Birth defects occur during pregnancy while the baby is growing. There are thousands of different birth defects that result in physical or mental disabilities, and they are the leading cause of infant deaths. The most common birth defects include heart defects, cleft lip/palate, Down syndrome and spina bifida.
Currently, approximately 70% of the causes of birth defects are unknown. Genetic (mom’s, dad’s or both sides of the family) and environmental factors (alcohol, illegal drugs and/or some prescription drugs taken during pregnancy), or a combination of these factors can cause birth defects. Also, if a woman gets certain infections while pregnant, such as a sexually transmitted infection, her baby may develop a birth defect. Ongoing research to try to understand the causes of birth defects helps in developing effective ways to prevent and/or treat them.
There are many things that women could do before and during pregnancy to help prevent birth defects:
Have a medical checkup with HPV screening before becoming pregnant
Take folic acid supplement at least three months before becoming pregnant
Eat a variety of healthy foods
Avoid alcohol
Avoid drugs; and check prescription medications with your physician
Avoid smoking; and secondhand smoke
Avoid environmental toxins
Learn more about maternal screening for birth defects here.
