Birth Defects

A birth defect is any type of structural or functional abnormality that is present at birth, causing physical or mental disabilities. Ranging in severity, some birth defects have few minor symptoms that can be easily corrected and others are so severe that they require a lifetime of treatment and care.

According to the March of Dimes, about 150,000 babies in the U.S. are born with birth defects every year. Thousands of different types of birth defects have been identified, some of which can be fatal. In fact, birth defects are the leading cause of death in newborns.

Causes of Birth Defects

There are a number of factors that can cause complications during fetal development, including:

• Genetic problems (missing part of a gene or having complications with genes)
• Problems with chromosomes (missing part of a chromosome or having an extra one)
• Environmental factors that the mother is exposed to while pregnant (e.g. certain illnesses or infection; taking alcohol or drugs; certain prescription medications)

In some cases the cause is never identified. But, if the cause can be linked to environmental factors such as prescription medications, the parents might be able to seek compensation from the responsible party, which can be the prescribing doctor or even the drug manufacturer.

Medications and Birth Defects

Several medications have been linked to an increase in the risk of birth defects. There are some medications such as Accutane® that should never be prescribed during pregnancy or to women who are thinking of planning a pregnancy because the risk is so high.

But, there are a number of other medications in which the line is a little more blurred. These include medications that have been associated with birth defects, but that are still prescribed to certain women during their pregnancies. For example, antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be prescribed to women that are pregnant if the doctor believes the benefits of the antidepressants outweigh the risks.

Some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the world belong to the class of medications known as SSRIs. These are Zoloft®, Celexa®, Lexapro®, Prozac®, Paxil® and Cipralex®. Several other types of medications have also been associated with an increase in the risk of birth defects, including anti-seizure medications such as Depakote® and Topamax® and antifungal medications such as Diflucan®.

It is important to speak with your doctor about the medications you are taking if you become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. It is also important that you do not stop taking your medications without consulting your doctor first.

Types of Birth Defects

Birth defects can affect any part of the body. The following is a brief list of some of the most common types of birth defects:

• Heart defects, which can affect any part of the heart such as the valves, the chambers or the arteries that carry blood to and from the heart
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which is a serious lung disorder
• Facial abnormalities such as cleft lip and cleft palate
• Head and skull deformities such as craniosynostosis, which affects the sutures of the skull
• Abdominal wall defects such as omphalocele, which affects the intestines and other organs
• Neural tube defects such as spina bifida
• Limb abnormalities including club foot

Was Your Baby Born with a Birth Defect?

It can be devastating to learn that something is wrong with your baby, especially if it is life threatening. In the more severe cases, treatments can be expensive and time consuming. Taking care of a child with special needs can be difficult and can get expensive. In order to obtain the best treatments available and to provide the highest quality of life for your child, you will likely need financial help.

To find if you qualify to recover compensation that can help you provide the best care for your child, please contact us today.