birth defects Tag
04 Mar How Smoking Affects Your Baby
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).¹ Cigarette smoking is one of the hardest habits to quit. Many smokers who successfully kick the habit lament that quitting smoking is like saying goodbye to an old friend. It takes a lot of personal strength and willpower to quit, as well as the right support system. If you’re smoking and pregnant, we hope there’s information here that will give you the conviction to quit.
20 Feb What Not to Eat or Drink During Pregnancy
What Foods and Beverages Should You Avoid During Pregnancy?
It might be a little unnerving to know that your unborn baby can be affected by a food borne illness when you don’t become sick or show symptoms of infection. Tragically, some food borne illnesses can cause devastating and permanent effects to a baby, like neurological damage and developmental delays. Sometimes the damage from an infection is obvious at birth; sometimes it takes years to become apparent.13 Nov The Significance of Understanding Your Family Health History During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an extraordinary journey filled with excitement and anticipation. As you prepare to welcome your baby, it's important to consider the role that your family's health history plays in shaping your baby's future. While you may be wondering about inherited physical traits like eye color...
27 Mar Preparing for Your Baby with Down Syndrome
1/700 babies are born with Down Syndrome in the United States.²
March 21st was World Down Syndrome Day; a special day marked to bring awareness to the joys and unique challenges of raising a child with Down Syndrome. The date of the 21st is chosen because the genetic disorder is characterized by an extra copy of chromosome 21; also called Trisomy 21.18 Jan Reducing Risk of the Top 5 Birth Defects
Posted at 15:33h
in Baby, Birth Defects, Health, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns, Pregnancy
3% of infants in the U.S. are born with birth defects.¹
If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant or just found out that you’re pregnant, you may also be thinking about birth defects. January is Birth Defects Awareness Month so it’s a good time to discuss the basics and learn how they occur. Knowing the risk factors can help reduce your baby’s risk of developing a birth defect in the womb.
29 Aug Why is Folic Acid Important During Pregnancy?
Women of reproductive age need 400 mcg of folic acid every day, increased to 600 mcg daily during pregnancy.²September 12-18 is Folic Acid Awareness week with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network. This is a great time to highlight the importance of folic acid during pregnancy and specifically, before you become pregnant.
23 Dec Reducing the Risks of Newborn Birth Defects
Posted at 08:05h
in Birth Defects, Cleft Lip, Congenital Heart Defects, Delivery, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns
Birth defects affect babies all over the world. A birth defect is a structural change to a baby’s body part, inside or outside the body.
What Causes Birth Defects?
Birth defects happen as a result of: genetics, infection, exposure to an environmental toxin like radiation, or exposure to an internal toxin, like drugs, medication, alcohol, or smoking. They can also happen as a result of poor diet (low in folic acid) or uncontrolled blood sugar (Diabetes diagnosis or chronic high blood sugar).
Every woman carries the risk of having a baby with a birth defect. This is called a background risk. The background risk for every woman is 3-5%. Yet, every woman can be proactive in reducing additional risk to her baby.