What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to be told is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be utilized by a health professional to determine the presence of certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other Rittman Birth Defect Lawsuit defects may only be detected following the birth of your child, or after symptoms start to show.

What is the reason for your child's defect?

The reason for many birth defects is not known. There are certain factors that could increase the likelihood of the mother having a child with a birth defect. These include using 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 who have an established history of these diseases are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect causes serious issues or not is dependent on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is it, the more serious the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal growth. You can reduce your risk of having a birth defect by speaking with a genetic counselor and learning about the health background of your family, and meeting with geneticists.

Structural birth imperfections are those that alter how a specific part of the body appears or functions. They can be visible, like cleft lips or cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions could be a form of birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, for instance, an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects, which result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning properly.

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There are several medical procedures a pregnant woman can undergo to discover more about possible birth defects. One example is amniocentesis, which involves a medical professional taking a small amount of fetal fluid to test. This procedure can reveal chromosomal abnormalities 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 the 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 the severity of the birth defect could be and the effects it could have on a child's their adult life.

However some birth defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they first appear and are sometimes only detected with diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the latest technologies and possess the training necessary to recognize these flaws. A medical malpractice lawyer with expertise should be able to pinpoint the right specialist for your case.

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If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can create life-long physical and emotional challenges, often requiring a lifetime of medical care.

While medical science can identify the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of east point birth defect lawsuit defects, many others remain unsolved. Research has found that certain chemicals and Rittman birth defect lawsuit substances such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications taken by a mother and toxic chemicals found in homes and communities as well as contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medication used by an expectant mother and inform her of any potential risks for the foetus. When they fail in this obligation, they can be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a duty to evaluate the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby's health should a doctor use the equipment negligently or does not calibrate it properly. This is considered to be malpractice. If this occurs it is important to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states you have only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as you can.

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Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant death. These conditions can be life-threatening and can cause long-term mental, emotional and physical difficulties. In a few instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medications, toxins accumulated in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications associated with pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease or PKU). However, in a majority of all birth defects the cause is unknown.

Certain birth defects, such as hearing loss or a clubfoot are easy to see and can be diagnosed either at birth or during the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, like heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require specific tests to be identified.

Researchers are trying to discover what can cause birth defects and how they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to have a baby. They may also use 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.