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What Causes a Birth Defect? It's the last thing an expecting parent would like to hear: their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health. Testing for prenatal and newborns can be utilized by a healthcare professional to identify certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects can only be detected following the birth of your child, or after symptoms appear. What caused your child's asymmetry? The reason for the majority of birth defects is still unknown. There are birth defect attorney rockford that could increase the likelihood of a woman having a child with birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or drugs prior to conception or having an ancestral history of birth defects or having medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women with an ancestral background of these disorders are advised to speak with an expert on genetics prior to becoming pregnant. Whether a child's birth defect causes serious issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect then the more severe the problem will be. Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health and genetic issues and speaking with a genetic counselor, and following prenatal care guidelines. Structural birth problems are those that alter the way a part of your body looks or works. They vary from the obvious such as cleft lips and cleft palate to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetically-inherited conditions can result in birth defects that cause structural changes. Environmental factors, like an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal or brain not functioning properly. Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can. There are several medical procedures pregnant women undergo to discover more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, where a healthcare provider takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This test can reveal chromosomal changes and other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies. A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid and the tissues of a fetus to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are essential to diagnosing the root of birth defects. They can also assist in determining how serious a birth defect will be and the impact it will have on a child in the years to come. Some birth defects may not be discovered until after the birth of a child or, in a few instances even after becoming an adult. This is because the issues are not readily apparent until they are present, and may only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. 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 lawyer who has years of experience will be able to determine the right specialist for your case. Find a Medical Malpractice Attorney When a child is born with a serious birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it could completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives. While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of 30 percent of birth defects, many others remain unexplained. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those that are found in prescription and over-the-counter medications that mothers use or the toxic chemicals at play in certain communities and in homes, or the contaminating groundwater and air. Doctors have a duty to examine a pregnant mother's current medications and advise her of any risks to the foetus. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medication. Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. This could result in serious consequences for a child in the event that a physician uses the equipment in error or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens, it's important to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're given only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice which is why it's important to begin the process as soon as you can. Step 1. Step Birth defects are the primary cause of infant mortality. They affect one in 33 babies each year. The condition could be life-threatening and cause long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges. In some instances, researchers have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription drugs, toxins in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and birth or a medical history in the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease or PKU). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the causes are not clear. Some birth defects are easily visible and can be detected at birth or within the first year of life. Others, such as heart problems or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as easily identified and require tests that are specific to the condition. Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of birth defects and how some of they can be prevented. For instance, women who smoke or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to gather information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and then share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.