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What Causes a Birth Defect? It's the last thing an expecting parents wants to hear: their child could be born with a birth defect. These defects are caused by things that happen during fetal growth and can affect the mental or physical health of your child. A doctor can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy using prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be discovered until after the baby is born or later, when they begin to show symptoms. What Caused Your Child's Defect? Many birth defects remain unknown. However there are a few factors that increase the likelihood of having a child with a defect. These include using prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions, for instance rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family background of these disorders are advised to speak with a genetic counsellor before getting pregnant. The degree to which a birth defect causes serious problems or not depends on which body part is affected and how much of the body part affected. Typically, the more severe the defect and the more serious the problems will be. The majority of birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal development. You can lessen the risk of developing a birth defect by talking to a genetic counsellor and learning about the health background of your family and talking with an expert in genetics. Structural birth defects alter how a specific part of the body looks or works. They may range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate to the invisible, like metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic disorders that are inherited can result in birth defects with structural causes. Environmental factors, for instance, an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord and brain not functioning as it should. Gather More Evidence Than You Think There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to determine the cause of a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one of them, that involves a doctor taking a small amount of the fetal fluid to be tested. 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 also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also aid in determining how severe the birth defect could be and the impact it will affect a child later in his or her adult life. Certain birth defects may not be recognized until after the birth of a baby or, in some rare cases even after becoming an adult. This is due to the fact that these conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and can sometimes only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these kinds of situations, it is essential that the medical expert witness in question is well-versed in these technologies and has the correct training to be able to spot these issues. An experienced medical malpractice attorney should be able to identify the most appropriate expert for your case. Hire an attorney for Medical Malpractice A child born with a severe defect or a severe birth injury can alter the life of the family. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges that require medical attention for a lifetime. Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defects, but many others are still unsolved. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those found in prescription or over-the-counter medicines that mothers are prescribed and the harmful chemicals that the heart of some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater. Doctors must evaluate the medication used by the mother-to-be and inform her of any possible risks for the embryo. If they fail in this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications. Doctors also have a duty to determine the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical tools, as well as other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby if a doctor uses the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it properly. birth defect attorneys kenosha would be considered malpractice. It is important to contact a medical negligence lawyer immediately if this happens. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the sooner you begin the process the better. Begin by completing the first Step Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born each year, and are a leading cause of infant death. These issues can be life-threatening, and can lead to long-term physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Scientists have in a few cases linked the birth defects' causes in mothers' exposure to prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during pregnancy and birth or a family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic diseases). In the majority of cases, the reason is not known. Certain birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected when a baby is born or in the first year. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easily identifiable and require specialized tests. Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how some of they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or take illegal drugs while pregnant are more likely to having a child with certain defects. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to be pregnant. They should also use the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and discuss it with their doctor or a genetic counselor.