national birth defects awareness month Archives

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth defects occur in approximately one out of every 33 babies born in the United States each year. Birth defects generally appear during fetal development and can cause a wide range of medical problems in children, such as physical deformities, physical or mental developmental impairments, and potentially fatal diseases such as sickle cell anemia.

While some birth defects happen due to avoidable factors during pregnancy, not all causes are preventable. However, it’s still important to know the most common ways birth defects occur so that you can prevent these causes (when possible) or manage symptoms effectively as your child ages. Typical causes of birth defects include:

Genetic factors: Conditions such as Down syndrome, as well as inherited medical conditions, occur due to abnormalities in the child’s chromosomes, which contain genes and control physical development. While these defects are not necessarily preventable in your child, it can help for you to get genetic testing done before pregnancy to screen for potential medical problems that your child could inherit.

Exposure to substances: Substances such as alcohol, caffeine, prescription medications, and non-prescription drugs can all contribute to your child’s likelihood of developing a birth defect. Make sure to discuss any medications you take with your doctor before getting pregnant and to avoid alcohol and caffeine as much as possible while pregnant.

Complications during pregnancy: Birth defects can occur due to complications that occur during pregnancy, such as infections, amniotic band syndrome, or a lack of amniotic fluid around the fetus in your uterus. Talk to your doctor about ways you can keep yourself and your baby healthy during pregnancy and prevent these complications from occurring.

Other risk factors, including age and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity, can also increase your baby’s likelihood of developing birth defects.

You can get help from a specialist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Department to manage risks during pregnancy and keep yourself and your baby healthy. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5702.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. It is a time for raising awareness of how frequently birth defects can occur and what can be done to help prevent them.

Birth defects are defined as conditions that are present when a baby is born and can affect nearly every part of the body. Conditions such as cleft lip can be easily diagnosed. Other conditions such as deafness or heart defects may only be discovered after diagnostic testing.

The largest number of birth defects occurs during the first three months of gestation. In the U.S. approximately 120,000 babies are born with birth defects each year.

The 10 most common birth defects in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are:

Down syndrome
Cleft lip (with or without cleft palate)
Atrioventricular septal defect (hole in the heart)
Absence of malformation of the rectum and/or large intestine
Gastroschisis (hole in the abdominal wall)
Tetralogy of Fallot (a combination of heart defects)
Spina bifida without anencephaly
Reduction deformity, upper limbs
Reversal of the heart’s two main arteries

Although birth defects can’t always be prevented, there are plenty of steps pregnant women can take to help reduce the risk.

The womenshealth.gov website offers these suggestions:

Make regular visits to your doctor throughout pregnancy
Get 400mcg of folic acid each day through diet or supplements
Don’t smoke, use illegal drugs or drink alcohol while you are pregnant
Always check with your doctor before taking any medication
Get all vaccinations recommended by your doctor
If you have diabetes, keep it under control
Stick to a healthy weight

You may also request a pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy screening test in order to spot potential or real birth defects. The types of tests include a carrier test to see if you or your partner carries potentially harmful genes, as well as screening and diagnostic tests that can determine risks for and detect genetic disorders.

If you are pregnant, or planning to be, and want to discuss your options with one of our doctors, the Women’s Health Center at Flushing Hospital Medical Center is centrally located and has convenient hours; to make an appointment call 718-670-8992.