Delia Kidwell asked 4 months ago
What Causes a Birth Defect?
It’s the last thing any expecting parents wants to hear: their child could be born with a birth defect. These defects may be caused by a variety of the fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child.
A health care provider can identify birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. 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 cause of your child’s error?
The root of numerous birth defects remains unclear. There are several factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women having children with birth defect. One of them is taking drugs or certain medications prior to becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have an ancestral background of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert in genetic counseling prior to becoming pregnant.
The severity of a birth defect in a child varies on the body part affected and how severe the damage. Usually, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the issues will be.
Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal growth. The risk of having a birth defect can be decreased by educating yourself about your family’s history with health and genetic issues, talking to an expert in genetic counseling and following prenatal care guidelines.
Structural defects are birth defects that affect the way a part of your body appears or performs. They can be visible, like cleft lips and cleft palettes, or invisible, such as chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a type of structural birth defect while environmental factors like a lack of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause brain or spinal cord not developing properly.
Find More Evidence than You Think
There are many medical procedures a pregnant woman can undergo to learn more about the possibility of a birth defect. Amniocentesis can be one of them, which is when a healthcare professional collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications and other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.
A doctor can examine the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus’s tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are crucial to determining the causes of birth defects. They can also help determine how severe the millersville birth defect attorney defect is and the impact it will affect a child later in his or her adult life.
However, some birth defects can go undetected until a baby is born or, bath birth defect attorney in rare cases, as an adult. These issues aren’t easily detected before they are present and can be detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be familiar with the technology and have the knowledge and experience required to identify these flaws. A lawyer who has experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.
Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney
When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it could completely turn a family’s lives upside down. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges needing medical attention for a lifetime.
Medical science is able to explain approximately 30 percent of birth defect cases, but many others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances like those found in prescription or over the counter medicines taken by mothers or in toxic chemicals found in the homes and communities or groundwater that is contaminated air may cause birth defects.
Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother’s current medication and inform her of any potential dangers for the foetus. If they fail in their duty, they can be held responsible for bath birth defect attorney (https://vimeo.com) defects that are caused by medications.
Doctors also have a duty to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses this equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. It is important to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can when this happens. In some states, you’re given 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 1 out of 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant death. These issues are life-threatening, and can result in lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Scientists have in a few cases linked the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter drugs and environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic illnesses). In around 70% of cases, the reason is unknown.
Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year. Other conditions, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, are not as obvious and require tests of a different kind.
Researchers are trying to determine the causes of birth defects and how they can be avoided. Women who smoke, drink or use illegal drugs while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a history of family members that includes genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counsellor prior to trying to have a baby. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.