How can birth defects be prevented

Chromosomes: Structures that are located inside each cell in the body. Cleft Palate: A birth defect that causes an opening or split in the roof of the mouth. Clubfoot: A birth defect in which the foot is misshaped and twisted out of position.

Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. An example of a pregnancy complication is preterm labor. Cytomegalovirus CMV : A virus that can be transmitted to a fetus if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy. CMV can cause hearing loss, mental disability, and vision problems in newborns.

Diabetes Mellitus: A condition in which the levels of sugar in the blood are too high. Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.

Folic Acid: A vitamin that reduces the risk of certain birth defects when taken before and during pregnancy. The gene is the basic unit of heredity and can be passed from parent to child. High Blood Pressure : Blood pressure above the normal level. Also called hypertension. Babies with microcephaly may have seizures, developmental delays, mental disability, vision and hearing problems, and problems with balance and movement. Neural Tube Defects NTDs : Birth defects that result from a problem in development of the brain, spinal cord, or their coverings.

Rubella: A virus that can be passed to the fetus if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy. The virus can cause miscarriage or severe birth defects.

Seizure Disorders: Any condition that causes seizures, which cause changes in movement, consciousness, mood, or emotions. Epilepsy is one kind of seizure disorder.

Toxoplasmosis: An infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an organism that may be found in raw meat, garden soil, and cat feces stool.

This infection can harm a fetus. Vaccine: A substance that helps the body fight disease. Vaccines are made from very small amounts of weak or dead agents that cause disease bacteria, toxins, and viruses. Zika: A disease caused by the Zika virus, which is spread through mosquito bites.

Copyright by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information. This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care.

It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. For a few birth defects, you may be able to decrease your risk by taking certain steps: See your doctor before getting pregnant. Know your risk factors. Take a daily multivitamin before and during pregnancy. Maintain a healthy weight. Use medications wisely. Take care of medical conditions before pregnancy.

Do not use alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs for a nonmedical reason. Prevent infections. Avoid known harmful agents. You may be at an increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect if you: Are older Have a family or personal history of birth defects Have had a child with a birth defect Use certain medicines around the time you become pregnant Have a medical condition such as diabetes mellitus or obesity Use recreational drugs or drink alcohol during pregnancy If you have any risk factors, your ob-gyn or other health care professional may recommend special tests or other steps that may help reduce your risk.

Prenatal vitamin supplements contain the recommended amounts of the vitamins and minerals you will need during your pregnancy, including: Vvitamins A, C, and D Folic acid Minerals such as iron Taking micrograms mcg of folic acid daily for at least 1 month before pregnancy and during pregnancy helps prevent major birth defects called neural tube defects NTDs.

Some infections can increase the risk of birth defects and other problems during pregnancy for you and your fetus: Rubella German measles is a viral infection that usually causes a mild rash and a low fever. If you or your partner must travel to an area where Zika virus is active, strictly follow these four steps to prevent mosquito bites: Use EPA-registered bug spray with DEET, picaridin, IR, oil of lemon eucalyptus, paramenthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or buy permethrin-treated items. A few precautions that are recommended for all pregnant women include the following: Limit your exposure to mercury by not eating bigeye tuna, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, or tilefish. Birth Defect: A physical problem that is present at birth.

Miscarriage: Loss of a pregnancy that is in the uterus. Nutrients: Nourishing substances found in food, such as vitamins and minerals. Heart defects are the most common type of structural defect. Others include spina bifida , cleft palate, clubfoot , and congenital dislocated hip. When there is a problem with a baby's body chemistry, it is called a metabolic birth defect.

Metabolic defects prevent the body from properly breaking down food to create energy. Examples of metabolic defects include Tay-Sachs disease , a fatal disease that affects the central nervous system, and phenylketonuria PKU , which affects the way the body processes protein.

For people who want to become parents, it's important to know that some birth defects can be prevented. During a woman's pregnancy, taking folic acid and getting enough iodine in the diet can help prevent some types of birth defects.

But it's also important to realize that most babies born with birth defects are born to two healthy parents with no obvious health problems or risk factors. In most cases, doctors don't know what caused a baby's birth defect.

When the cause is known, it might be environmental such as a baby's exposure to chemicals or viruses while in the womb , a problem with genes, or a combination of these things. If a mother has certain infections such as toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, her baby can have a birth defect.

Other conditions that cause defects include rubella and chickenpox varicella. Fortunately, many people get vaccinated against these diseases so these infections are rare. Also, alcohol abuse by the mother may cause fetal alcohol syndrome , and certain medicines taken by the mother can cause birth defects. Doctors try to avoid harmful medicines during pregnancy, so a pregnant woman should tell any doctor she consults that she's expecting.

Every cell in the body has chromosomes containing genes that determine a person's unique characteristics. During conception, a child inherits one of each pair of chromosomes and one of each pair of the genes they contain from each parent.

An error during this process can cause a baby to be born with too few or too many chromosomes, or with a damaged chromosome. Scheduling a preconception visit is a good place to start. At that visit, we can review any medical problems women have, which medications they are taking, and which medications they can continue during pregnancy.

While many medications are safe during pregnancy, there are others that should be stopped prior to conception, as those are known to cause birth defects. It is particularly important that women with other medical problems, such as diabetes, attend a preconception counseling visit, as having better control of their diabetes can decrease their risk of birth defects.

It is also important that women are up to date with their vaccinations , including the ones for measles, mumps, and rubella MMR , influenza, and varicella chicken pox, which some women may be naturally immune to if they had it as a child.

Rubella exposure and infection can cause birth defects, and rarely chicken pox can develop into a severe infection in some pregnant women, as can the flu, so protecting yourself and your baby by ensuring that you are adequately vaccinated is extremely important. This preconception visit can also encourage women to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. I counsel all of my patients that they will gain weight in pregnancy, and so they should start the pregnancy at a healthy weight.

I encourage regular exercise even prior to becoming pregnant, and then continuing that level of activity during pregnancy. Being at a healthy weight prior to conceiving and maintaining a healthy weight throughout pregnancy can help decrease your risk of developing diabetes or elevated blood pressure during pregnancy.

Having a body mass index BMI of 30 or above can also increase your risk of birth defects, which is why maintaining a healthy weight is also important. All women who are trying to get pregnant should start a daily prenatal vitamin containing at least mcg of folic acid, at least one month prior to attempting to conceive. Folic acid helps to decrease the risk of certain birth defects, such as neural tube defects. Another risk factor for neural tube defects is increased core body temperature in a pregnant woman, particularly during the first trimester.

I recommend that all of my patients avoid hot tubs, saunas, and hot yoga, and that they treat any fever promptly with acetaminophen which is safe during pregnancy, unlike ibuprofen. Similarly, it is important to avoid substances that increase the risk for birth defects, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and retinoid medications. There is no safe limit of alcohol use during pregnancy, and while it is known that binge drinking during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome, there has been no clear definition of the amount of alcohol intake that is connected to fetal alcohol syndrome.

I recommend that my patients abstain from alcohol during their pregnancies. If you are smoking or using alcohol or other drugs, an ideal time to quit is prior to pregnancy. Planning for a pregnancy can be a powerful motivator to quit unhealthy habits, not just during pregnancy but beyond.