Birth defects occur more ofttimes than they should, occuring inwards virtually 3% of all live births, according to information from the Health Resources & Services Administration. Birth defects are amidst the leading causes of infant mortality, together with they account for more than than twenty% of all infant deaths inward the U.S.
Women who are pregnant may wonder if nascency defects tin can live prevented and when inward the pregnancy nascency defects tin commence to develop or take place. Mothers may besides wonder if it is worth it to pursue a nativity injury instance if they latterly gave nascence to a kid that they believe may have suffered a nativity defect due to medical negligence. To assist address about of these questions, nosotros want to render more data almost the causes of nascence defects, possible steps to forestall nascence injury, too your right to file a nativity injury lawsuit if complications were caused past medical negligence or environmental factors beyond your control.
Common Causes of Birth Defects
What are more or less of the nearly common causes of nativity defects? The causes of about thirty% of nascence defects are known, according to the Cleveland Clinic; sometimes, birth defects are caused past genetics or genetic mutations inward the mother or father, or are the effects of chromosomal problems, such every bit those associated alongside Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and Down’s syndrome.
But nativity defects tin likewise be caused past a mix of environmental as well as genetic factors. For instance, more or less children are more than likely to train birth defects than other children based on their genetics in addition to predisposition to be affected past toxins inward their surround. So factors inward a meaning mother’second environment can lead to an baby developing nascence defects.
Many mutual causes of nascency defects are preventable. When a adult female is exposed to unsafe chemicals inward the air or in her surroundings, chemical agents known equally teratogens tin can move into the womb as well as outset to bear on the infant inward-utero. These teratogens alter the development of a fetus during pregnancy. The Cleveland clinic reports that x% of nascency defects are caused past environmental factors such every bit infection, radiations, as well as drugs. The purpose of unsafe drugs during pregnancy tin can too lead to nativity defects. Preventable causes of nascency defects can include the next:
- Infections inwards the female parent during pregnancy;
- Mother’s exposure to sure medicines;,
- Exposure to unsafe chemicals, or other substances at dwelling or in the workplace during pregnancy
- Exposure to dangerous practices at function, such every bit long shifts or heavy lifting, during the tardily stages of pregnancy;
- Exposure to Pb as well as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, instant-mitt fume, chemotherapy drugs, real loud noises, too close to epoxies in addition to resins.
In close to cases, women train infections during pregnancy due to a healthcare provider’sec negligence, or are exposed to medications that can drive nascency defects because of a healthcare provider’second conclusion to prescribe a sure drug. This has been the case for sure drugs like Zofran. In such instances where a doctor prescribed dangerous drugs to a meaning female parent, nascence defects may live tied to medical malpractice.
Ways to Minimize the Risk of Birth Defects
Given that just about of the causes of nascency defects are unknown or attributed to genetics, it is non possible to accept steps to foreclose all types of birth defects from occurring. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control too Prevention (CDC) provides or so standard guidelines for meaning women to bring down the hazard of their child developing nativity defects during pregnancy. These tips include the next:
- Take at to the lowest degree 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid on a daily footing. Folic acid may be obtained through vitamin tablets together with pills, or through fortified foods, as well as is shown to cut down the likelihood of birth defects that bear upon a babe’s brain together with spine;
- Talk to your obstetrician earlier yous starting time taking or finish taking whatever medications, including over-the-counter ones;
- Stop using any form of alcohol or tobacco products; in addition to
- Communicate with your doctor concerning whatever medications that you might involve to role during your pregnancy.
Your Rights inward Birth Defect Cases
If you lot latterly gave nascency to a child who was born with a nativity defect that may have been prevented, you lot should discuss your situation alongside a birth defect lawyer, especially if y'all suspect that the nascence defect was caused past an injury at run, a heavy workload, medical malpractice or dangerous chemicals inwards your environment. Every situation is different in addition to a costless consultation with a nascence defect lawyer will assistance conduct yous during this hard time.
