World Birth defects prevention day

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a birth defect as “an abnormality in the development or functioning of an unborn child following conception” (BJSS). There are many types of defects with which you may be familiar. They include congenital heart defects, Down syndrome, congenital problems with the brain or central nervous system, developmental delays or disabilities, genetic disorders, cleft lip and palate, malformations of hands or feet, spina bifida, genital deformities, hemihypertrophy, mental retardation, and some facial deformities and cancers. If a baby was born with one or more of these conditions, it can affect a baby’s health and growth. While it is extremely common for parents to want to put off having children until they are older, there are ways to ensure that a child will not have any problems. For example, if you suspect that your kid will have a serious health condition, or could develop a problem later on in life, seek help from medical professionals before you decide that it is time to start a family! This article can help you prepare yourself for this type of information.

Causes

Infection and infection are the leading causes of birth defects in our country (Stern). Research shows that around 90% of all cases of birth defects, including congenital abnormalities and other diseases, are caused by infections; however, this is the most difficult to prevent infection to occur. Some factors that increase the risk of pregnancy complications include diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption in pregnancy, as well as having a history of previous miscarriages or premature labor. Other possible causes are:

Environmental toxins such as arsenic in water or air

Immune-compromised people such as AIDS, cancer, and other infectious diseases

Toxoplasmosis—a disease caused by protozoa that enter the eggs of pregnant women

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) -a breathing disorder

Stress, trauma, and poor nutrition in early pregnancy

Hospitalization for birth defects

Some birth defects like congenital heart defects and certain types of leukemia are preventable through specific measures. These include:

Healthful pregnancy

Prenatal care should always be highly recommended, as it includes prenatal screening (like testing for HIV/AIDS), genetic counseling, the use of antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy, and genetic testing

Birth defects are often easily repaired after being diagnosed, and no treatment is necessary once the defect is detected. However, a rare exception may be made when the defect makes the mother, husband, and offspring too sick to care for themselves

There can be several complications during pregnancy, but if your baby is healthy and developing normally, then most likely, there won’t be any complications

Women with known HIV/AIDS or another risk for transmitting HIV/AIDS to their unborn child

Women that have miscarriages or premature deliveries

Women whose health is at risk for complications during pregnancy (e.g., osteoporosis, diabetes, etc.)

Women who have had multiple abortions

Women who receive intrauterine devices—like those used to deliver an embryo into the uterus

Women who smoke

The most common complication of birth defects is a miscarriage, which happens when the fetus is unable to survive outside the womb. Most pregnancies end up going through the process called a miscarriage of justice, where the father gets custody of the infant that never was.

Other causes include:

Abnormalities during pregnancy itself, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid problems

Heavy drug use

Immune system problems, like people with organ transplants

Infections, including sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, herpes, varicella, or trichomonas

Lactose intolerance

Hemostatic problems, which result from excessive bleeding in early pregnancy

Preventing births

Birth defects require immediate treatment, so they must be treated immediately. When talking about prevention, we refer to treatments such as genetic testing, IVs, or surgeries to alter the genes of a fetus that is affected by the birth defect. Another important aspect to consider is the ability of a baby to grow and mature without taking any medication—like antibiotics, drugs, or hormones.

Once a baby is born, it must be given appropriate nutrition, which may mean formula feeding throughout the first two years of life. A diet is designed to meet the needs of the baby, and also to make sure the baby is getting enough iron, calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, zinc, or other essential nutrients his body needs to grow.

When planning a course of treatment for a baby’s health, the most important thing to remember is that it depends on what the health diagnosis is. You should discuss and find out what medical issues the baby is experiencing, as well as whether the baby has already been vaccinated, or he has not yet. Also, you should find out the types of medications that are needed to treat the baby's health or are being given.

Depending upon the number of defects that the baby has, treatments vary somewhat. Common choices include:

Surgery. Surgery can be performed to correct various types of birth defects, like cleft lips for infants or spinal defects for children. Surgeons remove the birth defect from the baby's body and put it back in. After surgery, the child continues to be under the supervision of both doctors and nurses who check his vital signs. Some surgeries last eight hours to 14 days, while others are much longer and require multiple doctors and numerous specialists. Surgery is often expensive, but there are usually more than 100 hospitals in the United States that offer this service, which can help you choose the right one.

Surgery. Surgery can be performed to correct various types of birth defects, like cleft lips for infants or spinal defects for children. Surgeons remove the birth defect from the baby's body and put it back in. After surgery, the child continues to be under the supervision of both doctors and nurses who check his vital signs. Some surgeries last eight hours to 14 days, while others are much longer and require multiple doctors and numerous specialists. Surgery is often expensive, but there are usually more than 100 hospitals in the United States that offer this service, which can help you choose the right one. Injections. Drugs may be given intravenously, or the baby can be placed under surgery to inject the medicine directly into the vein that carries the drug. Although injections can safely perform simple procedures, they can lead to deadly side effects, which is why they are rarely used. Some common side effects include shock, pain, severe swelling, bruising, and sometimes death. Your doctor's best estimate is that your baby will be able to live about 12 months after undergoing the injection procedure.

Drugs may be given intravenously, or the baby can be placed under surgery to inject the medicine directly into the vein that carries the drug. Although injections can safely perform simple procedures, they can lead to deadly side effects, which is why they are rarely used. Some common side effects include shock, pain, severe swelling, bruising, and sometimes death. Your doctor's best estimate is that your baby will be able to live about 12 months after undergoing the injection procedure. Genetic testing. Testing can be done using a non-invasive method called amniotic fluid sampling. During this test, your doctors collect blood, mucus, or sample of your baby’s fluid that is produced in the amniotic sac. It is important to know that although there are several ways to find out if a baby is affected by a birth defect, amniotic fluid testing is considered the gold standard. Because the test is sensitive, it can accurately detect abnormalities in the amniotic fluids and can give results faster than other tests. Many hospitals also offer genetic counseling where a nurse or doctor can explain the dangers of having kids with a defective gene. With genetic counseling, all babies carrying a mutation of the baby’s defective gene can be tested and found. Each child has very little chance of getting sick, so the chances of them developing chronic illnesses also don’t affect their life expectancy. Additionally, many children with a defect have less chance of passing on the defective gene to future generations, which is very different from other siblings who inherit the same good genes.

Tests and Tests

There are many kinds of tests you can do at home to help your baby look and feel better. One common test that most people do, especially when they're giving birth in the lab, is the ultrasound test, which is done at an outside hospital’s lab. Ultrasound is the most popular way to diagnose medical conditions in the early stages of pregnancy. It involves placing a sound, like a heartbeat, through a small hole in your womb. This test evaluates a baby's health and tells a story about how sound travels inside your body. Ultrasound is often accompanied by tests to see what's happening in the abdomen and pelvis. And, if an embryo or fetus is detected in the womb, a blood test is administered to determine if there are any abnormalities there. The tests and the ultrasound are usually completed within six weeks of each other, but it is also sometimes possible to complete the ultrasound in as short as 24 hours. The goal is to make sure that the baby’s health is improving and that the ultrasound is producing a picture of what is happening inside the baby.

Another popular test you can take is a blood draw, which means collecting a sample of your blood at regular intervals throughout the pregnancy and analyzing it into tests your child may benefit from. Blood testing