According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. While not all birth defects can be prevented, inadequate prenatal screening and counseling can lead to children being born serious birth defects.
To help spread awareness of birth defects and premature births, a “March for Babies” event is being held in Hackettstown, New Jersey on Saturday, April 30, at River Park/Alumni Field. A Warren Reporter article states that every year in New Jersey, 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely and 14,800 babies are born with a serious birth defect. The March of Dimes event in Warren County aims to raise awareness and funds for research to help improve the health of babies. Individuals who would like to participate in March for Babies and create a team can visit marchforbabies.org or call 973-882-0700 ext. 728.
Data provided by the CDC indicates that birth defects are the leading cause of infant death. In 2006, 5,819 infants in the United States died because of a birth defect.
Expectant parents trust that prenatal testing will be scheduled, performed and reviewed in accordance with the accepted standards of medical care, so that they can be provided with the opportunity to plan for taking care of a disabled child or evaluate options for continuing the pregnancy.
Similarly, additional diagnostic testing is expected to be carried out to determine the cause of abnormal prenatal test results. The CDC provides information about the three primary diagnostic tests that are available: amniocentesis, Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), and high resolution ultrasound. It is important that such testing be carried out in a timely manner and performed with a high degree of skill, so that parents can plan accordingly.
If your baby has suffered a birth defect in New Jersey, we understand that you may have numerous questions about your legal rights and options. At Blume Forte, our New Jersey birth defect attorneysare committed to providing effective legal counsel and representation for meritorious birth injury cases. Call 973-845-4421 to schedule your no-cost consultation.