any potential risks for the foetus. If they fail in their duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.
Doctors also have the responsibility to assess the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for birth defect attorney pregnant women. This includes x ray devices, surgical instruments and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby should a doctor use the equipment in a negligent manner or fails to calibrate it correctly. This would be considered to be malpractice. If this happens, it’s important to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you only have one year to file a medical negligence case, so the faster you begin the process, the better.
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birth defect Attorney defects are the main reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition can be life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive difficulties. Researchers have in a few instances identified the birth defects’ causes in mothers’ exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy or a family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). In about 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.
Certain birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified at birth or within the first year. Certain birth defects, like heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.
Researchers are trying to discover what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. For instance women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women who have a history of family members with inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health Form to collect information on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.